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