Meaning & use
Iberian Spanish
Last updated
Meaning
proper noununcountable
The Spanish language as spoken in Spain, especially in contrast to Latin American Spanish.
Grammar: Names of languages are uncountable, so you say 'Iberian Spanish is...' not 'are'.
Patterns
- speak Iberian Spanish
- Iberian Spanish pronunciation
She learned Iberian Spanish while studying in Madrid.
Iberian Spanish uses 'vosotros' for the plural 'you', unlike most Latin American varieties.
The course focuses on Iberian Spanish, so students practice the 'th' sound in words like 'gracias'.
Common combinations
- Iberian Spanish speaker
- As an Iberian Spanish speaker, he pronounces 'c' before 'e' as 'th'.
- Iberian Spanish dialect
- Andalusian is an Iberian Spanish dialect with a distinctive accent.
- Iberian Spanish vs Latin American Spanish
- The main difference between Iberian Spanish and Latin American Spanish is the use of 'vosotros'.
- study Iberian Spanish
- She decided to study Iberian Spanish to understand Spanish films better.
Synonyms and how they differ
- European Spanish
- The more common term in British English; 'Iberian Spanish' is more formal and geographical.
- Peninsular Spanish
- A technical term used by linguists; it refers specifically to the Spanish of the Iberian Peninsula.
- Castilian
- Often used for the standard Spanish of Spain, but it can also refer to the historical kingdom or its language.
Commonly confused: Iberian Spanish or Latin American Spanish? Iberian Spanish or Iberian?
Iberian Spanish vs Latin American Spanish
The Spanish spoken in Central and South America; it differs in pronunciation and some vocabulary, and does not use 'vosotros'.
Iberian Spanish vs Iberian
Relating to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal); 'Iberian Spanish' is only one language of that region.
Practice
Which sentence correctly uses 'Iberian Spanish'?
Choose one answer.
Option B correctly uses 'Iberian Spanish' as the name of a language variety. Option An is wrong because language names are uncountable and take a singular verb. Option C confuses the language with nationality, and Mexico is not in Iberia. Option D defines it as a person, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Iberian Spanish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.