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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Vall d’Ebo wildfire — or incendio forestal in Spanish — started at around 9pm on August 13, 2022. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The Leipzig scenes are both ephemeral and integral; later, Taro will speculate that if the Germans had had the same revolutionary zeal as the Spanish, Hitler might have been defeated. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 The official organizer of Wednesday's protests in Madrid and more than 200 other cities and towns was the nonpartisan Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 Flamenco dancers from Rueda Flamenca lined the garden path while guests walked in, as a nod to Taylor’s mother who is Spanish. — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 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

Phrases Containing Spanish

Rhymes for Spanish

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Browse Nearby Words

span iron
Spanish
Spanish America
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Cite this Entry

“Spanish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanish. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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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