Spain
/speɪn/noun
A country on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe.
Did you know?The most widely accepted explanation links Spain to Phoenician *I-Shaphan-im*, often glossed as “land of hyraxes” or “land of rabbits,” a name outsiders may have used for the Iberian Peninsula.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Phoenician
Phoenician
*I-Shaphan-im
“Possibly “land of hyraxes” or, by later interpretation, “land of rabbits.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
Hispania
“The Iberian peninsula as known to Greek and Roman geographers.”
Classical Latin
Latin
Hispania
“The Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula.”
Old French
Old French
Espagne
“The country of Spain.”
Middle English
English
Spayne
“The name of the country Spain in English usage.”
Modern English
English
Spain
“The modern English name of the country.”