castellano

See also: Castellano

English

Etymology

From Spanish castellano (“Castilian”), from Medieval Latin Castella (“Castile, Land of Fortresses”) + -ānus (“-an: forming adjectives”), from Latin castrum (“fort”) + -ella (“-elle: forming diminutives”). Doublet of Castilian, castellanus, castellan, and chatelain.

Noun

castellano (plural castellanos)

1. (historical) A traditional Spanish unit of mass, equivalent to about 4.8 g.
2. (historical) A former Spanish coin, notionally equivalent to a castellano of gold.

Coordinate terms

• (unit of mass): grano (¹⁄₉₆ castellano), tomin (¹⁄₈ castellano), escrupulo (¹⁄₄ castellano), adarme (³⁄₈ castellano), ochava (³⁄₄ castellano), onza (6 castellanos)
• (coin): tomin (¹⁄₈ castellano), adarme (³⁄₈ castellano)

Further reading

• “castellano”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Asturian

Adjective

castellano

1. neuter of castellanu

Italian

Etymology

From Latin castellānus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.stelˈla.no/
• Rhymes: -ano
• Hyphenation: ca‧stel‧là‧no

Adjective

castellano (feminine castellana, masculine plural castellani, feminine plural castellane)

1. (relational) castle

Noun

castellano m (plural castellani, feminine castellana)

1. lord of a castle; castellan

Further reading

• castellano¹ in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
• castellano² in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Anagrams

• toscanella

Spanish

Usage of español (in blue) and castellano (in red) in reference to the Spanish language in Spanish-speaking countries. Note usage varies by country.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /kasteˈʝano/ [kas.t̪eˈʝa.no]

• IPA^(key): (most of Spain and Latin America) /kasteˈʝano/ [kas.t̪eˈʝa.no]
• IPA^(key): (rural northern Spain, Andes Mountains, Paraguay, Philippines) /kasteˈʎano/ [kas.t̪eˈʎa.no]
• IPA^(key): (Buenos Aires and environs) /kasteˈʃano/ [kas.t̪eˈʃa.no]
• IPA^(key): (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay) /kasteˈʒano/ [kas.t̪eˈʒa.no]

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ano
• Syllabification: cas‧te‧lla‧no

Etymology 1

From Latin Castellānus (“Castilian”), from Castella (“Castile”) + -ānus (“-an: forming adjectives”), q.v.

Adjective

castellano (feminine castellana, masculine plural castellanos, feminine plural castellanas)

1. Castilian (of, from or relating to (kingdom or region) Castile)
2. (sometimes offensive) Spanish (of or related to Spain, particularly the Castilian or European forms of the Spanish language)

   Synonym: español

Noun

castellano m (plural castellanos, feminine castellana, feminine plural castellanas)

1. Castilian (native or inhabitant of (kingdom or region) Castile) (male or of unspecified gender)

Noun

castellano m (uncountable)

1. Castilian Spanish (the dialect of the kingdom or region of Castile)
2. (inexact) European Spanish, Spanish Spanish (the dialects of Spain generally, particularly as opposed to those in Latin America)
3. (sometimes offensive) Spanish (the Spanish language generally)

   Synonym: español

Usage notes

• Acceptance of the use of castellano in reference to all Spanish varies by area and may have offensive colonial connotations. It is particularly common in Argentinian and Peruvian Spanish and particularly uncommon in Mexican Spanish. In Spain, both castellano and español are widely accepted, but usage varies by region.

Similarly, the usage of español may also be considered offensive in some parts of Spain, due to the implication that it is the only or the main Spanish language, with the other languages of Spain being relegated to second place.

Derived terms

• castellanamente
• castellanía
• castellanidad
• castellanismo
• castellanista
• castellanizar
• castellano antiguo
• castellano y leonés
• castellanohablante
• castellanoleonés
• castellanomanchego
• castellanoparlante

 

Related terms

• Castilla

 

Noun

castellano m (plural castellanos) (historical)

1. castellano (a traditional unit of mass, equivalent to about 4.8 g)
2. castellano (a former Spanish coin, notionally equivalent to a castellano of gold)

Coordinate terms

• (unit of mass): grano (¹⁄₉₆ castellano), tomín (¹⁄₈ castellano), escrúpulo (¹⁄₄ castellano), adarme (³⁄₈ castellano), ochava (³⁄₄ castellano), onza (6 castellanos)
• (coin): tomín (¹⁄₈ castellano), adarme (³⁄₈ castellano)

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin castellānus (“castellan”), from castellum (“castle, fortress”) + -ānus (“-an: forming adjectives”).

Noun

castellano m (plural castellanos, feminine castellana, feminine plural castellanas)

1. (chiefly historical) castellan (the lord or caretaker of a castle)

Related terms

• castillo

 

Further reading

• “castellano”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10