ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spain

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈspeɪn// spain

n. a large country in southwestern Europe. It is famous for its warm weather, beautiful beaches, and historic cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

n. a sovereign state located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, with its territory also including two archipelagos and two autonomous cities in North Africa.


SIMPLE

We are planning to visit Spain next summer.

CONTEXTUAL

Many people move to southern Spain to enjoy the Mediterranean climate and the relaxed pace of life.

COMPLEX

The constitutional monarchy of Spain is divided into seventeen autonomous communities, each possessing its own unique cultural heritage and varying degrees of administrative self-governance.

Synonyms
Origin

Etymology tree Latin Hispānia Old French Espaignebor. Middle English Spayne English Spain From Middle English Spayne, from Anglo-Norman Espayne, from Late Latin Spania, from earlier Latin Hispānia. Displaced Old English Ispania, which was borrowed directly from Latin. Doublet of Hispania.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized and typically used without an article.

© 2026 English Reference