Spanish is a Romance language that originated in the Iberian Peninsula and is now spoken by millions of people worldwide. It is the official language of 20 countries, including Spain, Mexico, and many nations in Central America and South America. Spanish is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. The language has various dialects and regional variations, influenced by local cultures and histories. Spanish is known for its phonetic spelling, meaning words are generally pronounced as they are written. It is the second most spoken language in the world by native speakers, following Mandarin Chinese.