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
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This includes students who took the test in English and Spanish. Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2025 Call 211 Dial 211, available 24/7 in English and Spanish, across all South Florida counties. Flor Paz, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025 The report also stated that local harbor pilots helping maneuver the ship gave commands in English that were translated into Spanish for the ship's crew. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 30 June 2025 Suzanne Jill Levine is Distinguished Research Professor Emerita of Spanish and Portuguese at University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, and recipient of the 2024 PEN/Ralph Manheim Award for Translation, which recognizes the translator’s lifetime achievements. Suzanne Jill Levine june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Spanish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanish. Accessed 4 Jul. 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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