hispaniola: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowGeographical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “hispaniola” mean?
An island in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An island in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The second largest island of the Antilles, historically significant as the first European colony established in the Americas by Christopher Columbus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, spelling, or pronunciation.
Connotations
Associated with colonial history, the Age of Discovery, and modern Caribbean geopolitics equally in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation, but standard in geographical and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hispaniola” in a Sentence
the island of ~in ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hispaniola” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Hispaniolan fauna
- Hispaniolan parrot
American English
- Hispaniolan flora
- Hispaniolan culture
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of trade, tourism, or development concerning Haiti/Dominican Republic.
Academic
Common in historical, geographical, and anthropological studies.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation outside specific contexts.
Technical
Standard in cartography, geology, and historical texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hispaniola”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hispaniola”
- Writing it in lowercase ('hispaniola').
- Confusing it with 'Hispanic' or 'Spaniola'.
- Using it as a common noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The name derives from 'La Española', meaning 'The Spanish (Island)', given by Christopher Columbus.
No. Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola.
It is standard in geographical and historical contexts but not in everyday conversation, where people typically refer to the individual countries.
An island in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Hispaniola is usually geographical/historical in register.
Hispaniola: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɪspənˈjəʊlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɪspənˈjoʊlə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIS PAN is in the IOLA: Imagine a historical (HIS) map (PAN) of the island is in a beautiful IOLA (a place name).
Conceptual Metaphor
LAND AS A STAGE FOR HISTORY.
Practice
Quiz
What is Hispaniola?