is there a difference between Español and Castellano?

Question

are they the same thing?

Welcome Greg. I put the "ñ " in Español & removed the "s" from Castellano. Hope that's ok. - lagartijaverde, May 13, 2013

Welcome to the forum! - pmikan-pam, May 13, 2013

Answer 1

Español is the official language of Spain and Latin America. Castellano is the Spanish spoken in Castilla la Vieja, which gave basis to what we know as Spanish today.

Revision: From RAE

m. Dialecto románico nacido en Castilla la Vieja, del que tuvo su origen la lengua española. Check out this link.

I m sorry but this is not correct - lliones, May 13, 2013

Not correct. castellano is one of the four official languages in Spain. - chileno, May 13, 2013

Answer 2

Here in Spain the words Castellano and Español are pretty interchangeable. I hear Castellano referenced more often in this region: Països Catalans by non Catalan speakers.

The Catalans of course, call Castellano Espanyol

Here's the background: Castellano

Yes, pretty interchangeable, castellano being seen as ' the Queens' Englsish'. - annierats, May 13, 2013

Answer 3

Spanish was derived from Castellano which came from Latin

Latin > Castellano > Spanish

Andalucian, Galician and Castellano spanish have just minor deviations from traditional spanish.

The Basques, however, in northwestern Spain have their own language. It has no known origin and is not spanish. A Basque that speaks only his language will not understand spanish.

All others in Spain will understand traditional spanish.

Spanish does not derive from Castellano. They are the same language. Castilian/Spanish do derive from the Castilian branch, but you make it seem that Spanish is a completely different language. They are the same language both under the Castilian branch. - modrak, May 13, 2013

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Western > Ibero Romance > West Iberian > Castillian languages > Spanish/Castilian - modrak, May 13, 2013

Answer 4

El castellano es común a toda España.

EDIT:

In Chile, everybody used to say castellano, but now that many people are learning to speak English or has come back from an European country, many more people are given to call it Spanish. I would venture to say though that still the majority of Chilean call it castellano. And the subject in school is, I do believe, still castellano.

Before it used to be Spanish=Castellano

But today if you say Spanish, it could mean any of the 4 co-official languages.

Now, in the Spaniard constitution it is said clearly that castellano is the official language of Spain and that there are other co-official languages. FWIW.

Answer 5

Definiciones según la Real Academia de la Lengua española.

Español: Lengua común de España y de muchas naciones de América, hablada también como propia en otras partes del mundo.

Castellano: Lengua española, especialmente cuando se quiere introducir una distinción respecto a otras lenguas habladas también como propias en España.

Y es que dentro del Pais de España existen otras lenguas y dialectos que se hablan en diferentes territorios del estado como pueden ser en Galicia el Gallego Cataluña el Catalán,
Mallorca el Mallorquin, Valencia el Valenciano, Pais Vasco el Euskera, Asturias y Leon el Lliones, en Castilla el Castellano y que es el común a todos los españoles.

all those are spanish ... but not Euskera (Basques) ... used to play jai_alai with one didn't understand a word he said in Basque ... but was a pro at jai-alai - readytodictate, May 13, 2013

Answer 6

Castellano is used in distingush Spanish from the minority languages around which are considered Spanish in the sense they are spoken in Spain Argentines also refer to their dialect as castellano And other countries with a strong European influence will call it castellano.

Answer 7

Bolivians always say they speak castellano and never español.