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Spanish language

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Ancient stone structures at the Tahai Ceremonial Complex in Rapa Nui National Park, Chile.

Spanish Language

Spanish is a beautiful language spoken by many people around the world. It is also called español or Castilian (castellano). Spanish belongs to the Indo-European language family and grew from the Vulgar Latin spoken on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe.

Today, over 519 million people speak Spanish as their first language. Most live in Spain and the Americas. Around 636 million people speak Spanish in total, including those who speak it as a second language. Spanish is the official language of 20 countries. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is the world’s second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese.

Spanish is a Romance language, which means it comes from Latin. About 75% of its words have Latin roots. It is very popular to learn in schools around the world, along with English and French. Spanish is also commonly used on the internet and by many important groups like the United Nations, the European Union, and the Organization of American States.

Where Spanish Is Spoken

Spanish is the main language in many countries. About 519 million people speak Spanish as their first language. Most Spanish speakers live in Hispanic America, especially in Mexico. In the European Union, some people speak Spanish as their first language, and others use it as a second language. Spanish is also very common in the United States. Many people there speak Spanish, and the number is growing as more people from Spanish-speaking countries move to the U.S. and learn the language in schools and media.

Fun Facts About Spanish

  • Spanish has 27 letters in its alphabet, including ñ (called eñe), which is an n with a small tilde (~) on top.
  • Questions and exclamations in Spanish start with special upside-down marks (¿ and ¡) before the regular ones.
  • The Royal Spanish Academy was founded in 1713 to help keep the Spanish language consistent. It makes dictionaries and grammar guides used in schools and news reports.

Learning Spanish can open up many new worlds of friends, books, and cultures to explore!

Images

An animated map showing how languages changed across Southwestern Europe from the year 1000 to 2000.
A historical illustration from a 15th-century Spanish manuscript, showcasing intricate art and figures from the era.
A sign from Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, showcasing local language and culture.
Map showing areas where the Chavacano language is spoken.
Portrait of the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes, painted in the 17th century.
Map showing the main varieties of the Spanish language around the world.
Map showing where the 'voseo' form of Spanish is used across different countries.
An ancient manuscript page from the epic poem 'The Lay of the Cid', showing beautifully handwritten text from the 12th century.
An ancient manuscript page from the Cartularios of Valpuesta, one of the earliest examples of the Old Castilian language.
Historical newspaper cover from the Philippines during the Spanish era.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Spanish language, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.