What I’ve Learned About Dating a Latino

For our generation, dating is a difficult game to play. There are thousands of questions to answer, from slipping into DMs to navigating hook-ups. Learning how to enjoy being single when dipping your toes into the dating pool is worthwhile. 

Use the space you wouldn’t have in a relationship to your advantage. Learn how to be happy as a single person and you’ll build crucial habits and dispositions that will help you engage in a fulfilling romantic relationship.

In this blog. I will share with you my experience and what I have learned from dating a Latino. This will perhaps help you jot down the ways to date one. Continue reading

What I’ve Learned About Dating a Latino?

If you’re lucky enough to date a Latino, these are some things you will experience:

  • He’ll treat you like a queen. He will take the time to play with your hair and rub your shoulders when you’re stressed.
  • PDA is not an issue for him. He probably won’t ask for permission, he’ll just do it because he’s excited about the both of you and doesn’t care who knows it.
  • You will learn to love (and cook) all his favorite meals, even if they don’t taste right after years at home with mamá.
  • He will dance the night away with you, and then cry watching a movie later that evening, because Latinos are very emotional beings.
  • His family will become yours as well; he’ll introduce them to you as tíos (uncles), primas (cousins), hermanas/hermanos (sisters/brothers). And if there are any issues in the relationship, he is sure to go seek advice from mom or dad before making decisions on his own.
  • He has no problem opening doors for you and carrying things heavier than he can handle because chivalry is alive and well in Latino culture.
  • If you’re dating a Cuban, you should probably disclose that you’re allergic to pork if you claim to be a vegetarian. Pork is not considered vegetarian in many Latino households, so it’s advisable to state ‘Soy alérgico/a.’ It’ll keep them guessing long enough for you to pile beans, rice, and plantains on your plate. Go with it, in my opinion. 
  • Allow his mother to spoil him.

Showing affection is culturally different for Latinas.

One of my most vivid memories of my childhood is watching my aunt walking with her husband. She was holding his hand and laughing, and I can still see the smile on his face. It was a moment that struck me because it was so different from what I had seen growing up with my own parents.

Latinas tend to be more affectionate in public than Latin men (and non-Latin men generally, too). They are also more likely to show their appreciation for a man they love with small, simple gestures. A hug or kiss on the cheek is not uncommon when greeting a friend or saying goodbye. 

Not only do Latinas hold hands in public but they often put their arm around each other as well or hook arms. If you see them at a party, you’re likely to find them sitting beside each other on the couch rather than across from each other on chairs. And of course, there’s always PDA (public displays of affection) like hugging and kissing in front of friends and family members at gatherings—often without even thinking twice about it.

If You’re Cooking, Chances Are He’s Hungry

If you’re cooking, he will be hungry for more than just-food. Latino men are passionate, affectionate and faithful. They also love to eat! If you’ve learned how to cook from your grandma, you better learn to cook more than just tamales and enchiladas. A traditional Latino man usually is the one who does the cooking in the house. He makes most of what he eats himself. For example, my boyfriend makes his own salsa (he puts it on everything!) that is a lot spicier than most salsas at restaurants or even grocery stores here in the U.S.

Latinos are not afraid to express their love – physically or emotionally – no matter what time of day or night it is!

Treat Him Like a King

Remember, treat him like a king and he will treat you like a queen. He is the son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, after all. He will hold your hand in public, wrap his arms around you at the most random times, and shower you with kisses. He may even throw a tantrum if he doesn’t get his way. Remember that he was raised by mostly women so he knows how to take care of himself. Show him that you see him as important and as someone who deserves your love and attention.

Just like a King should treat his queen right, it’s only fair that the queen treats her King right. Let him know how much you appreciate everything he does for you no matter how big or small it is. And don’t forget to return the favor!

He Will Dance the Night Away With You

Salsa dancing is not the same as line dancing, you know. With line dancing, you’re just learning dance and then doing it in unison with everyone else on the dance floor. With salsa, couples dance with one another, so your steps and movements are all yours to create.

 It can be quite nerve-wracking at first because salsa is not your typical white girl dance (body rolls and hip thrusts are standard), but as soon as you get going, you’ll get addicted. In fact, Latinos usually take to the dance floor first during weddings since they’re used to it from an early age. 

If you think your partner will shy away from these moves or won’t be able to keep up with them, don’t worry! He can probably teach you a thing or two (or twenty).

His Family Will Be Your Family

You’ll have to learn how to disagree with his family in a respectful and kind way because they aren’t going anywhere. Many of our differences can be overcome by simply trying to understand the other person’s perspective. If you still cannot find common ground, then agree to not talk about that topic for a while.

If you marry your Latino boyfriend, you will be expected to spend time with his family—especially during big holidays like Christmas and Easter. If this isn’t something you want, then it is important for both partners to be on the same page from the beginning of the relationship.

It took me a while (until I’d been dating my Latino boyfriend for around one year) to realize that his insistence on spending time with his family wasn’t just a cultural preference or an attempt at guilt-tripping me into being more involved in his life; he genuinely wanted me as part of their family bonding activities! He would invite me over on Sundays after church so we could all eat lunch together or attend local town celebrations as a group (often at some poor soul’s house).

He will always open the door for you and hold it open until you walk in first.

One of the first things I noticed about dating a Latino was their manners. Whether you are in the beginning stages or you are in a long-term relationship, his manners will not change. He will open the door for you and hold it open until you walk in first. How can you get him to do this? On your date look at him when he walks through the door before going in yourself. This will assure him that he is a gentleman and he has done his job correctly.

I have heard many times from my friends that they can’t seem to get their guy to pay for them when they go out on dates or cover anything for them. That isn’t normal behavior for most Latino men; if anything, it’s kind of misogynistic and gross — most would say “hell no” to the idea of paying for anything on a date unless they were trying to impress someone new or wanted something from them (if you know what I mean). 

But treating a man like a man is incredibly important: it shows class, grace, and respect — so don’t be offended if your guy wants to pick up the check every once in a while! It’s just his way of showing you how much he cares. Most Latin men want an old-fashioned lady who knows how to be traditional; this means allowing him to bring home dinner (and cook it) every night, making sure that all of his laundries are clean and neatly folded at all times, and helping with any household duties while also looking cute while doing so!

His culture teaches him to respect women, his mother, and his father.

Let’s face it: we all have a type. But sometimes, your type changes. Or you find yourself in an “in-between” phase—dating men who are neither Latino nor white, but perhaps Asian or Indian. Trust me, there’s nothing wrong with dating outside your comfort zone or culture. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you are in love with a Latino man, here are some things to keep in mind: His culture teaches him to respect women, his mother, and his father. It is true that the Latina woman is very sexualized and often fetishized. This can lead to lots of misconceptions about what it means to be a Latina woman. 

Still, these images are not the whole story of a people or a culture. Latinas grow up learning how important family is to them (or their loved ones). And they carry these lessons into adulthood too—contributing significantly to the family unit when they become mothers themselves and teaching their children the same lessons they learned from their own moms (as well as dads). 

For this reason alone it’s very important for you as an outsider to remember that Latinos come from many different backgrounds—so don’t expect your boyfriend or girlfriend to fit anyone stereotype just because they have brown skin and say things like “mami” instead of “mommy​

He will show you off and you should be proud of your man.

His family is important to him, and he will want them to know how much he loves you. He will not be ashamed of you. On the contrary, he’ll want to show you off to his friends and family. 

Maybe it’s because their culture holds a high value on family or because they are raised in a patriarchal society where their main goal is making sure that everything works well with their partner, but the point is that they take pride in showing off their beautiful Latina wife or girlfriend.

You won’t feel bad about being the center of attention at every party when everyone is commenting on how lucky your boyfriend is to have such a smart, good-looking woman by his side (with everyone knowing that even though your man likes to brag about you, it only makes him look even better).

There will be lots of music playing in the house at all times.

I have learned that music is a part of life for many Latinos in the US. Friends and family members will gather around and listen to a variety of music.

I learned about the importance of music by watching my mom bring her friends to our house for parties. The music was on all night long, and I would sleep with one ear open to catch the songs playing.

I have also heard Latino parents make sure their children learn how to play an instrument like the guitar, piano, or flute. I know it is a passion for them as they pass down this legacy from generation to generation.

Music is an important part of Latino culture and I think it would be great if we had more opportunities that could allow us to learn more about this valuable part of our culture.

The bottom line

When you’re in a cross-cultural relationship, there’s no such thing as a cultural “default” button. It’s simple to keep things new, and learning from one another is exciting and enjoyable. Your sweetheart must remember that showing strong emotions can be frightening for your family. 

Dating a Latino means you’ve got a free babysitter for the rest of your life! So, if you are yet thinking about whether you should date or not, I advise you to try it for once.

I hope this was helpful.

For More Information, Visit https://datinghelpguide.com/ & My Blog

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