I have questioned my Hispanic identity my entire life. 

I’m what many people would call a “no sabo” kid, a term used to poke fun at those of Hispanic or Latino descent who don’t speak Spanish. The name comes from the common mistake beginner Spanish speakers make when conjugating the phrase “no sé,” meaning “I don’t know.”

Although I try to proudly declare myself as Mexican-American, pushback from other Latinos in my life saying I am not “Mexican enough” because I don’t speak Spanish has made me feel unworthy of claiming this part of my identity. What many people may not realize is the pain, frustration, and guilt “no sabo” kids can experience from carrying this label.  

Two summers ago, a phone call came into the small business I worked for. After giving my usual customer service speech, a quiet and shaky voice came through on the other line: “you speak Spanish?” My simple “un poco” was met with a sigh of relief and total shift in tone. It was as if I was talking to an entirely new person. However, my Spanish was not good enough to help the customer. She returned to her timid demeanor, ending the conversation with a defeated “thank you.” When I got to my car after clocking out, I released the flood of tears I spent the remainder of my shift holding back. My ride home was filled with sobs of frustration and disappointment. I told myself over and over that I, as a Latina, should know how to speak Spanish.  

Experiences like mine are not uncommon for non-Spanish speaking Latinos. The title of “no sabo” can be a shameful reminder of the guilt and struggles we endure due to our language abilities, or lack thereof. Thankfully, Latinos online have made efforts within the past few years to reclaim the title “no sabo.” Users have shared their experiences as “no sabo” kids and teens, calling for others to understand that Latinos can still be proud of their culture even if they don’t speak Spanish. Despite these efforts, searching #nosabo on Tik Tok still yields numerous results of “no sabo” kids being on the receiving end of jokes from other Latinos. 

For many Latinos, however, their inability to speak the language is not by choice. Many Latino parents fear their children will be discriminated against for speaking Spanish, while some children have stepped away from the language due to feeling shame from peers and adults for speaking it. Additionally, the parents of first-generation Latino Americans may have focused on learning English themselves as opposed to teaching Spanish to their children. As a first-generation Mexican-American on my dad’s side, this was my own experience. 

So, let’s stop using “no sabo” to poke fun at non-Spanish speaking Latinos. The Latinx community as a whole needs to understand that knowing a certain language is not the only way to be Latinx, nor is it the only reason to celebrate our cultures. In fact, Spanish is not even the only language spoken in Latin America (looking at you, Brazilian Portuguese, indigenous, and creole languages!) 

To those who need to hear it: your ability to speak Spanish does not dictate the validity of your Hispanic or Latinx identity. Embrace your culture, and be proud of who you are. Although not knowing Spanish doesn’t make you any less Latino, speaking the language may help you feel more connected with your roots, family, and community. As someone who was once hesitant to speak the language due to fear of judgment, learning Spanish has greatly increased my self-confidence. Recuerda, ¡nunca es demasiado tarde para aprender!