When we talk about human mobility, understanding the difference between migrant and immigrant is not just an academic exercise. It is a way to name all realities accurately and to take care of the identities of those who build their lives between two worlds. Choosing the correct word allows to recognise stories, The aim is to dignify experiences and avoid falling into labels that reduce or stigmatise.
At Curiara we believe that words also support, Therefore, they can build bridges or build walls, empower or invisibilise. That is why, in this article, we are going to clarifying the differences between migrant and immigrant, The report provides a practical guide to using them with respect, empathy and awareness.
Why does it matter to use the right words?
Language is not neutral. Each term we use to refer to people moving from one country to another. activates a perspective, an emotion, a way of understanding the world. In migration issues, this precision is particularly relevant because it influences how society perceives (and judges) those who migrate.
Moreover, naming well is a concrete form of respect. It avoids confusion, allows for nuanced storytelling and contributes to building more dignified narratives.
At Curiara, Our commitment is to speak from experience and dignity, not from condescension or welfare approaches that reduce migration to a problem or some kind of deprivation.
Therefore, before going into technical definitions, it is worth recalling that behind every word there are real people; people who work, who take care of their families from far away, that sustain economies, that build futures in two places at the same time.
What does «migrant» mean according to the RAE and Fundéu?
In the Diccionario de la lengua española de la Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy Dictionary of the Spanish Language) (RAE), migrant is broadly defined as «person who migrates».». It is an active participle that describes the person who performs the action of migrating, i.e. moving from one place to another.
Fundéu BBVA explains that «migrant» is the broadest term, because it encompasses both migrants and immigrants.. It is used to refer in general terms to people on the move, without specifying whether we are talking about the place of departure or the place of arrival.
Simply put, «migrant» focuses on the process of moving, not on the origin or the destination. This is why it is useful when we want to talk about the migration phenomenon as a whole, when we do not want to mark departure or arrival, or when we want to refer to large communities without going into administrative details.
What «immigrant» means according to RAE and Fundéu
For its part, the RAE defines immigrant as "person who immigrates», i.e., «who arrives in a foreign country to settle there».». All this comes from the Latin root of «inmigrar», which is to immigrate. immigrare, which means «to enter a place».
Fundéu adds a key nuance: «Immigrant» is used when we look at that person from the point of view of the country or region of arrival. That is, when the focus is on the fact of having arrived at a destination and settled there.
For example, a migrant in Spain, France, Germany or Italy, when we talk about «immigrant population», we refer to the people who have arrived in these countries and who are building their lives there.. It is a view from within the host country, from the host society.
Difference between migrant, immigrant and emigrant: perspective is key
So what is the difference between a migrant and an immigrant? The answer is easy, it depends on the perspective from which we look at a person's movement.
- Migrant is the general term. It describes any person who moves from one place to another, without specifying origin or destination.
- Immigrant describes the same person, but from the point of view of the country or region of arrival.
- Emigrant describes it from the point of view of the place he is leaving.
It is important to note that the same person can be all three at the same time. A Venezuelan living in Madrid is an emigrant for Venezuela, an immigrant for Spain and a migrant in general terms. These are not exclusive identities, but complementary.
The importance of taking care of language
At Curiara we always propose to speak from an empathetic, dignified, approachable and nonchalant voice. That is why we believe that the term «migrant» needs to be redefined.»; This should not be seen as a stigma attached to deprivation, but rather as a symbol of courage, resilience, pride and future.
The focus is on recognising the migrant as a protagonist. Someone who cares, decides and supports, even when they are far away. It is not someone who abandons their loved ones; it is someone who sustains from afar. So it is not vulnerability, it is resilience.
Common mistakes when talking about migration (and how to correct them)
Confusing terms is normal, but it can be corrected if you have a little information on the subject and you correct it little by little in your communications. Here are some common mistakes and how to adjust them while maintaining a respectful and conscious tone.
- Error 1: Using «migrant» as a universal synonym for «person on the move». AlternativeIf the specific destination does not matter, use «migrant», as it is more general and neutral.
- Error 2: Talk as if migrating is «abandonment» or «flight». AlternativeIf you want to reflect the real experience of many families, talk about «holding from afar», «caring even when we are not there» or «being present in another way».
- Error 3: Turning migration into a narrative of deprivation, victimisation or pity. AlternativeUse a frame of dignity and pride, highlighting the terms «courage», «community», «resilience» or «strength».
- Error 4: Using terms such as «illegal» or «undocumented» in a stigmatising way. AlternativeIt is better to say «person in an irregular situation» or simply «migrant», without reducing identity to an administrative status.
Migrating is not abandoning: it is supporting from afar.
One of the most damaging narratives about migration is the one that associates the act of migrating with abandonment, deprivation or flight. At Curiara we reject this view. Because to migrate is not to disappear, it is to be in a different way.
Migrants are the active protagonists of a transnational life project. They sustain homes, finance studies, provide medicines, pay rents and, of course, keep their traditions alive wherever they go. For this reason, every sending money is an act of presence, a reminder that, even when oceans are involved, the bond is not broken.
When talking about the difference between migrant and immigrant in Europe, we must not forget that behind every term is a person with a story, A family that waits, a future that is built with daily effort. And that effort deserves to be named with dignity.
If you would like to delve deeper into how the migrant experience transforms identities and sustains communities, we invite you to read our article on migrant essence as pride.
Language as a tool of vindication and pride
As you know, language is not neutral. The words we choose to name a reality shape it. When we speak of «migrants» instead of «illegals», when we say «caregivers from afar» instead of «those who left», we are making a political, emotional and ethical choice.
At Curiara we embrace the responsibility to redefining the term migrant as a symbol of pride, resilience and strength. Because to migrate is not to lose identity, it is to build a global identity. It is not fleeing, it is moving forward. It is not loneliness, it is transnational community.
Whenever we use the word «migrant» in our communications, we do so in this framework: it is not the one who abandons, it is the one who sustains from afar. It is not vulnerability, it is resilience. It is not individualism, it is global community. It is not lack, it is responsibility and love.
Why does this distinction matter in your daily life?
It may seem that the difference between migrant and immigrant is just an academic or technical issue. But in reality, has a direct impact on how you perceive yourself, how others see you and how you build your support network in the country where you live.
For example, in Spain, many Latin Americans identify themselves as «immigrants» in formal contexts (when applying for a NIE, when accessing social services, when registering in the census). But in community or family contexts, they prefer to call themselves «migrants», «Venezuelans in Europe» or simply «those of us who are here taking care of them from afar».
This flexibility in language is not a whim. It is a way of negotiating identities in contexts that are constantly changing.
The words that sustain identities
In short, understanding the difference between migrant and immigrant in Europe is not just a linguistic exercise. It is a way of caring for language to sustain identities, of recognising that words construct realities and of proudly embracing the experience of those who migrate.
At Curiara we believe that each shipment in a consignment is much more than money, it is care, presence and future.. So every word we use to talk about our community also builds that future.
Because to migrate is not to abandon, it is to support from afar, So we accompany you in every gesture of this care with the most reliable technology, personalised attention and the relevant security on both sides of a shipment.