andalusian

andalusian — noun

1. a person born in Andalusia in southern Spain, or someone who lives there.

1.nounC1
Definition

a person born in Andalusia in southern Spain, or someone who lives there.

Example

Lucia met two Andalusians at a food festival in Seville.

plural countable noun for people from the region

The guide is an Andalusian who grew up near Granada.

singular pattern: an Andalusian

Common collocations
  • an Andalusian from Seville
  • many Andalusians abroad
  • proud Andalusian
Synonyms
  • Spaniard

    broader term; it means a person from anywhere in Spain, not only Andalusia

  • person from Andalusia

    descriptive phrase used when the demonym may be unfamiliar to the reader

Grammar Patterns

an Andalusian

Andalusians (plural)

Usage Note

Usually a countable noun for a person. Distinguish from sense 2, which names a horse breed rather than a resident of the region.

Common Mistakes

She is Andalusia.
She is Andalusian.
use the demonym, not the place name, for a person.
an andalusian chef
an Andalusian chef
capitalize the word because it comes from a place name.

2. a horse from a famous Spanish breed, known for moving with high front steps.

2.nounC1
Definition

a horse from a famous Spanish breed, known for moving with high front steps.

Example

The farmer rode an Andalusian in the town parade.

countable noun for the breed used without 'horse'

Marina's white Andalusian lifted its front legs high.

often follows a color adjective

Common collocations
  • white Andalusian
  • ride an Andalusian
  • Andalusian horse
  • black Andalusian
Synonyms
  • Lusitano

    a closely related Iberian breed from Portugal, not the same Spanish breed

  • Spanish horse

    broad descriptive phrase; it is less exact because many breeds come from Spain

Grammar Patterns

an Andalusian

Andalusians (plural)

Usage Note

Countable in horse-breed contexts. Writers often use it alone after an article when the noun 'horse' is already understood.

Common Mistakes

There were three Andalusian in the show.
There were three Andalusians in the show.
add -s when you mean more than one horse.
The rider bought a horse Andalusian.
The rider bought an Andalusian horse.
before another noun, use 'Andalusian' as an adjective.

Word family

  • Andalusia
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

These horse names are not interchangeable. An Andalusian is the Spanish breed in this entry, and people often notice its proud outline and lifted action. A Lusitano is its close Portuguese relative, so the two can look similar, but the national origin is different. An Arabian is usually lighter and is especially famous for endurance, not for the same parade-like movement. A Lipizzaner is another well-known riding horse, strongly linked with classical dressage and the Spanish Riding School. Compare: 'The farmer rode an Andalusian in the parade,' 'The breeder imported two Lusitanos from Portugal,' and 'They chose an Arabian for a long desert trip.'

Andalusian ↗LusitanoArabianLipizzaner

Etymology

ArabicSpanishEnglish

The word was built in English from Andalusia, the region name, plus the ending -an, which forms words for people and things linked to a place. Andalusia comes through Spanish 'Andalucía' from Arabic 'al-Andalus', the historical name used for Muslim-ruled parts of the Iberian Peninsula.