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Spanglish

Spanglish is a contact variety and code-switching practice that combines elements of Spanish and English.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Spanglish is a contact variety and code-switching practice that combines elements of Spanish and English. It is used especially in the United States and Puerto Rico, and the term can refer broadly to mixed speech or more narrowly to Spanish with many English borrowings.

Meaning and usage

Spanglish is an umbrella term for ways of speaking that combine Spanish and English. In common usage, it may describe individual borrowings, sentence-level switching, or broader mixed speech.

Linguistic interpretation

Scholars and dictionaries differ on whether Spanglish should be treated as a distinct language, a dialect, or a code-switching practice. Many modern descriptions emphasize that it is not standardized and varies by speaker, place, and context.

Regional and cultural context

Spanglish is strongly associated with U.S. Hispanic communities and also appears in Puerto Rico and other Spanish-English contact settings. It is used in everyday speech and in media, literature, and public communication.

Related labels include Espanglish, Espaninglish, and Casteinglés. Some sources use Spanglish more narrowly for Spanish with English borrowings, while others use it more broadly for any Spanish-English mixture.

Key facts

  • Spanglish refers to speech that mixes Spanish and English.
  • The term is used in several senses, from broad bilingual mixing to Spanish heavily influenced by English.
  • Linguists often describe it as code-switching or a hybrid language practice rather than a single standardized language.
  • Usage is especially associated with Spanish-English bilingual communities in the United States and Puerto Rico.
  • Dictionary definitions commonly describe it as a combination of Spanish and English.
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Canadian context

Spanglish is relevant to Canadian readers as an example of contact language use among bilingual communities, especially in discussions of code-switching, migration, and multicultural speech.

Frequently asked questions

What is Spanglish?
Spanglish is a mix of Spanish and English used in speech or writing, often through code-switching or borrowing between the two languages.
Is Spanglish a real language?
Sources disagree on the label, but many describe it as a hybrid speech practice or code-switching rather than a standardized language with fixed rules.
Where is Spanglish commonly spoken?
It is especially associated with the United States and Puerto Rico, particularly in Spanish-English bilingual communities.
Does Spanglish have one standard form?
No. Sources note that it is not standardized and can vary widely by region, speaker, and context.
What languages make up Spanglish?
Spanglish combines Spanish and English, though the balance between them can differ from one speaker or situation to another.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanglish
    Supports: General definition; usage in the United States and Puerto Rico; broad and narrow senses; hybrid language practice.
  2. Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/spanglish
    Supports: Definition as a combination of Spanish and English.
  3. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanglish
    Supports: Definition as Spanish marked by borrowings from English and broadly various combinations of Spanish and English.
  4. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/spanglish
    Supports: Definition and note that it is used especially in parts of the US with large Hispanic communities.
  5. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/spanglish
    Supports: Definitions describing Spanish with English admixture and English influenced by Spanish.
  6. YourDictionary — https://www.yourdictionary.com/spanglish
    Supports: Blend of Spanish and English; use among bilingual people of Hispanic background.
  7. Collins English Dictionary — https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/spanglish
    Supports: Definitions and note that it is mainly US usage.
  8. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History — https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/61644/chapter/539909178?searchresult=1
    Supports: Spanglish as a hybrid language used by millions in the US and elsewhere; alternative names; use across media and public settings.