Español: meaning, definitions and examples
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Español
[ espaɲol ]
language
Español, often referred to as Spanish, is a Romance language that originated in the Iberian Peninsula and has since spread across the world. It is the second most spoken language in the world by native speakers and is an official language in multiple countries.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I am learning Español to communicate better with my friends.
- In many countries, Español is the primary language of education.
- Español is widely used in various forms of media, including films and books.
Etymology
The term 'Español' derives from the Latin word 'Hispania', which referred to the Iberian Peninsula. Over the centuries, as the language evolved from Vulgar Latin, it was influenced by various languages, including Arabic due to the Moorish occupation of Spain. The unification of Spain in the late 15th century under the Catholic Monarchs led to the standardization of the language, which became known as 'Castilian' or 'Español' to distinguish it from other regional languages such as Catalan and Galician. With the colonization of the Americas and other territories, Español spread globally and incorporated numerous words from indigenous languages. Today, it continues to evolve and adapt to different cultures, leading to a rich variety of dialects.