What does "spanish" mean?
People of Spain, collectively.
Spanish
/ˈspænɪʃ/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: People of Spain, collectively.
- Grammar: spanish is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: spanish language, andalusian architecture, architecture, castilian.
- Useful contrasts: catalan ciutat, catalan exemple, catalan lletra.
- Usage evidence: Some knowledge of foreign languages, of Spanish in particular, is essential.
How to use "spanish"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "spanish" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "spanish" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "spanish" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "spanish" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "spanish" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "spanish language" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "spanish", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 People of Spain, collectively. collective, countable, plural, uncountable
"The Spanish are not the only ones selling their goods along the wharves and the inner streets."
- 2 the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain wordnet
- 3 Spanish cuisine; traditional Spanish food. uncountable
- 4 the people of Spain wordnet
- 5 People of Hispanic origin; one whose first language is Spanish. US, collective, countable, in-plural, informal, nonstandard, uncountable
"Sixty-four percent more Spanish are functionally illiterate compared to Anglos in Lubbock (only 15 percent more of nonwhites than Anglos)."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Money. UK, obsolete, slang, uncountable
"Jack Ar. […] I must come back to father — and what then? — he won't give me the Spanish. Project. The Spanish! — now what the devil's that? Jack Ar. Why, ready money, not credit or paper."
Verb
- 1 To subject to spanishing, a printing process in which an ink is deposited on the bottoms and sides of depressions formed in a plastic material
"Such papers have been print-embossed or spanished to obtain special effects."
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to Spain. not-comparable
"Spanish borders"
- 2 Of or pertaining to the people or culture of Spain. not-comparable
"Spanish cuisines"
- 3 Of or pertaining to the Spanish language. not-comparable
"Spanish verbs"
- 4 Of or pertaining to Hispanic people or their culture. Canada, US, informal, nonstandard, not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to or characteristic of Spain or the people of Spain wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A Romance language primarily spoken in Spain and in the Americas. uncountable
""If he speaks Spanish, my daughter can converse with him ; she has but shortly arrived from Spain.""
- 2 A town in Ontario, Canada. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
catalan ciutatcatalan exemplecatalan lletracatalan adjectiu
Example
"Some knowledge of foreign languages, of Spanish in particular, is essential."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "spanish"?
Common synonyms include: spanish language, andalusian architecture, architecture, castilian, castilian language, english.
How do you use "spanish" in a sentence?
Some knowledge of foreign languages, of Spanish in particular, is essential.
How do you pronounce "spanish"?
Pronounced /ˈspænɪʃ/.
Etymology
From Middle English Spainish, Spanish, equivalent to Spain + -ish.