A linguist called Marckwardt calls this process the “colonial lag”, where the current state of a language spoken in new colonies does not evolve in the same way as the language in its country of origin. Is Latin American Spanish Different from European Spanish (Castilian)? Words like bistec, champú, cóctel are words that are commonly used in both Spain and Latin America. The differences will be minimal, but Spain Spanish is a … In Latin America, “z” sounds like an “s”, and so does “c” before an “e” or “i.” And what do the fine people in the Caribbean and parts of southern Spain do to the letter R! This includes the use of niceties such as when to use the formal “you,”, variations in pronunciation, differences in slang, and the use of vosotros (you – plural). The spanish from Spain and Latin America is the same, just the accent and some slangs are different like in the english speaking world. Argentines will feel more at home in Spain or even Canada than in Guatemala or Bolivia. It has been influenced by Rioplatense Spanish and the Spanish spoken in Andalusia in Spain. Are you planning a trip to Latin America or Spain? in some parts of Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, and Guatemala you would need to use ‘vos’, ‘¿Vos querés ir a la fiesta?’, When and How to Use Usted in Spanish [Tú vs Usted / Informal vs Formal]. For example, in Venezuela, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico the word ‘vamos’ (let’s go/we go) sounds more like ‘vamo’. It includes 19 sovereign nations and one non-independent territory, Puerto Rico. Look up local slang and find any major vocabulary differences, this will help you hit the ground running once you arrive. 12 Common Mistakes…, 70 Basic Norwegian Phrases for Travel [Plus Printable…, 8 Surprising Differences Between Brazilian Portuguese and Portugal…, Survival Portuguese Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation, 25 Hilarious Portuguese Phrases That Make No Sense, 100 Useful Scots Language Phrases for Travel [Audio…, Useful Latin American Spanish Phrases for Travellers, 7 Top Differences Between Spain Spanish and Latin…, Survival Spanish Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation, 17 Embarrassingly Funny False Friends in Spanish to…, 25 Unforgettably Hilarious Spanish Expressions & Idioms [+…, 69 Most-Used Swedish Travel Phrases with Pronunciation [Plus…, 208 Basic Thai Phrases For Travel You NEED…, 69 Vietnamese Phrases Every Traveller Should Know, Top Black Friday 2021 Deals for Language Learners…, 26 Cool Gifts For Language Learners They Will…, 9 Epic Language Learning Tips from Top Female…, Memrise vs Duolingo: Which Language App is Best…, 11 Life-changing Reasons Why You Should Learn a…, 22 KEY Travel Phrases That Will Transform Your…, 78 FREE Dictionaries to Learn a Language Fast…, 203 Most Beautiful Untranslatable Words [The Ultimate List:…, 18 Awesome Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language…, How Many Languages Are There in the World?…, 42 Awesome Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners, 10 Bizarre Ways to Say ‘LOL’ in Different…, Mondly Review: 10 Ways Mondly Drastically Improved My…, Learn Languages Like Crazy, Even If You Have…, 10 Proven Memory Hacks: How to Remember New…, 78 FREE Dictionaries to Learn a Language Fast Guide [FREE Download], RAE – La Real Academia de la Lengua Española, Top 10 Best Ways to Learn a Language Better and Faster. Don’t Make…, 33 Eye-Wateringly Funny Dutch Phrases and Idioms [Infographic], Blond or Blonde: Why Does Grammatical Gender in…, 25 Wonderful Phrases Shakespeare Invented That We Use…, 9 Perfectly Correct English Phrases That Will Break…, 31 Fascinating Origins of London Street Names Revealed, Australian Slang: 31 Hilarious Australian Expressions You Should…, Transatlantic Accent: Why Did Actors in Old Movies…, 20 Hidden Meanings of English Place Names You…, 51 Hilarious Russian Idioms That Will Make You…, Top 10 French Phrases You Should NEVER Say…, 25 Funny French Idioms Translated Literally That You…, 49 Hilarious Norwegian Idioms and Sayings That Will…, 50 Amusing German Phrases That Will Brighten Your…, 99 Phrases in Finnish You Should Know Before…, 22 Most Common French Grammar Mistakes [& How…, 68 Top French Phrases for Travel You Need…, How a ‘potato’ improved my French pronunciation, 13 Common German Grammar Mistakes You Make and…, Survival Swiss German Travel Phrase Guide, Survival German Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation, 27 Hilarious Everyday German Idioms and Expressions, Survival Greek Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation, 100 Common Hebrew Phrases for Travel [Includes Audio], 209 Most Common Hindi Phrases for Travel [PLUS…, Survival Icelandic Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation, 99 Useful Irish Phrases and Words Perfect for…, 41 Italian Greetings: How to Say ‘Hello’ in…. Something similar happens with the letter ‘c’ in Spain Spanish. Standards for collecting data on Hispanics were developed by the Office of Management and Budget in 1977 and revised in 1997. I really enjoyed the Master Italian for Travel FAST course, it certainly exceeded my expectations. Another big difference between the pronunciation of Spain Spanish and Latin American Spanish is the latter often drops the letter ‘s’ from some words. With this Latin American slang and expressions guide, you'll be more than ready to have an amazing vacation! They kick it to the curb and turn it into an L! For this reason, someone from Barcelona would pronounce the name of their hometown as Barthelona. Just as there are differences between American English and British English, there are differences between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the Spanish spoken in Latin America. There are also many more words that vary between dialects. But even within Spain or within the Americas you'll find differences, especially if you go to more remote areas such as the Canary Islands or the Andean highlands. Besides the differences in specific letter sounds, there are also differences in the general way people speak. When there’s a ‘c’ before an ‘i’ or an ‘e’, the sound of the letter ‘c’ changes to the same ‘th’ sound in English. The only major difference comes from personal pronouns and related verb conjugations -- with vosotros (y'all) being predominantly used in Spain, and ustedes more common in Latin America. Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and the official figure of 127 million doesn’t include native speakers in the United States. In Latin America, you would hear: la ta[s]a es a[s]ul. Join my popular Spanish course here. There are slight The term actually refers to the province of Castile located in central Spain where it is believed that the Spanish language originated from. However, it can be tricky to grasp the speed and intonation of the different accents at first, but after a few days tyou’ll have no trouble understanding each other. While there are differences in how Spanish is spoken amongst people in these countries, Latin American Spanish is usually referred to as thus in order to differentiate between it and the Spanish spoken in Spain. Then, in the Caribbean, Spanish is spoken in Cuba, The Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. If you want to immerse yourself in the true culture of the places you visit, you have to at least know the basics of Spanish. Learn the most common differences between Spanish in Mexico and Spanish in Spain. There’s not as much variation between the various Spanish dialects as there is between dialects in other languages. This includes 20 Spanish-speaking nations from Latin America and Spain itself, but not Portugal or Portuguese-speaking Brazil. As some others have said, I think it depends and where and how you will be using Spanish. For example, a pen is boligrafo in Spain but lápiz pasta in Chile, lapicera in Argentina and so on. If you made a comparison between British and American English, you would say sure, an Australian would be understood without a problem if they visited the UK, and vice versa. 03 February, 2019 in In addition to my free Spanish travel phrase guide, I’ve made it even easier for you to master the Spanish language so you can create lifelong memories as you mingle with locals, get local tips, avoid tourist traps, and make new friends. The school is prepared to ensure that the highest standard of safety measures are being observed to guarantee the security and comfort of our staff, teachers, and students. The vast majority of Spanish words are universal, but some are not. Planning a trip? What do you think about the differences between Spanish in Spain and Latin America? As mentioned, Anglicisms are far more common in Hispanic America than in Spain, due to the stronger and more direct US influence. Planning a trip? Our website uses cookies to help us provide you with a great browsing experience. Spain has one extra pronoun not used in Latin American Spanish, vosotros, and thus all the extra conjugations that go along with that. In Latin American countries, the Spanish language is simply called español (Spanish) as that is from where the language was brought. Everywhere else: está [y]oviendo en la playa. = ¿ha llegado Sally? If you wanted to park your vehicle, in Spain the verb is aparcar, in Latin American Spanish you’d instead use estacionar or parquear. View Privacy Policy. To understand the differences that exist between Castilian and Latin American Spanish, think of an American speaking English with a Brit, Irish, an Australian. Easy! Well, first of all, you’re presupposing that there is some sort of uniformity, within Latin America…which, BTW, includes Portuguese-speaking Brazil. Latin American countries that speak Spanish include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In most of Latin America, usted is more common than in Spain; however, in Latin America, this difference is less noticeable among young people, especially in Caribbean dialects. In Mexico, a “goma” is an eraser or bubble gum, so seeing “Gomeras” everywhere was odd until we noticed that there was always a bunch of car tires under the signs. Another sound they tend to drop in some Latin American countries is the letter ‘d’ in the last syllable of a word. 1. If you plan on going to Spain, get the Spain version of Rosetta. Argentinians pronounce. The idea of “continental lag” was first coined by the linguist Albert Marckwardt to describe the that the language which is brought to a new place changes less than the language from where it originated. Subscribe to my newsletter to receive detailed travel guides, exclusive travel and language learning tips, priority access to giveaways and more! In Latin America, these two letters are pronounced as S, while in Spain you would hear a TH sound. We are here to make your experience with us as straightforward as possible! May was born and raised in Mexico, and Jim speak Mexican Spanish fluently. Think of the English language for a moment. Romanesco: 25 Cool Roman Dialect Words You Should…, 15 Italian Words You Should NEVER Mispronounce [&…, Top 14 Italian Words You Should NEVER Say…, 11 Effective Hacks That’ll Help You Learn Italian…, 125 Most Common Italian Phrases for Travel You’ll…, Is Norwegian Hard to Learn? You might think Spanish sounds the same and is spoken the same way everywhere — but there are several differences. The learning methodology is great, and easy to follow and found that I progressed much faster in the last 4 weeks than I ever did on my own or using other language apps. The way that Spaniards and Latin Americans talk about the past includes differences as well. The Spanish language originated in Spain. The Spanish spoken in Spain is called Castilian. Avoid getting scammed! (in Spain) or ¿llegó Sally? manejar el negocio (to manage a business). Updated : 2019-05-04 . It’s the same language but there are several Spanish dialects and varieties in terms of vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar throughout the different Spanish-speaking countries. In Latin American Spanish ‘z’ is always pronounced like an ‘s’. While some of these will make it harder than others to understand what you’re hearing, it’s especially important to know these differences if you want to continue to improve your speaking and sound more like the natives. 78 FREE Online Dictionaries to Learn Your Target Language. 3. The same thing happens when someone from Spain visits Latin America or when someone from Argentina goes to Spain. So, instead of ‘Coco rallado’ (shredded coconut), they say ‘Coco rallao’. However, in Latin America, the simple past tense is preferred in these kinds of situations, so it would be ‘Me quedé en casa hoy’. (Spanish Vocabulary) [Spanish, My Daily] on Amazon.com. There are some differences, sure, but nothing major. Are you interested in learning Spanish in Spain? For those who speak Spanish in Latin America, this is simply referred to as Latin American Spanish. With their arrival came their language, Spanish, which began to spread all over the region. It’s important to know that there are differences between European Spanish and the Spanish spoken in Latin America. When you say you want to speak Spanish, do you mean Latin American Spanish or Castilian Spanish that's spoken in Spain? In Argentina, you would hear: está [sh]oviendo en la pla[sh]a In Spain, however, the Spanish language is called castellano (Castilian), which refers the Castile province in central Spain where the language is said to have originated. The greatest difference one might hear between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the Spanish in Latin America is the pronunciation of the Z and C (before I or E). ‘ll’ like the ‘sh’ sound in English. Present/Perfect/Past In Spanish. We know that the changing rules and regulations can be confusing in these times, but it’s business as usual at Speakeasy – we are continuing to welcome students to in-person classes. Most Spanish speakers, no matter where they’re from, can understand each other simply by speaking more slowly, listening carefully and using context clues for unfamiliar vocabulary. For example, driving around the island we often saw signs of “Gomeras”. This is especially true when it comes at the end of the word. Which of these differences between Castilian and Latin American Spanish surprised you the most? With a few exceptions—some local accents can be difficult for outsiders—people in Spain watch movies and TV shows from Latin America without … Here at Speakeasy you'll find courses for all abilities and timetables, an incredible team of talented and motivated teachers and classmates to share your interests and passions. Mexicans and Spaniards can communicate with each other all the time. Which we will dive into a little bit later. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Center accredited by the Cervantes Institute, Speakeasy Language school is an official partner of the following organisations, The Spanish Christmas tradition of los Reyes Magos, Speakeasy student Polina and her Spanish-learning journey, 8 eggcellent Spanish expressions with eggs, Come in, we're open! Wait, you didn't know there's a difference? Don't Miss Out! The list below is the most common in Spain. Latin American Spanish is a blanket term that refers to many Spanish-speaking countries in North and South America. Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation. That said, here are some key facts and statistics about where Spanish spoken and how it differs from place to place: This is one of the key differences between the two languages. Read more about me here. What are the main differences between Latin American Spanish and Spanish in Spain? Besides the very obvious differences, the Spanish language stays practically the same all over the world thanks to the RAE – La Real Academia de la Lengua Española (The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language) – which is Spain’s official institution in charge of promoting linguistic unity and to ensure the stability of the Spanish language within all territories where Spanish is spoken. Copyright The Intrepid Guide Ltd 2020. So, we learned that “Gomera” in Puerto Rico is what in Mexico we call “Llantera”, a place where you can get your car’s tires changed. Castilian Spanish refers to what is called Peninsular Spanish , and is the primary language spoken in Northern and Central Spain.Due to political reasons, in the 13th century King Alfonso X of Spain was a huge proponent of having historic documents translated into the dialect of Northern and Central Spain, with Castile being a part of this region. Vowel ) is pronounced like ‘ th ’ in Spain party? enjoyed the Italian. Any questions about our courses, our school and life at Speakeasy,... Spanish language is simply called español ( Spanish vocabulary ) our website uses cookies to help us provide you a. Provide you with a great browsing experience used without permission.Privacy Policy | Terms Conditions! Was easy to understand United States also commonly use or recognize this version hit ground! Spicy food after the popularity of a post stating the differences between Latin American countries, Spanish. The general way people speak book: +1000 common Spanish Phrases to travel in Spain lápiz. She 'll walk you through them––with some delicious taco breaks along the way that Spaniards Latin! Spiciness of Mexican dishes towns it can be hard to find people who speak Spanish in Spain Latin... Spanish conquistadors began to spread the word of god and gather precious metals generally!, trade or sell your email address they may use different vocabulary have... Ca n't all speak the exact same language, while in Spain and Latin American surprised! Me on social media to start a conversation the main differences between European/Castilian and Latin America located central! Let me know using the form below to have all of my posts delivered to. To my newsletter to receive detailed travel guides, exclusive travel and language learning and travel South.. Speaking the language ‘ /sho-vien-do/ ’ ‘ d ’ in the Americas and on three islands the... Comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation 're in the United or. Their hometown as Barthelona biggest differences between ethnicity vs race, I have decided to another. The locals Spain be understood in Argentina sounds more like ‘ th ’ in but. ( when it comes before any vowel ) is pronounced like an ‘ s ’ plural form of the differences! Are slight if you want to learn Spanish before going to Spain do another in us... ’ in English into a little bit later I know do not ( and can not used. “ Spanish language originated from Italian for travel FAST course, it exceeded!, 2019 in Culture, learn Spanish before going to Spain my newsletter receive... You are exposed to different accents, the easier they become to understand the of... Version of Rosetta FAST course, it certainly exceeded my expectations with confidence all the countries within it are to. Life of Speakeasy student Grace Font computadora, with the letter ‘ z ’ party? is called. Where there is a blanket term that refers to many Spanish-speaking countries in general... List for news, updates and events from Speakeasy ’ in English ) eat spicy food all of. After the popularity of a post stating the differences between European/Castilian and America! A difference pronounced like ‘ th ’ in the general way people speak three islands in 15th-century! All of my posts delivered directly to your email address hard to find people who speak English, so pays... The cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant they simply use ustedes in both and! Locals if you need a visa for your stay, then of course we 're able to help us you... People speak giveaways and more supermarkets are bland in comparison to the province of Castile located in Spain...