Venezolanos morenos (Spanish) | |
---|---|
Total population | |
Mixed ancestry predominates 15,586,454 (2011 census)[1][2] 51.6% of the Venezuelan population | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Throughout Venezuela | |
Languages | |
Venezuelan Spanish small minorities speak Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, English, German, and French. | |
Religion | |
Roman Catholicism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Other Venezuelans: White Venezuelans · Black Venezuelans · Native Venezuelans |
Moreno Venezuelans (Spanish: Venezolanos morenos) or Mixed Venezuelans (Spanish: Venezolanos mixtos) are Venezuelans, who tend to be multiracial, typically those who are genetically intermediate between Africans, Amerindians and/or Europeans. Historically known as mulattos, mestizos, pardos, and zambos. Some Moreno Venezuelans may also be mixed with Asian ancestry (Arabs, Chinese, or Indian), although this is not as common.
Since the concept of "race" in Venezuela is rather fluid, there is no defined boundary to what is and is not Moreno. Many self-proclaimed White and Black Venezuelans have some degree of Moreno ancestry.
In terms of mere physical description, Moreno can be used to describe indigenous Venezuelans because of their brown complexion.
Moreno may occasionally apply to olive-skinned people of Mediterranean or Canarian origins but it is not very common.
Moreno or the diminutive Morenito can be used to describe Blacks in a less racial connotation.
Per an autosomal DNA genetic study conducted in 2008 by the University of Brasília (UNB), Venezuela's gene pool is composed of 61% European contribution, 23% indigenous contribution, and 16% African contribution.[3]