A Spaniard is a person from Spain. That is the whole meaning — but the interesting part is when English speakers actually reach for this word instead of saying "a Spanish person", because they are not equally common.

A Spaniard is a person from Spain.Spaniard指的是西班牙人。That is the whole meaning意思就是這樣 but the interesting part is但有趣的地方在於 when English speakers actually reach for this word英語使用者什麼時候真的會選用這個字 instead of saying "a Spanish person"而不是說「a Spanish person」, because they are not equally common因為這兩種說法並不是一樣常見。

In everyday talk, most people say Spanish, and they use it as an adjective: "my Spanish neighbour", "she's Spanish". Spaniard is the noun, and it shows up mainly in news writing, sports reporting and history books — "the Spaniard won the final in four sets", "the Spaniards arrived in 1519".

In everyday talk在日常對話裡, most people say Spanish大部分人會說Spanish, and they use it as an adjective把它當形容詞用: "my Spanish neighbour", "she's Spanish"「my Spanish neighbour」、「she's Spanish」。Spaniard is the nounSpaniard是名詞, and it shows up mainly in news writing, sports reporting and history books主要出現在新聞、運動報導和歷史書裡 — "the Spaniard won the final in four sets", "the Spaniards arrived in 1519"像「the Spaniard won the final in four sets」、「the Spaniards arrived in 1519」。

In sports especially it is a handy way to name a player again without repeating their name. Countable, so it takes a and a plural: a Spaniard, two Spaniards, the Spaniards. Capital S always.

In sports especially尤其在運動報導裡, it is a handy way to name a player again這是再次稱呼一位選手的方便說法 without repeating their name不用一直重複他的名字。Countable這是可數名詞, so it takes a and a plural所以可以加a、也有複數: a Spaniard, two Spaniards, the Spaniardsa Spaniard、two Spaniards、the Spaniards。Capital S always.S永遠要大寫。

Here is the part your textbook may not tell you. Nouns like this one — words that name a person by their country — are not evenly distributed in English, and some of them have picked up an unfriendly smell over the years. Nobody objects to Spaniard, and you can use it safely. But the same shape appears in words that people now avoid, and the safest habit for a learner is the adjective: "He is Spanish" is never wrong, never cold, and never risky. Save Spaniard for when you need a noun.

Here is the part your textbook may not tell you.這裡是課本可能不會告訴你的部分。Nouns like this one像這樣的名詞 — words that name a person by their country也就是用國家來稱呼一個人的名詞 — are not evenly distributed in English在英文裡並不是平均分布的, and some of them have picked up an unfriendly smell over the years而且有些這類詞經過多年下來染上了不太友善的味道。Nobody objects to Spaniard沒有人會反對Spaniard這個字, and you can use it safely你可以安心使用。But the same shape appears in words that people now avoid但同樣的構詞方式也出現在一些現在大家會避免使用的詞裡, and the safest habit for a learner is the adjective對學習者來說最保險的習慣是用形容詞: "He is Spanish" is never wrong, never cold, and never risky.「He is Spanish」永遠不會錯、不會顯得冷淡、也不會有風險。Save Spaniard for when you need a noun.把Spaniard留到你真的需要名詞的時候再用。

One more small thing worth knowing: people from Spain do not all feel equally Spanish. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, many people would name their own region first. So in a conversation with a real person, "Where are you from?" travels better than any label you supply yourself.

One more small thing worth knowing還有一個值得知道的小地方: people from Spain do not all feel equally Spanish西班牙人並不是每個人對「身為西班牙人」的認同感都一樣強。In Catalonia and the Basque Country在加泰隆尼亞和巴斯克地區, many people would name their own region first很多人會先報自己的地區名。So in a conversation with a real person所以跟真人對話的時候, "Where are you from?"「Where are you from?」 travels better than any label you supply yourself會比你自己貼上的任何標籤都來得好用。