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

Advertisement Gates’ roughly chronological account weaves together major moments in each group’s history, from the Spanish Inquisition and American slavery to World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026

Popular long-day onions for home gardens include Yellow Spanish, Walla Walla, Red Zeppelin, and Ailsa Craig. —Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026

The Bee Cave City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a conditional amendment to the development of the Village at Spanish Oaks, an 80-acre community that was approved years ago but has not been built. —Naina Srivastava, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026

The new headquarters The new police headquarters is proposed on land along Broken Sound Boulevard between Spanish River Library and the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, where part of IBM used to operate. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for Spanish

• banish
• clannish
• mannish
• vanish

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