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Spanish Language Guide

History, global reach and useful everyday phrases

Spanish is one of the world's most widely used languages, connecting Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and communities across the United States. It is practical for travel, business, music, food and daily conversation.

History

Spanish developed from Latin on the Iberian Peninsula and was shaped by centuries of contact with Arabic, regional Romance languages and later Indigenous American languages.

Speakers

Spanish has hundreds of millions of native speakers and is an official language in more than 20 countries, making it one of the most useful languages for international communication.

Fun Facts

  • Spanish uses inverted question and exclamation marks at the start of sentences.
  • Many English words, including patio, plaza and mosquito, came through Spanish.
  • Pronunciation is relatively consistent once you learn the sound of each letter.

Common Phrases

EnglishSpanish
HelloHola
Thank youGracias
PleasePor favor
Where is the station?¿Dónde está la estación?
I would like a coffeeQuisiera un café
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