Spanish

noun

Span·​ish ˈspa-nish 

1

: the Romance language of the largest part of Spain and of the countries colonized by Spaniards

2

plural in construction : the people of Spain

Spanish adjective

Spanishness noun

Examples of Spanish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the victims’ testimony to police, the two men spoke Spanish, presented fake badges and proceeded to coerce money out of residents before taking off in a blue SUV. —Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2024

The International Brigades Foreigners fighting for Ukraine may call to mind the International Brigades that fought in defense of the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

At the midpoint of his second studio album, God Said No, Omar Apollo’s vocals tumble out in Spanish for the first and only time on the record. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2024

Many of the students were testing below grade level in literacy and math in their native language of Spanish. —Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 23 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, adjective, from Middle English Spainish, from Spain

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Spanish

• Judeo-Spanish
• Mexican Spanish
• Spanish American
• Spanish bayonet
• Spanish chestnut
• Spanish fly
• Spanish mackerel
• Spanish moss
• Spanish needles
• Spanish omelet
• Spanish onion
• Spanish rice
• the Spanish

Kids Definition

Spanish

noun

Span·​ish ˈspan-ish 

1

: the Romance language of Spain and of the countries colonized by Spaniards

2

Spanish plural : the people of Spain

Spanish adjective