Spanish

noun

Span·​ish ˈspa-nish How to pronounce Spanish (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Screenshots circulating online suggest the posts, which were written in Spanish, were made in 2020 and 2021. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2025 Wanderson was taken into custody by the Spanish National Police in August 2024. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025 There also is now a robust operation of activists and attorneys who arrive at these raids soon after the first reporters do to advise people of their rights regarding the sweeps, using megaphones to shout the information in both English and Spanish. Jeffrey Cook, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025 The result of Guston and Kadish’s first major commission was a 1,000-square-foot mural called The Struggle Against Terrorism, which took viewers on a journey from the Spanish Inquisition through the rise of Nazism. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for Spanish 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, adjective, from Middle English Spainish, from Spain

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Spanish was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near Spanish

Cite this Entry

“Spanish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanish. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

Spanish

noun
Span·​ish ˈspan-ish How to pronounce Spanish (audio)
1
: the Romance language of Spain and of the countries colonized by Spaniards
2
Spanish plural : the people of Spain
Spanish adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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