spanish

IPA/ˈspænɪʃ/

KK[spˈænɪʃ]IPA/ˈspænɪʃ/

spanishpositive
more spanishcomparative
most spanishsuperlative

1.adjectiveA1

Definition

coming from or having a link to the country of Spain, the people who live there, or what they speak

Example

Yan is taking a Spanish language course at the university this semester.

Spanish language / Spanish course — used before educational nouns

Maja loves Spanish food, especially the seafood dishes from the coast.

Spanish + food noun (cuisine/culture categories)

Common collocations

Spanish culture
Spanish language
Spanish government
Spanish cuisine
Spanish people

Synonyms

Hispanic
broader — relates to Spanish-speaking countries in general, not only Spain; includes Latin America
Iberian
much broader geographically — refers to the entire Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal); less common in everyday use

Grammar Patterns

[Spanish] + noun

Usage Note

Always capitalized, as with all adjectives derived from country names. Spanish can describe a person ('She is Spanish'), the language ('Spanish speakers'), or objects and traditions ('Spanish music', 'Spanish fashion'). Do not confuse with the noun 'Spaniard', which refers only to a person from Spain.

Common Mistakes

My friend is a Spanish.

My friend is Spanish.' or 'My friend is a Spaniard.

'Spanish' as an adjective needs a noun after it ('a Spanish person') or stand alone after 'be'; it is not a count noun for an individual.

I visited a spanish village.

I visited a Spanish village.

nationality and language words are always capitalized in English.

IPA/ˈspæn.ɪʃ/

KK[spˈænɪʃ]IPA/ˈspæn.ɪʃ/

1.nounA1

Definition

the language that people speak in Spain and in most countries of Central and South America, as well as in some other parts of the world

Example

Aaron has been learning Spanish for three years and can now hold a conversation.

learn + Spanish (language studied)

The menu was written in Spanish, so Ryan asked the waiter for help.

in Spanish (language medium)

Common collocations

speak Spanish
learn Spanish
in Spanish
translate into Spanish
broken Spanish
fluent Spanish
Spanish speaker

Synonyms

Castilian
refers specifically to the standard form of Spanish from northern and central Spain; less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

speak/learn/study + Spanish

in Spanish

into Spanish

Usage Note

Spanish (the language) is uncountable — you cannot say 'a Spanish' or 'two Spanishs'. It is also used without a definite article in most contexts: 'Do you speak Spanish?' not 'the Spanish'. The article appears only when specifying a variety ('the Spanish spoken in Argentina').

Common Mistakes

I speak the Spanish.

I speak Spanish.

language names do not take a definite article.

She knows a little bit of Spanish language.

She knows a little bit of Spanish.

adding 'language' is redundant after the name of the language.

Do you have any Spanish books in Spanish?

Do you have any books in Spanish?

avoid repeating 'Spanish' needlessly.

2.nounA2

Definition

the people who come from or were born in Spain, considered together as a group

Example

The Spanish are known for their lively festivals and strong family traditions.

the + Spanish (generic people group)

Kofi read that the Spanish consume more seafood per person than most other Europeans.

Common collocations

the Spanish
the Spanish people

Synonyms

Spaniards
more neutral and common than 'the Spanish' when referring to individuals; 'Spaniards' can stand alone without 'the'

Grammar Patterns

the + Spanish

Usage Note

When used as a plural noun referring to the people of Spain, 'the Spanish' always takes a plural verb ('the Spanish are...', 'the Spanish have...'). To refer to one person from Spain, use 'a Spaniard' or 'a Spanish person'. The singular form 'Spanish' on its own cannot mean 'one person from Spain'.

Common Mistakes

The Spanish is friendly.

The Spanish are friendly.

'the Spanish' as a people group takes a plural verb.

She met a Spanish at the market.

She met a Spaniard at the market.' or 'She met a Spanish person at the market.

'a Spanish' is incorrect for an individual person.

The Spanish people is known for its art.

The Spanish people are known for their art.

'people' in this sense takes a plural verb.

Word family

Spain
nounA1
Spaniard
nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four terms relate to Spain or Spanish-speaking cultures, but they differ in scope and use. 'Spanish' is the broadest adjective, covering anything from the country of Spain itself: people, language, food, and politics. 'Hispanic' is broader in ethnicity but narrower in region — it refers to people or cultures from any Spanish-speaking country, including Latin America, and is used mainly for people and heritage (e.g., 'Hispanic community'), not for objects. 'Spaniard' is exclusively a noun for a person from Spain; it cannot be used as an adjective (do not say 'a Spaniard dish'). 'Castilian' refers to the standard form of Spanish originally from the Castile region of Spain; some Spanish speakers use it to distinguish the language of Spain from Latin American varieties. Example: a person from Mexico is Hispanic but not Spanish or a Spaniard; a person from Madrid is Spanish, a Spaniard, and (arguably) Castilian in speech.

Spanish ↗Hispanic ↗Spaniard ↗Castilian ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

the Spanish
speak Spanish
in Spanish

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'Spanish' comes from the earlier word 'Spain', which traces back through Old French 'Espaigne' to the Latin 'Hispania', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula. The suffix '-ish' (from Old English '-isc') means 'belonging to' or 'of the people of', so 'Spanish' literally means 'of Spain'. The language name emerged in the 16th – 17th centuries as Spain's global influence grew.

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spanish

spanish — adjective

1. coming from or having a link to the country of Spain, the people who live there,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

spanish — noun

1. the language that people speak in Spain and in most countries of Central and Sou

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. the people who come from or were born in Spain, considered together as a group

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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