española
/es-pah-NYOH-lah/
Spanish
A Spanish fan (una abanico española) represents the feminine adjective form of the word.
española(adjective)
Spanish
?describing a feminine object or concept
of Spain
?origin or nationality
📝 In Action
Me encanta la música española.
A1I love Spanish music.
La bandera española es roja y amarilla.
A1The Spanish flag is red and yellow.
Ella tiene la nacionalidad española.
A2She has Spanish nationality.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching with Feminine Words
Use 'española' when the thing you are describing is feminine. If the thing is masculine, you must use 'español' instead.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Capitalize
Mistake: "la cultura Española"
Correction: la cultura española
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
Like most descriptive words in Spanish, 'española' usually goes after the word it describes (e.g., 'guitarra española').
A Spanish woman (una española) in traditional dress.
📝 In Action
Mi nueva jefa es una española muy simpática.
A1My new boss is a very nice Spanish woman.
Dos españolas ganaron el torneo de tenis.
A2Two Spanish women won the tennis tournament.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Articles
When talking about a person's nationality after 'ser' (to be), you don't usually need 'una'. Say 'Ella es española' rather than 'Ella es una española'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Group Gender
Mistake: "Las españolas"
Correction: Los españoles
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: española
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the correct way to say 'The Spanish city'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'español' and 'española'?
Both mean 'Spanish.' Use 'español' for men or masculine objects (like 'el libro') and 'española' for women or feminine objects (like 'la casa').
Does 'española' also refer to the language?
While the language is called 'el español' (masculine), you can use 'española' when describing the language specifically as 'la lengua española' (the Spanish tongue).