español

American  

[es-pah-nyawl] / ɛs pɑˈnyɔl /

noun

españoles plural

1. the Spanish language.

2. a native or inhabitant of Spain.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to Spain, the Spanish people, or the Spanish language.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• españoles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of español

First recorded in 1850–55; from Spanish, from Occitan espaignol, from Medieval Latin Hispaniolus, equivalent to Latin Hispān(us) “of Hispania ( def. ) ” + -i- ( def. ) + -olus -ole ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Super Bowl ready: Bad Bunny fans aprendiendo español.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 5, 2026

Gomez resonated with the spectral 1982 ballad “El Muchacho de Los Ojos Tristes,” as originally recorded by the O.G. sad girl en español, Jeanette.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

Otherwise, my dad lived in a world of español, my first language.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2025

We spoke almost exclusively in Spanish, with me slipping into English a few times even though español was my first tongue.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

“En español, señorita,” Señor Ascencio reminded a girl named Beatriz who had asked to go to the bathroom.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez