{"id":3178,"date":"2026-02-27T10:20:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T08:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/curiara.com\/europa\/?p=3178"},"modified":"2026-02-27T10:20:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T08:20:24","slug":"difference-between-migrant-and-immigrant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/curiara.com\/europa\/en\/diferencia-entre-migrante-e-inmigrante\/","title":{"rendered":"Differentiating between migrant and immigrant in order to protect language and uphold identities"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we talk about human mobility, understanding the difference between migrant and immigrant<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, The aim is to dignify experiences and avoid falling into labels that reduce or stigmatise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Curiara we believe that words also support<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>, The report provides a practical guide to using them with respect, empathy and awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does it matter to use the right words?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"group<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Language is not neutral. Each term<\/strong> we use to refer to people moving from one country to another. activates a perspective<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, naming well is a concrete form of respect. It avoids confusion, allows for nuanced storytelling and contributes to building more dignified narratives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Curiara<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, before going into technical definitions, it is worth recalling that behind every word there are real people<\/strong>; people who work, who take care of their families from far away, that sustain economies, that build futures<\/strong> in two places at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does \u00abmigrant\u00bb mean according to the RAE and Fund\u00e9u?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the Diccionario de la lengua espa\u00f1ola de la Real Academia Espa\u00f1ola (Royal Spanish Academy Dictionary of the Spanish Language)<\/strong><\/a> (RAE), migrant is broadly defined as \u00abperson who migrates\u00bb.\u00bb<\/strong>. It is an active participle that describes the person who performs the action of migrating, i.e. moving from one place to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund\u00e9u BBVA<\/strong><\/a> explains that \u00abmigrant\u00bb is the broadest term, because it encompasses both migrants and immigrants.<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, \u00abmigrant\u00bb 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What \u00abimmigrant\u00bb means according to RAE and Fund\u00e9u<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For its part, the RAE defines immigrant<\/strong><\/a> as \"<\/em>person who immigrates\u00bb, i.e., \u00abwho arrives in a foreign country to settle there\u00bb.\u00bb<\/strong>. All this comes from the Latin root of \u00abinmigrar\u00bb, which is to immigrate. immigrare<\/em>, which means \u00abto enter a place\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund\u00e9u adds a key nuance: \u00abImmigrant\u00bb is used when we look at that person from the point of view of the country or region of arrival.<\/strong> That is, when the focus is on the fact of having arrived at a destination and settled there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a migrant in Spain<\/strong><\/a>, France, Germany or Italy, when we talk about \u00abimmigrant population\u00bb, we refer to the people who have arrived in these countries and who are building their lives there.<\/strong>. It is a view from within the host country, from the host society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difference between migrant, immigrant and emigrant: perspective is key<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n