Spanish is another one of the Romance languages; that is, it evolved from Latin (the language of ancient Rome). Beginning in northern Spain, it then spread to other parts of the country. More than 500 years ago, Spanish explorers and conquistadors brought the language to the New World.

Here's a news flash: In what is now the United States, Spanish was spoken many years before English was. If you remember your American history class, you'll think back to 1513, when Spaniard Ponce de León arrived in present-day Florida. Not until almost a hundred years later did the English establish their first permanent settlement, at Jamestown, Virginia.

Even after English rule was established and its language adopted, Spanish influence permeated the colonies — and continues to do so. Today, Spanis his the second most common language in the United States, owing in large part to the influx of immigrants from the Spanish-speaking countries to the south and to increased commerce with these countries.

In many cases, Spanish words have been adopted into English with few changes. Some words, like patio, pimento, desperado, and mantilla, didn't change at all. Others, like guitar (from the Spanish guitarra) and ranch (from rancho) have so few changes that an English-speaking person can easily translate the word from its original form.

Commonly Used Spanish Terms

One of the most common contemporary influences of Spanish comes in Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Spanish cooking, which is popular in almost every area of the United States. Foods and drinks from these cuisines have become so commonplace that we hardly think that they're of Spanish origin. This includes tasty delights like tacos, tamales, tapas, paella, tortillas, chili con carne, enchiladas, guacamole, huevos rancheros, tequila, and sangria.