castellano
“castellano” means “Spanish” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Spanish
Also: Castilian
📝 In Action
En Argentina, la gente suele decir que habla castellano.
A1In Argentina, people usually say they speak Spanish.
Prefiero estudiar castellano porque me gusta el acento de Madrid.
A2I prefer to study Castilian because I like the Madrid accent.
El castellano es uno de los idiomas más hablados del mundo.
B1Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world.
Castilian
Also: Spanish-style
📝 In Action
El queso castellano es famoso por su sabor fuerte.
B1Castilian cheese is famous for its strong flavor.
Visitamos varios pueblos castellanos durante nuestras vacaciones.
B2We visited several Castilian villages during our vacation.
La literatura castellana medieval es fascinante.
C1Medieval Castilian literature is fascinating.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: castellano
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the most common synonym for 'castellano' when referring to a language?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from 'Castilla' (Castile), which comes from the Latin word 'castellum' (castle). The region was named for the numerous defensive castles built there during the middle ages.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to say 'español' or 'castellano'?
Neither is 'better.' Both are correct. In Spain, 'castellano' is common to distinguish it from other local languages. In Latin America, countries like Argentina prefer 'castellano,' while Mexico prefers 'español.'
Does 'castellano' only refer to the accent from Spain?
Not necessarily. While it can refer to that specific dialect, millions of people use the word 'castellano' to refer to the entire Spanish language regardless of the accent.
Should I capitalize 'castellano'?
No. In Spanish, names of languages and nationalities are written in lowercase (unless they are the first word in a sentence).