spain: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “spain” mean?
A country located in southwestern Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A country located in southwestern Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula.
Metonymically used to refer to the Spanish government, culture, people, or national team. Historically, a symbol of exploration, empire, or bullfighting culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or pronunciation. Minor potential differences in cultural associations due to proximity (UK) vs. distance (US).
Connotations
UK: Common holiday destination, historical rivalries, football. US: Spanish language, historical exploration (Conquistadors), specific regions (e.g., Andalusia, Catalonia).
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects, with slight potential for higher frequency in UK media due to geographic proximity and tourism.
Grammar
How to Use “spain” in a Sentence
[preposition] + Spain: in, to, from, ofVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spain” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as a standalone adjective; use 'Spanish'.
American English
- Not applicable as a standalone adjective; use 'Spanish'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The company is expanding its operations into Spain."
Academic
"The treaty of Utrecht reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Spain."
Everyday
"We're going on holiday to Spain this summer."
Technical
"The seismic activity in southern Spain is closely monitored."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spain”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spain”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spain”
- Using lowercase ('spain') incorrectly. It is always capitalized as a proper noun.
- Confusing 'Spain' (the country) with 'Spanish' (the language or adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'Spain' is exclusively a proper noun. The adjective and language name is 'Spanish'.
'Spain' is the name of the country. 'Spanish' is the adjective (Spanish culture) or the name of the language (I speak Spanish).
It is a proper noun, the specific name of a country, and all proper nouns are capitalized in English.
Primarily, no. It is a geographic and political entity. However, it is used metonymically to refer to its national sports teams or government (e.g., 'Spain voted in favor').
A country located in southwestern Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula.
Spain is usually neutral to formal in register.
Spain: in British English it is pronounced /speɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /speɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Build castles in Spain (to have unrealistic dreams)”
- “Take French leave (older, synonymous with 'take Spanish leave')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPAIN: Sunny Places Are In Nice (countries).
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER (for culture, people, government); A PERSON (in sports: 'Spain wins'); A DESTINATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct demonym for a person from Spain?