Final answer:
Spanish America references parts of the Americas formerly colonized by Spain. Hispanic America includes Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas, while Iberoamerica includes countries colonized by Spain and Portugal. Latin America refers to countries where Romance languages are spoken, covering a larger area.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms Spanish America, Hispanic America, Iberoamerica, and Latin America are distinct yet interconnected concepts used to describe different groups of countries in the Americas with specific historical, linguistic, and cultural attributes.
Spanish America refers to regions that were formerly colonies of Spain in the Americas. This primarily includes most of the South and Central American countries, along with territories in the Caribbean and parts of what is now the United States such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Hispanic America typically consists of Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. It is an all-encompassing term that not only includes the Spanish-speaking populations in South and Central America but also those in parts of the United States, reflecting a shared Spanish heritage.
Iberoamerica refers to countries in the Americas that were colonized by Iberian Peninsula countries, namely Spain and Portugal. This term also indicates shared cultural and linguistic roots that stem from the Iberian Peninsula, thus including both Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil.
Finally, Latin America is a geopolitical term used for regions in the Americas where Romance languages (languages that originated from Latin) are spoken. This encompasses a larger area, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Islands. The term was first used by Colombian intellectual José María Torres Caicedo and later discussed in Gabriel García Márquez's Nobel Prize acceptance speech to express a unified cultural identity distinct from Western influences.
The use and preference for these terms vary, and each term carries its own historical and cultural significance. Over time, the preference for labels has evolved, with 'Latino' gaining popularity as an inclusive term for individuals from Spanish-speaking backgrounds.