The Spanish Language

Spanish is a language spoken by more than 500 million people around the world. It started in a country called Spain a long time ago. Today, many people in South America, Central America, and Mexico speak Spanish. It is one of the most spoken languages on Earth. Many kids in school learn Spanish as a second language.

Where It Came From

Spanish began in a place called Spain in Europe. It grew from an old language called Latin. Long ago, the Romans spoke Latin and brought it to Spain. Over time, people changed the words and made a new language. That new language became Spanish. Spanish is also called Castilian by some people.

An old book with some of the earliest Spanish words ever written.
An old book with some of the earliest Spanish words ever written. (Clergymen in the Middle Ages / Wikimedia Commons)

Where It Is Spoken

Spanish is spoken in over 20 countries. Most of these countries are in Latin America. Mexico has the most Spanish speakers in the world. Spanish is also spoken in parts of the United States. Some people in Africa and Asia speak Spanish too. It is the official language of Spain.

Fun Facts

  • Spanish uses an upside down question mark at the start of a question.
  • The Spanish alphabet has a special letter called enye that looks like an n with a squiggle on top.
  • Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world after Mandarin Chinese.

Did You Know?

In Spanish, to say hello you say hola, and to say thank you you say gracias!