Overview of the Spanish Language

Spanish is the most widely spoken Romance language in terms of the number of speakers and the number of countries which claim Spanish as the official language. Approximately 275 million people in 19 countries ranging from Spain to Costa Rica speak Spanish. Spanish is also spoken in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, communities in the United States of America, and parts of the west coast of Africa. A variation of the Spanish language, called Ladino, is also spoken in Turkey and Israel by descendents of Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492.

Spanish Vocabulary

Much of Spanish vocabulary stems from Latin, which was introduced to the Iberian peninsula in the 3rd century during the Roman conquest as a dialect, Castilian. During the Christian reconquest of the 15th century, all the kingdoms of Spain were united and the language of Castile became the dominant dialect. Castilian Spanish is spoken in Spain today. Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish differ from region to region. Latin American Spanish, in particular, has evolved since colonization. For example, peach is melocotón in Spain and durazno in Latin America. One notable difference is the inclusion of words from the indigenous languages of Latin America into modern Spanish vocabulary.

Many of the words that begin with "f" in other Romance languages begin with an "h" in Spanish (hilo, thread; hijo, son). Another distinction in the Spanish language is the Moorish influence. Many Spanish vocabulary words beginning with "al-" are of Moorish descent (alfombra, rug; alfiler, pin; almohada, pillow).

English words that come from Spanish vocabulary include cargo, siesta, hacienda, patio, armada, canyon, plaza, rodeo, adobe, vanilla, tornado and embargo.

False Friends

While you are learning Spanish vocabulary, you may see words that seem familiar. However, don't assume that a Spanish word always means exactly what you think it does! For example, the following words look like English words, but don't mean the same things: If you tell someone you are embarazada, you are really telling them you are pregnant! If you want to go study at the librería, you are headed for the bookstore! If you'd like some nice fábrica for a new dress, you'll be wearing a factory!

Formal and Informal Address in the Spanish Language

As you learn Spanish, you will learn two ways to address someone, familiar and formal. The familiar form of you is tú and verbs used with tú are conjugated in the 2nd person. The formal form of you is usted and verbs used with usted are conjugated in the 3rd person. The familiar form is used with friends or with people who are younger you. The formal form is used when you speak Spanish with elders or people you don't know.

One marked difference between Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish is the use of vosotros and ustedes. Vosotros, used only in Spain, is the informal plural form of you and the corresponding verb is conjugated in the 2nd person plural. Ustedes is the formal, plural form of you. However, in Latin America, ustedes is used for both the formal and informal address for 2nd person plural but the corresponding verb is conjugated in the 3rd person plural form. For example, "Vosotros estáis felices " and "Ustedes están felices" (You are happy) mean the exact same thing, but the former would only be used in Spain.

Spanish Grammar and Spanish Pronunciation

While an English speaker who is learning Spanish may recognize some Spanish vocabulary, there are several things that can trick an English speaker trying to learn Spanish grammar. For example, unlike English words, Spanish nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and articles have a gender assigned to them. For instance, casa (house) is feminine and libro (book) is masculine; bonita (pretty) is feminine and bonito (pretty) is masculine. This concept can be difficult to get used to because it simply does not exist in English.

Spanish is pronounced phonetically. However, Spanish pronunciation varies from country to country. This difference is especially prominent in the pronunciation of the letters "z", "s", "c", "ll" and "y." The Spanish pronunciation of certain letters can also be difficult for those learning to speak Spanish. The most notable sound that is difficult for English speakers learning Spanish is rr, which is trilled. The letters b and v are indistinguishable. The letter h is silent.

In the Spanish language, there are two verbs for "to be, " ser and estar. Ser is used for things that are permanent, identifying yourself or others, and describing occupations. Estar is used to describe more temporary things and to indicate location. For example, Elena es actriz (Elena is an actress) and ¿Dónde está Elena? (Where is Elena?) use ser and estar, respectively.

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