Spanish
Americanadjective
noun
-
the Spanish people collectively.
-
a Romance language, the language of Spain, standard also in most of Latin America except Brazil. Sp, Sp.
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
-
(functioning as plural) Spaniards collectively
adjective
-
of or relating to the Spanish language or its speakers
-
of or relating to Spain or Spaniards
Usage
Plural word for Spanish The plural form of Spanish can be Spanishes. This is used to refer to different varieties of the Spanish language, as in The Spanishes of Spain and Mexico are quite different. Phrases like varieties of Spanish and Spanish dialects are probably more commonly used to refer to multiple versions of the language, but the plural Spanishes is perfectly acceptable.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Spanish
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at Spain, -ish 1
Compare meaning
How does spanish compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“My first language is Spanish, my second is English. All my friends and everyone in my public schools grew up trying to learn English.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Hugo Ao, a sales manager at food distributor Olivier Pacific, sells Spanish foie gras to restaurants and casinos in Macau.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Not all of those killed in the wildfire have yet been identified, but Spanish authorities have said that three Britons and one national each from France, Belgium and Spain were among the victims.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
He said the company has lost customers to cheaper Chinese suppliers who sell it for around $17 a pound, compared with $28 for Spanish products.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Black men arrive with Columbus as sailors, and other Africans come as soldiers with the Spanish explorers who later conquer and colonize the Caribbean islands and the Americas.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
