What is Spanish?

Spanish is one of several languages that stems from Latin, and is hence known as a Romance language. The Spanish language established itself in Spain, and from there, it expanded into other countries around the world. Spanish is a language that is used in over eighteen countries and spoken in places extending from Spain to North and South America. Some of these countries include Mexico, Columbia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, and the United States.

Many basic Spanish words are frequently used and recognized even if one does not take a formal Spanish class. However, learning to speak, read, and write in Spanish are valuable skills. Spanish is considered a global language, with over 400 million native Spanish speakers. Thirty-one million of them live in the United States. Proficiency in Spanish opens doors for job and career opportunities and provides a foundation for learning other languages. Unlike some languages, Spanish has strict grammar rules and is a language that has several cognates or words that sound like English words and have the same meaning. When learning a second language, students will often learn more about their native language.

As with any language, each part overlaps with the other areas, so practicing only vocabulary or grammar would not be as beneficial or allow fluency. All areas of the language should be learned and practiced simultaneously. Embracing the challenge of learning a new language, such as Spanish, requires dedication to learning new vocabulary, studying the grammar rules, and practicing speaking and pronunciation.

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Spanish Topics

Spanish Literature

Explore the history of Spanish literature. Study different periods in literature from Spain with examples, discover famous Spanish authors, and view a timeline.

Spanish Resources

A simple search would show that there are thousands of resources available for learning how to speak Spanish. Accessible, self-paced, and easy-to-practice lessons are available for various formal levels and even for learning conversational Spanish. Study.com's resources lend themselves to learners with a wide range of goals, including beginning and intermediate courses and courses that focus on Spanish used in education.

Spanish Courses

The variety of Spanish courses delves into the foundation of grammar, sentence structure, and conversation in Spanish. In Study.com courses, learners will embrace a new culture while studying new vocabulary and practicing speaking with everything from basic questions to discussing social life and relationships. These courses are easy-to-use and self-paced, providing learners with short video lessons and resources to help them succeed.

Spanish 101: Beginning Spanish

This course establishes a foundation of basic vocabulary and conversational practices. From greetings and introductions to descriptions of household items, to numbers, dates, and then the practice of verb conjugation, Spanish 101 is relevant and useful.
Spanish 102: Intermediate Spanish

Building on the beginning course, Intermediate Spanish explores grammar rules such as informal imperatives and the imperfect present tense. This course also focuses on practicing discussion in areas like health, safety, work, politics, and more.
Spanish 105: Spanish for the Workplace

This course provides useful and relevant lessons that are practical for the workplace. Some of the primary topics include culture and etiquette in Spanish, Spanish terms for technology, interviews, business communication, and even negotiations and meetings.
Spanish for Teachers

This course helps educators learn applicable Spanish for the classroom setting and for situations on the school site. Beginning with foundational skills, this course moves into lessons like advice in Spanish as well as strategies for teaching ELL students.

Spanish Test Prep for Teachers and Students

Spanish Test Prep

Whether test-takers are interested in earning college credit for their Spanish knowledge via test or are preparing to teach others how to speak Spanish, they can use Study.com's study guides and test prep courses to prepare for these important exams. Those wishing to take the CLEP test for college credit can study with the CLEP Spanish Language Study Guide, which covers Spanish vocabulary, parts of speech, verb tenses, and everyday communication skills. Future teachers can take advantage of the Praxis Spanish Test Practice to review Spanish conversational topics, verbs, literary terms, and skills for reading Spanish texts. Several other study guides are also available to help test-takers succeed on Spanish language exams.

Tests
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are basic words in Spanish?

    Some of the basic words in Spanish include hola (hello), adios (goodbye), gracias (thank you), de nada (you're welcome), por favor (please), sí (yes), and no (no) Some of the basic questions in Spanish include como te llama? (what is your name?) and qué hora tienes (what time is it)?

  • What are the countries that speak Spanish?

    Some of the countries that speak Spanish include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia, Argentina, and Spain. The United States also has a significant number of Spanish-speaking residents.