adjective
Very common
Spanish
SPA-nihsh
Spanish (adjective) means relating to Spain, its people, or its culture. Example: “They fell in love with Spanish architecture during their trip.”
adjective
1
Relating to Spain, its people, or its culture.
"They fell in love with Spanish architecture during their trip."
proper noun
1
The Romance language spoken in Spain and across much of Latin America.
"She has been learning Spanish for three years."
"Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world."
How to use Spanish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Spain, or the language spoken there and across Latin America.
Common mistake
Always capitalize "Spanish" whether it refers to the language, the nationality, or the adjective.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
speak Spanish
Spanish cuisine
Spanish-speaking countries
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Word forms
- Plural
- Spanishes
- Third person singular
- spanishes
- Past tense
- spanished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They fell in love with _____ architecture during their trip.
Etymology
From Middle English Spainish, built from "Spain" plus the suffix "-ish."
Synonyms
View more →
Castilian
Iberian
Rhymes for Spanish
See all rhymes for Spanish →Frequently asked questions
What does “Spanish” mean?
The word “Spanish” means relating to Spain, its people, or its culture. In plain terms, relating to Spain, or the language spoken there and across Latin America.
How do you pronounce “Spanish”?
“Spanish” is pronounced SPA-nihsh (/ˈspænɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Spanish” in a sentence?
Here is “Spanish” used in a sentence: “They fell in love with Spanish architecture during their trip.”
What part of speech is “Spanish”?
Depending on how it is used, “Spanish” can be an adjective and a proper noun.
Where does the word “Spanish” come from?
The word “Spanish” comes from Middle English. From Middle English Spainish, built from "Spain" plus the suffix "-ish.".
Is “Spanish” a common word?
“Spanish” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Spanish” have?
“Spanish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Spain, its people, or its culture.
What is the difference between Spanish and Hispanic?
Spanish means relating to Spain specifically — its people, language, or culture. Hispanic is broader, describing people or cultures with roots in Spanish-speaking countries, most of them in Latin America. Someone from Mexico is Hispanic but not Spanish, while a person from Madrid is both. The key is Spain itself versus the wider Spanish-speaking world.
Is Spanish a language or a nationality?
It is both. As a nationality or adjective, Spanish describes people and things from Spain. As a language, Spanish is spoken by Spaniards and by hundreds of millions of people across Latin America and beyond. So the same word covers the nation of Spain and one of the world's most widely spoken languages.
What is the difference between Spanish and Latino?
Spanish refers to Spain and its people. Latino, or Latina, refers to people of Latin American origin, such as those from Mexico, Colombia, or Brazil, regardless of the language they speak. A Brazilian is Latino but speaks Portuguese, not Spanish, which shows that the two labels are not the same.
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