Understanding the Distinction Between Ethnicity and Race

The Difference Between Ethnicity and Race

History of the Words

The word ethnicity comes from the Greek word “ethnos,” which means a group of people. The word race comes from the Italian word “razza,” which means kind or group. Both words talk about how people are grouped, but they are not the same.

How to Use the Words

Ethnicity is about culture. It includes things like language, religion, and customs. For example, someone from Mexico might have Mexican ethnicity because they speak Spanish and follow Mexican customs.

Race is about physical features, like skin color and facial shapes. For example, someone might be called Black or White because of how they look.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of ethnicity as culture and race as looks. Ethnicity is about the ways people live and race is about how people look.

Example Sentences for Ethnicity

• Maria’s ethnicity is Italian. She loves Italian food and speaks Italian.
• His ethnicity is Japanese, and he celebrates Japanese holidays.
• Amina’s ethnicity is Egyptian, and she follows Egyptian traditions.
• Luis has Colombian ethnicity and enjoys Colombian music.
• Sara’s ethnicity is Greek, and she cooks Greek dishes.

Example Sentences for Race

• Her race is Asian because her parents are from China.
• He identifies as Black and is proud of his race.
• People of the White race have different skin tones and hair colors.
• Some people are part of the Native American race.
• The race of the people in this picture is mixed; they look different from each other.

Summary

Ethnicity is about culture and customs, like language and traditions. Race is about physical features, like skin color and facial shapes. Remember, think of ethnicity as how people live, and race as how people look.