This the second part of our series looking at the many variations of the Spanish language around the world. We’ve already explored a few of the major differences between Spanish in Spain and Latin America, now we’ll look at some of the differences among countries and regions in Latin America.

Everyday words can vary significantly. Avocado is “aguacate” in Colombia but “palta” in neighboring Peru. The word for car can be “carro,” “auto” or “coche” depending on where exactly it is used. The lists below highlight a couple of extreme examples–the English words for “popcorn” and “drinking straw.” Keep in mind, that even among regions within the countries listed there are even more variations.

Popcorn

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• Mexico = Palomitas

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• Colombia = Crispetas

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• Argentina = Pororó

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• Peru = Canchita

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• Guatemala = Poporopo

Drinking straw

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• Mexico = Popote

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• Colombia = Pitillo

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• Argentina = Pajita

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• Peru = Sorbete

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• Guatemala = Pajilla

Today, with Netflix producing content globally, the divide is lessened. For example, Mexican series like “Casa de las flores” have gained huge audiences across Latin America. But this is nothing new. Mexican Telenovelas have been a mainstay in households across the region for decades, bringing a familiarity of vocabulary, accents and culture.

A specific look at countries and regions

There are more similarities than there are differences–Spanish is still Spanish whether you are in Bolivia or Los Angles. But the differences are myriad–too much to cover completely in one blog. Here, we’re going to take a look at Mexico, Colombia and Argentina to explore some of the most notable qualities that make the Spanish spoken in these countries unique.

Mexico

Mexican Spanish might be the most universally familiar in Latin America. This is due mostly to the prevalence of Mexican media–telenovelas, movies and music that are popular from the United States to Chile. The accent, especially in central Mexico, is known for being among the most neutral and easy-to-understand accents in the region.

Mexican Spanish is well known for its slang. One of the most identifying features is the use of several terms ending in “le” (the indirect object for he, she or you) that are used to convey excitement or urgency. Chances are you’ve heard “ándale” which means “let’s go” or “hurry up.” A particularly unique phrase used in Mexico is “llégale” which comes from the verb “llegar” meaning “to arrive.” In other parts of Latin America, “llégale” would probably be confused as “come on” or “get over here” but in Mexico, it’s the exact opposite and means “get out” or “go away.”

Colombia

Colombian Spanish is also well known for its neutral accent. This is certainly true in the central Andes around Bogota, but of course, varies across the country. The department of Antioquia, the capital of which is Medellin, has a very distinctive accent that is different from the Spanish spoken in Bogota. It also includes a litany of slang that people in other parts of the country might find puzzling.

The accent in the Caribbean region of Colombia, which includes the major cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta, has much in common with other Caribbean Spanish-speaking regions. Notably, they “eat the ‘s’” at the end of words, which means the “s” sound isn’t pronounced.

Argentina

The most identifying feature of Spanish in Argentina–and neighboring Uraguay and Paraguay–is the universal use of “vos.” Spanish has two forms of addressing people as “you”–the formal “usted” and, typically, the informal “tu.” In Argentina, “tu” is practically nonexistent, with “vos” taking the place of the informal you. “Vos” and “tu” mean practically the exact same thing, but have different, albeit similar, verb conjugations and direct and indirect objects. Take, for example, the verb “pensar” which means “to think.” Using “tu” in present tense “you think” is conjugated as “tu piensas” with verbal emphasis on the second to last vowel. However, with “vos” it is conjugated as “vos pensás” with emphasis on the last vowel.

Vos isn’t exclusive to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It can be found across Latin America. However, the difference between Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and other countries and regions is that it is rarely used in written form outside of southern South America. For example, in and around Medellin, Colombia, “vos” is extremely common in spoken Spanish, however, in written form, it’s almost always “tu.” In Argentina, “tu” is very rarely used in written form.

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It would take a set of encyclopedias to provide a comprehensive explanation of all of the variations in Spanish in Latin America. Accents and vocabulary can change not only among countries but also among regions within countries. But these three examples provide an insight into some of the most significant differences. We’ll be writing more about variations in Spanish in this blog series, so check back for updates or sign up for our mailing list.

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