theSpanish

The Spanish, in broad terms, refers to the people of Spain and the Spanish language. It also denotes the cultural traditions linked to Spain and its communities.

Spain's population is about 47 million. Spanish, or Castilian, is the national language, with co-official regional languages in their areas such as Catalan, Basque, and Galician. Globally, Spanish is widely spoken, with hundreds of millions of speakers and official status in many countries, especially in Latin America, plus large Spanish-speaking communities in the United States.

The language originated from Vulgar Latin in the Iberian Peninsula, with influences from pre-Roman languages, Visigothic, and Arabic. Castilian emerged as the standard form in medieval Castile and spread from there. There are numerous regional varieties and dialects across Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world.

History: The modern Spanish state formed in the late 15th century with the union of Castile and Aragon and the expansion overseas. The Spanish Empire spread the language globally. The 20th century saw civil conflict and Franco's dictatorship; democracy began in 1978 with a new constitution. Spain joined the European Union in 1986.

Culture: Spanish literature, painting, architecture, and music have global influence. Notable figures include Cervantes, Velázquez, and Goya. Cuisine, festivals, and football are prominent elements of Spanish culture. The identity of the Spanish continues to reflect regional diversity within a unified national framework.