Trade, money & lettersMyths & disputes

Spain

Spain comes from Latin Hispānia. The famous story that this is Phoenician i-shpanim, 'land of hyraxes (rabbits)', is ancient and charming but unproven. Hispania's descendants name Spain across Europe, gave English the spaniel, 'Spanish dog', and the US census its category 'Hispanic'.

Weakest linkDisputed

The story you may have heard

'Spain means "land of rabbits" in Phoenician.' The i-shpanim / ʾī šapān etymology is the most quoted theory, but no Phoenician form is attested and specialists treat it as one speculation among several.

The road to English

From Late Latin to Spanish, Arabic

From Late Latin to Portuguese

From Late Latin to Italian

From Late Latin to Old French, French

From Late Latin to German

From Latin to Polish, Russian

From Anglo-Norman to Middle English

From English to Japanese

From Latin to American English

800 BCEPhoenician

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

Spain

Weakest linkDisputed

The road to English

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