The term “Castilian Spanish” could be used in three different ways: as the Spanish dialect for the region of Castilla in Spain, as the Spanish spoken in Spain or as the neutral Spanish understood in all Spanish-speaking countries.

Castilian Spanish sometimes is used to distinguish the north-central standard of Spanish from regional variations such as Andalusian (used in southern Spain).

Castilian Spanish sometimes is used to distinguish the Spanish of Spain from that of Latin America.

Castilian Spanish Sometimes is used simply as a synonym for neutral Spanish, especially when referring to the “pure” Spanish promulgated by the Royal Spanish Academy.