The New Christians - TerminologyAfter the forced conversions of 1497, the Jews of Portugal were officially transformed into cristãos-novos (New Christians), regardless of their personal conviction or degree of adherence to Catholicism. The term cristão-novo was originally intended to be temporary, referring only to those who had undergone baptism in 1497. However, in practice, the designation came to include their descendants indefinitely. Even those born long after the conversions, who had never known Jewish practice, were still classified as New Christians for legal, social, and religious purposes. Thus, rather than disappearing with time, the category became a hereditary mark of difference.Several other terms emerged over the centuries, each carrying its own semantic weight and historical implications:• Judeo-converso / ConversoThis term designated a Jew who had converted to Christianity, but unlike cristão-novo, it emphasized the voluntary or individual nature of conversion. In Portugal, however, conversion was rarely voluntary; therefore, cristão-novo became the more common designation.• Marrano / MaranoDebated among scholars, this term carries heavy social and emotional connotations.According to Barros Basto, the word derives from Hebrew and means:“one who was forcibly converted.”But other scholars argue for alternative origins, including the Spanish word marrano (“pig”), used as an insult against Jews and converts. The derogatory slur became widespread in Iberian societies and contributed to the stigmatization of the crypto-Jewish population.For this reason, many modern scholars prefer the term Marrano (with two r’s), which has gradually shed some of its negative connotation and now often appears in academic discourse to describe the specific socioreligious phenomenon of hidden Jewish identity.• Judaizante (Judaizer)Used by the Inquisition, this term identified a New Christian suspected of secretly practicing Judaism. “Judaizer” was not merely descriptive but functioned as an accusation, frequently based on rumor, denunciation, or conjecture.• Cristão-velho (Old Christian)The counterpart to cristão-novo, this designation applied to individuals who claimed “pure” Christian ancestry with no Jewish (or Muslim) lineage. The distinction between “old” and “new” Christians became deeply embedded in Portuguese society, forming the basis for genealogical discrimination, social exclusion, and legal inequalities.The spread of these terms reflects the profound anxiety regarding religious purity and lineage that permeated early modern Iberian societies. The terminology was not neutral; it served to categorize, judge, exclude, and control a significant portion of the population. Through language itself, social boundaries were imposed and maintained.• Anusim (or Annusim) Is a Hebrew term meaning "coerced [ones]" or "forced [ones]". It is a halakhic (Jewish legal) category used for Jews who were forced to abandon their religion against their will, typically through forced conversion to another faith.