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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About a dozen sisters hailing from Italy, the Philippines, Poland and elsewhere take calls from around the world, predominantly in Italian, English and Spanish. Giovanna Dell’orto, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025 Catalonia has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish; especially outside of Barcelona, locals may be more likely to converse in Catalan. Coke Bartrina, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2025 View Comments Guitarist Sergio Vallin recalled performing in Tel Aviv several years ago and seeing people singing in Spanish. Sandra Gonzalez, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025 And just to the south, the Historic Spanish Point campus offers the opportunity to learn about the region’s collection of native Florida plantings. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 Mar. 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 21 Mar. 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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