Spanish

[ span-ish ]

/ ˈspæn ɪʃ /

adjective

of or relating to Spain, its people, or their language.

noun

the Spanish people collectively.

a Romance language, the language of Spain, standard also in most of Latin America except Brazil. Abbreviation: Sp, Sp.

Origin of Spanish

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at Spain, -ish¹

Related forms

an·ti-Span·ish, adjectivehalf-Span·ish, adjectivenon-Span·ish, adjective, nounpre-Span·ish, adjective

pro-Span·ish, adjectivepseu·do-Span·ish, adjectivequa·si-Span·ish, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for spanish

According to some rumors, Goya was once on staff before his fame as a Spanish painter.
Inside The World’s 10 Oldest Restaurants|Justin Jones|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This concern ceased after the Spanish warned of severe punitive measures on the family members of suicides.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hatuey replied that he would rather burn and be sent to hell than ever again encounter people as cruel as the Spanish.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“They also were responsible for the Barcelona subway plot,” a plan disrupted by Spanish law enforcement in 2008.
Pakistani School Killers Want to Strike the U.S.|Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A more recent phenomenon in the political universe is politicians of Hispanic heritage who are not fluent in Spanish.
Which Potential Candidates Speak Spanish—and Will It Matter?|Eleanor Clift|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Ignacio knew that the Spanish officer was glad enough to believe the story the spy told him.
A Prisoner of Morro|Upton Sinclair
In his brief he spoke in the highest terms of the Spanish episcopate, and of the piety and heroic devotion of the priesthood.
The War Upon Religion|Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
We give no quarter now, since those Spanish wretches have commenced shooting their prisoners in cold blood.
Young Glory and the Spanish Cruiser|Walter Fenton Mott
The speaker, it will be seen, is supposed to be a young Spanish lady.
Clare Avery|Emily Sarah Holt
"It is well that you come," said Tim to Cortinez in Spanish.
The Killer|Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for spanish

Spanish

/ (ˈspænɪʃ) /

noun

the official language of Spain, Mexico, and most countries of South and Central America except Brazil: also spoken in Africa, the Far East, and elsewhere. It is the native language of approximately 200 million people throughout the world. Spanish is an Indo-European language belonging to the Romance group

the Spanish (functioning as plural) Spaniards collectively

adjective

of or relating to the Spanish language or its speakers

of or relating to Spain or Spaniards

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for spanish

Spanish

c.1200, from Spaine "Spain," from Old French Espaigne (see Spaniard). Replaced Old English Speonisc. For Spanish Main see main. Spanish moss is attested from 1823. Spanish fly, the fabled aphrodisiac (ground-up cantharis blister-beetles), is attested from c.1600. Spanish-American War was so called in British press speculations early 1898, even before it began in April. For Spanish Inquisition (by c.1600), see Inquisition.

Spanish

adjective

noun

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Origin of Spanish

Examples from the Web for spanish

British Dictionary definitions for spanish

Spanish

noun

adjective

Word Origin and History for spanish

Spanish