Differences Between Spanish from Spain and Latin American Spanish

Spanish, spoken by more than 500 million people worldwide, presents a rich variety of dialects and lexical variations. Although Spanish speakers can understand each other without too much difficulty, there are significant differences in the vocabulary used in Spain and Latin American countries. These differences can surprise Spanish learners and are crucial for those who want to immerse themselves in the language. Here, we explore six semantic families where Spanish from Spain and Latin American Spanish show notable differences.

1.?Everyday Vocabulary

One of the areas where the lexical differences between Spanish from Spain and Latin America are most noticeable is in words related to daily life. Common objects and actions have different names depending on the country.

• Coche vs. Carro/Auto: In Spain, “coche” is used to refer to a vehicle, while in most Latin American countries, “carro” or “auto” is used.Spain: “Voy a limpiar mi coche.” (I am going to clean my car.)Latin America: “Voy a limpiar mi carro.” (I am going to clean my car.)
• Ordenador vs. Computadora: In Spain, the word “ordenador” is used for a computer, while in Latin America, “computadora” is preferred.Spain: “Necesito un nuevo ordenador.” (I need a new computer.)Latin America: “Necesito una nueva computadora.” (I need a new computer.)
• Móvil vs. Celular: The mobile phone in Spain is called “móvil,” while in Latin America, it is called “celular.”Spain: “?Dónde está mi móvil?” (Where is my mobile phone?)Latin America: “?Dónde está mi celular?” (Where is my cell phone?) These examples show how everyday vocabulary can vary considerably from one country to another, affecting communication in daily situations.

2.?Food And Drink Vocabulary

Food is another area where lexical differences are very evident. The same foods may have different names in Spain and Latin American countries, which can be confusing for Spanish learners.

• Patata vs. Papa: In Spain, “patata” is what most Latin American countries call “papa.”Spain: “Voy a freír unas patatas.” (I am going to fry some potatoes.)Latin America: “Voy a freír unas papas.” (I am going to fry some potatoes.)
• Zumo vs. Jugo: In Spain, fruit juice is called “zumo,” while in Latin America, it is called “jugo.”Spain: “Quiero un zumo de naranja.” (I want an orange juice.)Latin America: “Quiero un jugo de naranja.” (I want an orange juice.)
• Tarta vs. Pastel: In Spain, “tarta” refers to a cake, especially birthday cakes. In Latin America, “pastel” or “torta” is used.Spain: “He preparado una tarta para el cumplea?os.” (I have made a cake for the birthday.)Latin America: “He preparado un pastel para el cumplea?os.” (I have made a cake for the birthday.)
• Melocotón vs. Durazno: The fruit known in Spain as “melocotón” is called “durazno” in most Latin American countries.Spain: “Me encanta el melocotón.” (I love peaches.)Latin America: “Me encanta el durazno.” (I love peaches.)

3.?Clothing And Accessories

The vocabulary of clothing also varies between Spain and Latin America. Some commonly used terms can be completely different.

• Jersey vs. Suéter: In Spain, “jersey” is the garment used to keep warm, while in Latin America, it is called “suéter.”Spain: “Voy a ponerme el jersey.” (I am going to put on the sweater.)Latin America: “Voy a ponerme el suéter.” (I am going to put on the sweater.)
• Camiseta vs. Playera/Remera: The basic short-sleeve garment is called “camiseta” in Spain, while in Mexico it is called “playera” and in Argentina “remera.”Spain: “Me gusta esa camiseta.” (I like that T-shirt.)Mexico: “Me gusta esa playera.” (I like that T-shirt.)Argentina: “Me gusta esa remera.” (I like that T-shirt.)
• Vaqueros vs. Jeans: In Spain, denim pants are called “vaqueros,” while in Latin America, “jeans” is used.Spain: “Mis vaqueros favoritos están rotos.” (My favorite jeans are torn.)Latin America: “Mis jeans favoritos están rotos.” (My favorite jeans are torn.)
• Cazadora vs. Chaqueta: In Spain, a short, casual jacket is called “cazadora,” while in many Latin American countries, it is simply “chaqueta.”Spain: “Voy a llevar mi cazadora.” (I am going to wear my jacket.)Latin America: “Voy a llevar mi chaqueta.” (I am going to wear my jacket.)

If you want to learn 3 more about the differences between Spanish in Spain and Latin America, read our blog article: https://www.estudia.com.tr/en/differences-between-spanish-from-spain-and-latin-american-spanish/? ??