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 Fremaux was interviewed in Spanish talking with the marked Porteño accent of Buenos Aires. John Hopewell, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023 Perched high above street level and privately shielded from view behind giant bougainvillea plants and a big driveway gate, the single-story Spanish hacienda was built in 1950 but recently underwent a renovation. James McClain, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023 My husband is a second-generation immigrant, and our children are bicultural and growing up speaking Spanish and English. Ashoka, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 He was also supposed to deliver a speech in Spanish at the conference and one at the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion, according to Bruni. Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2023 This is a book in Spanish written about mostly Spanish-language artists. Isabelia Herrera, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2023 Among the undergraduate majors set to be purged or restructured were music performance, environmental and community planning, art history, German, Russian, Chinese, French, and Spanish. Oliver Whang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023 Born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the South Bronx, Guzmán graduated from Bronx High School of Science and attended the State University of New York at Old Westbury. Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023 It will be sung in Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles projected above the stage. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Spanish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 6 Dec. 2023.

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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