español
/ehs-pah-NYOHL/
Spanish
This image shows the colors of the Spanish flag, representing something relating to Spain.
📝 In Action
La bandera español es roja y amarilla.
A1The Spanish flag is red and yellow.
Me gusta mucho el vino español.
A1I really like Spanish wine.
El arte español tiene una historia muy rica.
B1Spanish art has a very rich history.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Description
As an adjective, 'español' must match the thing it describes (the noun) in gender and whether it is singular or plural. Use 'española' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'la comida española').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Tilde
Mistake: "Espanol (without the ñ)"
Correction: Español. The 'ñ' is a separate letter and necessary for correct spelling and pronunciation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
Adjectives of nationality almost always go after the noun they describe: 'la gente español' (the Spanish people), not 'la español gente'.
This illustration represents the Spanish language being spoken.
📝 In Action
¿Estás estudiando español?
A1Are you studying Spanish?
El español es mi idioma favorito.
A1Spanish is my favorite language.
Hay muchas palabras de origen árabe en el español.
B2There are many words of Arabic origin in Spanish.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When referring to the language, 'español' is always a masculine noun, so it takes the masculine article 'el' (el español).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Capitalization
Mistake: "Quiero aprender Español."
Correction: Quiero aprender español. In Spanish, names of languages are generally not capitalized unless they start a sentence.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Castellano'
In Spain, both 'español' and 'castellano' are used. In many parts of Latin America, 'castellano' is preferred to avoid confusion with other languages spoken in Spain (like Catalan or Basque).
This image shows a male Spaniard, a person from Spain.
📝 In Action
Mi amigo es un español muy amable.
A1My friend is a very kind Spaniard.
Los españoles son conocidos por la siesta.
A2Spaniards (the people of Spain) are known for the siesta.
💡 Grammar Points
Referring to Groups
To talk about the people of Spain as a whole (men and women combined), you use the masculine plural form: 'los españoles'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Specificity
Mistake: "Ella es español."
Correction: Ella es española. If the person is female, you must use the feminine form of the noun/adjective.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Article
When using 'español' as a noun for a person, you must use an article ('un', 'el', 'los') before it, unless it follows the verb 'ser' (to be).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: español
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'español' as a noun (the language)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I capitalize 'español' when talking about the language?
No. In Spanish, names of languages (like inglés, francés, or español) are generally written in lowercase, unless they are the first word in a sentence.
What is the difference between 'español' and 'castellano'?
They both refer to the same language. 'Castellano' (Castilian) is often used to emphasize its origin in the region of Castile, and is preferred in some Latin American countries to distinguish it from other languages spoken in Spain.