Here's a breakdown of the history:
* Ancient Origins: The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the 3rd century BC and called it Hispania.
* Medieval Transition: The name Hispania evolved into "España" in Spanish, but the Latin root remained.
* English Adaptation: The English language borrowed the name "España" and adapted it to "Spain". From "Spain", the adjective "Spanish" was derived.
Therefore, "Spanish" is not a direct translation or alteration of the Spanish word "Español" (the language). It's a separate word derived from the historical Roman name for the region.