You Know You’re in a Relationship with a Latina Girl When…

So you fell in love with a Latina girl. Or maybe she fell in love with you. Or even better, as is often the case, you both fought it at first, but the universe insisted, with a thunderbolt. Just like us!

No matter how it happened, you’re in for a ride. A ride full of flavor, heart, drama, laughter, and a lot of unsolicited advice from her tías (aunts).

As someone in an intercultural relationship with a Latina, let me break it down for you.

Me with my Latina wife Luisa and her parents in Colombia.

If you’re wondering whether you’ve officially crossed over into Latino love territory, here are the signs:

“I’m not yelling” really means “I care”

If you’ve ever thought, “Is she mad at me?” during a casual conversation about which rice to buy, relax. She’s not mad. That’s just how passion sounds in Spanish.

Latinas don’t do lukewarm. They do full flavor—whether it’s food, music, or expressing emotions. It’s not a fight, it’s foreplay. Sort of.

Her family knows things about you… that you didn’t even know yet

Latina relationships are not just with her—they come with a whole supporting cast. Her mom already knows your childhood fears, her cousin follows you on Instagram, and her grandma has asked if you plan to convert religions. You're practically married already.

You'll dance, even if you cry you never dance

There’s no escape. You will salsa, bachata, cumbia—whether in the kitchen, at a cousin’s wedding, or on a Tuesday morning when her favorite song comes on.

Don’t worry about getting the steps right. Just don’t say no when she pulls you in. That is the step.

You’ve had entire conversations with your eyes, nose, and lip movements

You’ll learn the difference between the “we’re leaving now” look and the “don’t say what you’re thinking in front of my aunt” look. Subtle? No. Effective? Absolutely.

Pointing at people, things, and everything else using the nose and lips is a must-learn if you want to gossip without words with your Latina girlfriend.

Food is love—and you’re full of it

If you’ve gained five kilos and a second stomach, congrats. You’re dating a Latina. Love is served with rice, arepas, tortillas, and “just a little more” on your plate even after you said you were full.

Also, if she cooks for you, she loves you. Don’t mess that up.

*hay no ay

You now live in two emotional realities: yours and hers

She feels everything. And she wants you to feel it too. Don’t be surprised if a casual memory suddenly becomes a passionate speech about childhood, politics, or the meaning of love.

You’ll learn to hold space for that—and maybe even grow because of it.

You’ve become bilingual in feelings

Even if you don’t speak Spanish (yet), you’re learning a second emotional language. “Mi amor” when she’s happy, “¿por qué eres así?” when she’s frustrated, and “te amo” when it really matters.

It’s not about translation. It’s about tuning in.

You’ve realized that love is not always soft, but it’s deep

Latina love is not always quiet. But it is fierce. It shows up. It’s loyal. It doesn’t flinch when things get messy.

If you’re in it, and you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself becoming more expressive, more alive, and more in touch with your own heart.

Final Thoughts

Being with a Latina is not about taming the fire. It’s about grooving with it, learning how to embrace joy and challenge in the same breath, and becoming fluent in another way of being human.

The way she loves might be different from how you grew up understanding love. But if you’re willing to listen, learn, and let go of what you thought was “normal,” you’ll discover a version of love that’s electric, honest, and unforgettable.

So if you’re wondering whether you’re truly in a relationship with a Latina, just look at your life now. If it’s louder, fuller, and more flavorful, and you wouldn’t trade it for anything, you already know the answer.

About the Author

Aswin Raghav is one half of Masala. He's futuristic, passionate, and calm hailing from a rather not calm metropolitan city in Tamil Nadu, India. Living for more than 4 years in an intercultural and interreligious relationship with a Colombian 16,000 km away, he has acquired a decent understanding of love, travel, and culture.

In his other life, Aswin has been a National-level Athlete, Marketer, and Sustainability Advocate with a bachelor's degree in Business. Thanks to his business program, he won a US Government scholarship to study Entrepreneurship for a year in the US.

Love, cricket, business plans, and a thousand miles later, he decided to start a community online to share his experience through Masala of Cultures along with the other half of Masala, Luisa.

Aswin's insights can also be found on other parts of the internet, including NVCC and SSR.