| Spanish is the official language of Spain. However, | | | | Latin Americans use it to differentiate their own variety |
| since the Spanish language is being spoken in 43 other | | | | of Spanish as opposed to the variety of Spanish |
| countries, this shows how widely popular the Spanish | | | | spoken in Spain, or vice-versa. |
| language is. The language is spoken most extensively | | | | Different variations of the Spanish language are being |
| in both Americas, Spain and to a small extent in Africa | | | | spoken in various regions of Spain and throughout |
| and Pacific Asia. It is also the second most widely | | | | Spanish-speaking America. Pronunciation following the |
| spoken language in the United States and by far the | | | | Castilian dialect is regarded as the national standard in |
| most popular studied foreign language in U.S. schools | | | | Spain. Or, simply put, with standard Spanish they mean |
| and Universities. | | | | pronouncing it as it is written. |
| Spanish had its first origins as a Latin dialect in Northern | | | | On the other hand, various regions around the world |
| Spain. It eventually became the Spain's principal | | | | that speak Spanish have spawned different meanings |
| language. It was then spread by explorers around the | | | | of the same words. Same words can have different |
| world. Spanish is now spoken by nearly 400 million | | | | meaning, even embarrassingly so, in different Spanish |
| native speakers making Spanish the most spoken | | | | speaking countries. Most native Spanish speakers can |
| language and possibly the second most spoken | | | | recognize other Spanish forms, even in places where |
| language by number of native speakers. | | | | they are not commonly used. However, for a person |
| In America, Spanish is the most popular foreign | | | | who is learning Spanish as a second language, |
| language spoken as well as studied at schools and | | | | sometimes the different meanings of Spanish words |
| universities. Spanish is also being recognized on a more | | | | can be very confusing if not familiar with other Spanish |
| global scale in other areas such as film, TV, music and | | | | forms. |
| literature. At the United Nations, it is one of six official | | | | For example, in Mexico, 'taco' is food, while in Spain it |
| working languages. | | | | means swear word. The everyday Spanish words |
| Because of Arabic influences, Spanish and Portuguese | | | | 'coger' (to catch, get, or pick up) and 'pisar' (to step on) |
| have many grammatical and vocabulary similarities. | | | | are considered extremely rude in parts of Latin |
| Another language that Spanish shares many similarities | | | | America, where the meaning of 'coger' and 'pisar' is |
| with is Italian. For that reason it is usually relatively easy | | | | also "to have sex." |
| for speakers of Spanish and Italian to communicate. | | | | Other than the different forms of many Spanish |
| Between the 16th and the 18th century, Spanish was | | | | words, when speaking Spanish, it is important to know |
| the main language across many parts of Europe. By | | | | where to place the stress on words. Different stress |
| the 18th century it was replaced by French. From the | | | | patterns of the same word can result in totally |
| 20th century Spanish was also taken to areas such | | | | different meanings for one and the same word. Take |
| as Equatorial Guinea and Western Sahara. | | | | for instance the word 'practico'. When the stress is |
| The country with the largest Spanish speaking | | | | placed on the first syllable [pronounced |
| population is Mexico, where around 106 million people | | | | PRAHK-tee-koh], it means "practical." When the stress |
| speak it. Other countries with the next largest Spanish | | | | is placed on the second syllable [pronounced |
| speaking populations are Colombia, Spain and | | | | prahk-TEE-koh], it means "I practice." When the stress |
| Argentina. Spanish is also recognized as the official | | | | is placed on the third syllable [pronounced |
| language of 20 independent countries. Because of | | | | prahk-tee-KOH], it means "you (formal)/he/she/it |
| trading with their Spanish-speaking neighbors, Brazil is | | | | practiced." |
| also recognizing Spanish as an important language. | | | | Spanish is an extremely interesting language, becoming |
| Spanish people tend to call their language español | | | | more interesting the more you learn it. Learning Spanish |
| when comparing it with foreign languages, such as | | | | would open the door to a rapidly growing culture in the |
| French and English. But when comparing it to other | | | | United States as well as broaden your personal and |
| languages spoken in Spain (Basque, Catalan and | | | | professional future. Other than making you very |
| Galician) they call it castellano i.e. Castilian, the language | | | | marketable in the job search, learning Spanish will |
| of the Castile region. The name castellano is widely | | | | make travel to the Spanish speaking countries, such as |
| used as a whole in Latin America. As a matter of fact, | | | | Mexico and Spain, easier and much more enjoyable. |