(CNN) -- A racially-charged word with many meanings may be at the root of a dispute between two sports rivals that reaches far beyond the soccer field, analysts say.





Manchester United's Patrice Evra, who is black, says the word Uruguayan Luis Suarez shouted repeatedly during a match last month was a racial slur. Evra demanded that Suarez be held accountable for the controversial exchange, which erupted as authorities investigate other accusations of racism in soccer.





Suarez, a striker for Liverpool, hasn't specified what he said, but he argues that it wasn't offensive.





"I didn't insult him. It was only a form of expressing myself. I called him something his own teammates from Manchester call him," Suarez said, according to the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais.





British media reports have suggested Suarez used the Spanish word "negrito."





If that's the case, whether Suarez's remark was racist is a complicated question that doesn't have a black-and-white answer, according to scholars who've studied race issues in Latin America.





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"It's about questions of translation or context," said Mark Sawyer, director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Politics at the University of California Los Angeles.





The word's literal translation is "little black man." But generally, negrito is not considered a racial slur in Latin America, Sawyer said. In fact, it frequently has a positive meaning.





"It's often a term of endearment," he said.





But what the word means also depends on where -- and how -- it's said.





"In Puerto Rico, it has one meaning. In Cuba it has a slightly different connotation and in the Dominican Republic it has a slightly different connotation," said Jorge Chinea, director of the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit.





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Chinea said his mother and stepfather, both of whom were light-skinned, frequently used the word.





"When they talked as a couple, my mother would say, 'negrito, I love you.' ... I grew up listening to those expressions commonly being used by a lot of people in my community in Puerto Rico. And it was never associated with any color," he said.





After he moved to the United States in the 1960s, Chinea said, the word took on a different meaning. Many of his acquaintances used racial nicknames, he said, but there was no harm intended.





"It was always more like a quick way of acknowledging the distinctiveness of that person in a very friendly way," he said.





But Chinea said one of his Cuban colleagues in graduate school who employed the word drew criticism.





"When he used it and other people heard it, people came to me to complain. ... In the United States, it sounds offensive to some people," Chinea said.





In Uruguay, the meaning is clear, said U.S. radio talk show host Fernando Espuelas, who originally hails from the South American country.





"It's not a slur whatsoever," said Espuelas, whose show often addresses racism in the Latino community. "It's a term of endearment. You definitely would not use that if you were angry. It would sound ridiculous."





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Several scholars said the word's meaning could be connected with complicated racial politics in different Latin American countries, which each had unique historical experiences with colonization and the slave trade.





Uruguay, Chinea noted, has a smaller population of African descendants than some other Latin American nations. In 2006, about 9% of the population declared "Afro or black" roots, according to Uruguay's National Statistics Institute.





"If I were of African descent and someone from that part of the world was to use the word toward me, I would probably think twice about what the intentions are, whereas if the person who was saying it was from Cuba you'd probably take it as a
( CNN ) -- A racially - charged word with many meanings may be at the root of a dispute between two sports rivals that reaches far beyond the soccer field , analysts say . Manchester United 's Patrice Evra , who is black , says the word Uruguayan Luis Suarez shouted repeatedly during a match last month was a racial slur . Evra demanded that Suarez be held accountable for the controversial exchange , which erupted as authorities investigate other accusations of racism in soccer . Suarez , a striker for Liverpool , has n't specified what he said , but he argues that it was n't offensive . " I did n't insult him . It was only a form of expressing myself . I called him something his own teammates from Manchester call him , " Suarez said , according to the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais . British media reports have suggested Suarez used the Spanish word " negrito . " If that 's the case , whether Suarez 's remark was racist is a complicated question that does n't have a black - and - white answer , according to scholars who 've studied race issues in Latin America . Leading figures call on soccer chief to step down " It 's about questions of translation or context , " said Mark Sawyer , director of the Center for the Study of Race , Ethnicity and Politics at the University of California Los Angeles . The word 's literal translation is " little black man . " But generally , negrito is not considered a racial slur in Latin America , Sawyer said . In fact , it frequently has a positive meaning . " It 's often a term of endearment , " he said . But what the word means also depends on where -- and how -- it 's said . " In Puerto Rico , it has one meaning . In Cuba it has a slightly different connotation and in the Dominican Republic it has a slightly different connotation , " said Jorge Chinea , director of the Center for Chicano - Boricua Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit . Blatter a controversial figure Chinea said his mother and stepfather , both of whom were light - skinned , frequently used the word . " When they talked as a couple , my mother would say , ' negrito , I love you . ' ... I grew up listening to those expressions commonly being used by a lot of people in my community in Puerto Rico . And it was never associated with any color , " he said . After he moved to the United States in the 1960s , Chinea said , the word took on a different meaning . Many of his acquaintances used racial nicknames , he said , but there was no harm intended . " It was always more like a quick way of acknowledging the distinctiveness of that person in a very friendly way , " he said . But Chinea said one of his Cuban colleagues in graduate school who employed the word drew criticism . " When he used it and other people heard it , people came to me to complain . ... In the United States , it sounds offensive to some people , " Chinea said . In Uruguay , the meaning is clear , said U.S. radio talk show host Fernando Espuelas , who originally hails from the South American country . " It 's not a slur whatsoever , " said Espuelas , whose show often addresses racism in the Latino community . " It 's a term of endearment . You definitely would not use that if you were angry . It would sound ridiculous . " Blatter comments spark Twitter storm Several scholars said the word 's meaning could be connected with complicated racial politics in different Latin American countries , which each had unique historical experiences with colonization and the slave trade . Uruguay , Chinea noted , has a smaller population of African descendants than some other Latin American nations . In 2006 , about 9 % of the population declared " Afro or black " roots , according to Uruguay 's National Statistics Institute . " If I were of African descent and someone from that part of the world was to use the word toward me , I would probably think twice about what the intentions are , whereas if the person who was saying it was from Cuba you 'd probably take it as a
What does British media reports suggest?
What does British media reports suggest ?
Suarez used the Spanish word "negrito."
Suarez used the Spanish word "negrito."