Castilian

American  

[ka-stil-yuhn] / kæˈstɪl yən /

noun

1. the dialect of Spanish spoken in Castile.

2. the official standard form of the Spanish language as spoken in Spain, based on this dialect.

3. a native or inhabitant of Castile.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Castile.

Castilian British  

/ kæˈstɪljən /

noun

1. the Spanish dialect of Castile; the standard form of European Spanish

2. a native or inhabitant of Castile

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adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or characteristic of Castile, its inhabitants, or the standard form of European Spanish

Etymology

Origin of Castilian

First recorded in 1520–30; Castile + -ian

Example Sentences

Roast pork belly redolent and tender as Castilian suckling pig.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2025

“No one doubts that the language is called Spanish or Castilian. Our constitution says Castilian, and in the Americas they say Castilian or Spanish,” he added.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 26, 2023

The locals, who may not have been literate, likely told their responses to the surveyors, who wrote them down in old Castilian.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 4, 2022

If we are to believe Mr. Hemingway, high adventure and a lust for blood fuse in the Castilian bullring.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

He pronounced them with the Castilian th sound, that is, with a lisp, an affectation peculiar to many of the Miracle Valley’s old-timers, whereas it could not be found farther south in Mexico.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols