28 Subtle and Important Differences Between Spain and Latin American Spanish — From Someone Who Knows Both
My dad was born in El Salvador, a country with a relatively neutral Central American accent. Yet, when I was 18, I went on exchange to Barcelona, Spain, where I learned and lived in “Castilian” Spanish.
Over the years, as I’ve traveled to 7 Spanish-speaking countries, I’ve always loved noting the differences in dialects.
The pronunciation is a piece of it, but it’s also the slang terms, common phrases, and completely different uses of verb tenses. Even the body language and mannerisms are different.
I love the richness and variety of the Spanish language and its cultures.
Even within countries, you get huge variations. Mexican accents vary wildly from the prairies to the city to the Yucatán peninsula. In Spain, the Andaluz accent (referring to Andalusia, a region in Southern Spain) is as challenging for other Spaniards as any other country’s Spanish.
With this in mind, it’s impossible to boil it down to “Latin vs Spain” Spanish.
Every region has its own unique everything.
Only in the region of Colombia where they speak the “paisa” accent, where you hear “Medellín” pronounced with a j sound, and the youngsters on the street saying ”Wow que Chimba!” to every other sentence.
In Barcelona, I hung out with Argentinians. In New York, where I live now, I hang out with Puerto Ricans. I’ve traveled in Central America, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru. Yet, I know my knowledge of this is only a small percentage.
But I’ll do my best to cover the biggest differences and prepare you for your Spanish language journey.
If you need further support, check out my article on how to learn Spanish, even without traveling.
I’ll Try to Make This Guide Practical
I want this to help you out in the streets tomorrow.
I’ll start with pronunciation, but it’s about more than that. In fact, using the right customs and vocabulary is more important than how you say it. I’ll even include different body language customs. After all, there’s no faster way to look like a fool than not knowing which cheek to kiss someone on, or if you should just shake their hand.
I’ve divided it into four sections: pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and body language.
Part 1: Pronunciation: It’s Way More Than The “Zeta”
In the U.S., just about the only thing Americans learning Spanish understand about the Spain accent is that a Z, a “zeta,” makes the equivalent of a “th” sound in English.
(Actually, this isn’t exactly true. In some parts of Andalusia, like certain groups in Seville, they say the zeta like Latin Americans.)
We’ll go beyond this. There are three key pronunciation differences between Spain and Latin America that I’ll highlight.
Again, this gets complicated because Latin America has dozens of wildly different accents, from Argentina to Puerto Rico.
The Intonation in Spain is Different
Castilian Spanish, as spoken neutrally in a city like Madrid, emphasizes pronouncing every single letter. In some ways, I think this makes it the easiest to understand. It is the antithesis of a Bad Bunny song, where even native speakers don’t understand a damn thing.
So when you speak Spain Spanish, unless you are in Andalusia (a region in Southern Spain), you’ll hear every letter.
My Catalan friend Laura describes this neutral Spain accent as “lacking salt,” “Falta sal.” She prefers to speak Catalan. As for Spanish, she finds the Southern Spain accent, with its use of diminutives and strange vocabulary words like “wawa” for “bus,” more exciting.
You’ll also notice that people make a “click” sound with their tongue in between phrases, and that they’ll end every other sentence with “sabes?” This is not unique to Spain Spanish, but it’s more common.
The Spanish Zeta, or the “Ceceo,” Actually Explained
The term for the way Spaniards pronounce Cs and Zs is “ceceo,” or “seseo” (depending on how you say it.
The “ceceo” pronunciation doesn’t apply to all of Spain. Some parts of Andalusia speak it like “seseo.”
But for most of Spain, the simplest way to understand this is the difference between an S and a Z.
For example, “Casarse” (to marry) is pronounced with an S sound, just like in English and just like in Latin America. But “cazar” (to hunt) uses the pronunciation like a -th sound in English.
In Latin America, “cazar” and “casar” are pronounced the same, but in Spain they’re pronounced differently.
The same also applies to soft Cs, like the word “peces.”
In Spanish, a C followed by an A, O, or U has a hard K sound. But after an E or I, it’s a soft sound.
This is important because when the word has an S, you say it like an S, just like Latin America. This is why it’s not true to call it a “lisp,” which implies that Spaniards can’t or don’t make the soft S sound. They do. But only when it’s an S instead of a Z or C.
The “Jota” Is Just as Important
In Spain, the J or soft G sound is stronger and more guttural.
I remember my first trip to Spain, I said the word “lentejas” with a weak J. My host dad, Jose, didn’t understand me. “Lentejas,” he told me. I practiced it again.
This is important in Spain because if you softly pronounce these letters, they’ll assume the letters aren’t there.
I’ve found this easier than keeping track of all the Cs and Zs, so it’s an easy way to demonstrate to the Spanish that you’re learning to adapt to their accent.
IMPORTANT Vocabulary Differences
Somebody could write an entire book about the vocabulary differences of Spanish dialects. You could fill it up with differences just for Spain, or just for Mexico, or just for Colombia.
So I’ll start with the ones that are important.
How to Say “Okay”
In Spain, “vale” is “okay.” It’s everywhere. In Latin America, you don’t hear vale, unless it’s in the context of the verb “valer.” In Spain, you’ll also hear “venga” as a caring word when you say goodbye to somebody.
For example, if you’re about to hang up on the phone, you may hear this string of phrases: “vale, venga, perfecto, hasta luego, abrazos, chao chao, adios.”
But in Latin America, “venga” is only used as the command form if you’re telling somebody to come towards you.
In Latin America, you’ll hear many words for “okay.” The word “okay” itself is nearly universal now. “De acuerdo” is a safe bet and sounds professional. In Colombia, you’ll hear, “listo,” as a substitute for this. You may also hear “Dale” in Mexico and Central America.
You’ll have to learn the customs of each region.
Every Single Country Has Its Own Word For “Cool”
In Spain, “Guay” is the word. Everything in Spain is “que guay.”
If you want to sound cooler, you can say, “Que mola” or “Que chulo,” if you’re describing a really cool scene.
In Latin America, every country and even region will have their own words.
“Que Chevere” is the classic Colombian/Venezuelan word. “Que Padre” is common in Mexico. In El Salvador they say “Que Chivo.”
If you’re not sure the word for cool in the country or region you’re in, you can say, “genial.”
“Genial” is something everyone understands. It’s casual. It’s simple. When I’m in Latin America and I know they won’t understand “guay,” I turn to a simple “genial,” or even “Que bien.”
Every Single Country Has Its Own Word for “Dude”
“Dude” isn’t even the right translation. What I mean is a word you use to describe your friends.
In Spain, “Tío/Tía” is your go-to.
“Qué tal tío?” is synonymous with Spain.
In Latin America, every country will have its own word. If you need something universal, “amigo/a” is as safe a bet as any.
Different Ways to Say “What’s Up”
“Qué tal” is the common way to say this in Spain, and it’s universal. “Que tal” works in every country with every age group.
However, you may hear “Que onda” in Mexico and Central America. It’s a synonym, but only used in some countries. Don’t say this in Spain.
Different Ways to Say “You’re Welcome”
You may think “De nada” means “you’re welcome.” And you’re right. But many countries don’t say this. They say, “Con gusto.” (I’m looking at you, Colombia.)
I’ll never forget when I first heard this one in Bogotá. A waitress, when I said thank you, said, “con gusto.” With pleasure? Was it that pleasurable? It felt very formal to me, but I quickly learned it was just their way of saying you’re welcome.
Watch Out for the Verb “Coger”
In Spain, the verb “coger” is used for anything. You coger the tren, coger the groceries, coger cash from the ATM, coger your water bottle. It means to grab or pick up something.
In Latin America, “coger” is slang for having sex with something. So don’t coger el tren when you’re in Mexico City.
I remember thinking, “well what the heck do they say then?” It depends on the context, but a range of verbs. You can recoger your friend from the airport. You can tirar money from the bank, you can tomar the tren.
Less Important But Interesting Vocabulary Differences
I’ll highlight a few that may matter for everyday life.
Profanity
Profanity could go in the “important” section. Spanish is one of the richest languages in the world when it comes to profanity.
In day-to-day life, there are few sayings that will help you connect with a culture than using their swear words correctly.
I remember when I was learning Catalan as my third language, I was playing cards in my friend’s apartment. I lost a hand and I yelled, “Merda.” “Dave,” my friend told me, “I felt that merda in your Catalan soul.”
In Spain, there are two swear words you should know:
“Joder” and “Hostia.” They’re both great words to use in disbelief or when you’re angry. They are everyday Spain swear words that can be used in many contexts.
Watch the locals and use it like them. If you need a child-friendly alternative, say “ostras” (oysters) instead of “hostia.”
In Latin America, “puta” and its variations are king.
“Hijo de puta” (son of a bitch) is a Central American classic.
In any Latin American country, it’s a go-to word for when you stub your toe. You can add “puta madre” for extra effect and an even more vulgar tongue.
Again, every country will have its variations. To adapt to a culture, it’s worth learning.
Different Words for Your Phone: Móvil vs Celular
In Spain, “móvil” is the word. Think of it like a “mobile phone.” I guess it sounds weird when you put it that way, but that’s what the Spaniards say.
In Latin America, you’ll hear a few different words, but “celular” is the most common.
Different Words for Your Fridge
In Spain, “nevera” is the word for fridge. Think of the verb “nevar” (to snow) and it makes sense. “nevera” literally translated would be something like “ice box.”
In Latin America, some countries say “nevera,” like Colombia and Puerto Rico. Others say “refri” as a shorthand for “refrigerador,” which more closely resembles the English.
Computer: Ordenador vs Computadora
In Spain, the word for a computer is “ordenador.” In Latin America, you’re likely to hear “computadora.”
This is another example of Latin American Spanish borrowing more from English.
To Drive: Conducir vs Manejar
In Spain, to drive in conducir. In Latin America, it’s manejar. But in Puerto Rico, they sometimes say guiar, highlighting just one example of the subtle nuances from region to region.
Watch out for the verb conducir, because it’s full of tricky irregular conjugations.
Potatoes: Patatas vs papas
In Spain, potatoes are patatas. In Latin America, they’re papas.
Car: Coche vs Carro
In Spain, a car is a coche. In Latin America, it’s “carro.”
To a Spaniard, the word “carro” is like a cart or a carriage. A grocery cart in Spain is a “carro,” or if your grandparent has a wheelchair, that could be a “carro” too.
In Latin America, “coche” can refer to a train car.
To Love: Querer vs Desear
In Spain, you’ll rarely hear the verb “desear” (to desire). People will just use “querer” (to want, to love).
In Latin America, you’ll hear “desear” a lot more.
To Wash Dishes: Fregar vs Lavar
In Spain, when you wash the dishes, you can say “lavar” or “fregar.” In Latin America, stick with lavar. (Although I believe Puerto Ricans use fregar too.)
to Pull: Tirar vs Halar
When you enter a bar and the door says “pull” in Spain, you’ll see “tirar” and in Latin America, you’ll mostly see “Jale” form “jalar.”
Peanuts: Cacahuetes vs Maní
In Spain, peanuts are “cacahuetes.” In Latin America, you’ll mostly hear “maní.”
“Gracias a Dios” — Latin America only
Latin Americans are always thanking god. If you ask them how they slept, they may say they slept well, gracias a dios.
At first, this threw me off. I realized it was just an expression. You don’t need to take it so literally, although Latin American culture is more religious than much of Spanish culture.
Indigenous Language and Immigration Influences
There are countless differences in vocab, partially because of the influence of indigenous languages or other immigration patterns. For exampl,e in El Salvador, “cipote” is a word for children that comes from the indigenous language Nahuát.
It’s not just indigenous languages either. Argentina had a mass migration from Italy after WWII, so Argentinian slang is heavily influenced by Italian.
Because of these influences, every region has its own vocabulary, and it’s pointless to even attempt to cover more than a small percentage of it.
Similarly, Latin American Spanish often has more influence from English, especially in countries like Puerto Rico, where a very high percentage of the population speaks English.
The same goes for Spain, too. In Barcelona, the Spanish is influenced by Catalan. In Andalusia, it’s influenced by Moorish culture and the history of Moorish occupation.
The Use of Diminutives
A diminutive is used in all kinds of situations. Again, a whole book could be written about it. But it’s the difference between “una copa” and “una copita.” A copita is a smaller version, in theory, just as a cafecito is.
My favorite is when I ask for a “trozito” of tortilla de patatas in Spain. Just a little piece of tortilla.
Diminutives can mean more than physical size. They’re used to demonstrate a caring attitude. They’re used to change the meaning, like how “ahorita” in Latin America means “right now,” but in Spain, they don’t use that. (If a Spaniard says “ahora” it could mean now, or it could mean in 15 minutes. You never know.)
The use of diminutives varies by region as well as country. Southern Spain may use diminutives more than any other Spanish-speaking region in the world, but in Madrid, you won’t hear them as much.
You’ll have to learn this on the fly depending on your cultural context.
Grammer Differences
We’ll get to vosotros, because that’s the one everybody knows. But I don’t think that’s the most important grammar difference.
In Latin America, “Usted” is much more common
“Usted” is the formal version of “you.”
In El Salvador, almost anybody older than you is “usted,” especially if they’re a stranger. I even use usted wth my grandpa. (This has always annoyed me.) There’s an extra layer of formality here that you don’t have in Spain.
Unless you’re talking to the King of Spain, or unless you’re making a job and pretending to speak formally, you’re not going to use usted in Spain.
Latin Americans often say that Spaniards sound vulgar and informal.
Their slang is the main reason why, but the fact that they have abandoned formalities like “usted” in day-to-day life also explains the difference.
In Spain, the “Simple Past” is much more common and the “Preterite” is less common
The other big difference in the day-to-day life involves the different uses of the two past tense verb forms.
First, a quick example:
Simple past = “I have eaten” = “Yo he comido”
Preterite = “I ate” = Yo comí
In Spain, the simple past is much more common, and the preterite is only used for things that happened before that day.
Let’s say you’re in Spain and you just finished breakfast. If you say, “Yo comí,” then people will think you’re referring to yesterday. If you say, “Yo he comido,” that means you finished eating breakfast.
In Latin America, if you just finished breakfast, you can say “Yo comí.”
If you use the simple past in Latin America, it’s also completely correct and not weird, it’s just less common.
The preterite is a minefield of irregulars, so it’s nice that in Spain you can just use the simple past most of the time. This isn’t the time for a grammar lesson, but the simple past takes much less memorization.
Okay, Let’s Talk about Vosotros
You know this because you got extra credit for learning it in high school Spanish.
Spanish has different verb tenses for whether you’re talking to a singular “you” or a plural “you.”
In English, the translation might be “you all,” “y’all,” “you guys,” or “you folks.” In Spanish, they change the verb tense.
In Latin America, you use what’s called the “ustedes” form. “ustedes comen” means “you all eat.”
In Spain, “ustedes” is only used as the plural version of “usted,” so you would only use it when you’re addressing the King of Spain and his family at an aristocratic dinner (so, never.)
In everyday life, they use vosotros verbs. Think of vosotros as the plural form of “tu”
Tu comes, vosotros coméis.
Using vosotros verbs goes a long way in Spain.
Yes, it means learning an extra verb tense and endings. However, I do find that using vosotros verbs can make communication clearer. Oftentimes in Latin America, because “ustedes” verbs have the same endings as “they” (ellos/ellas) verbs, it’s not clear who the verb applies to.
On the flip side, I avoid using vosotros when speaking with Latin Spanish speakers.
Where I live in the Bronx, many immigrants, I’ve discovered, have never heard vosotros verbs and it confuses them.
They can sound similar to Argentina’s unique verb tense “vos,” which is something totally different.
Tu vs Vos
In Spain, they don’t use “vos” verbs, which is, in old Spanish, the precursor to “tú.”
In most of Latin America, they don’t use “vos.” They use “tú” just like Spain.
However, some countries have hung on to the “vos” verbs, which come with their own set of conjugations.
The most famous is Argentina. Instead of saying “tú tienes,” they say “vos tenés.” But it’s not just Argentina. Broadly, Paraguay and Uruguay also use it.
Yet to my surprise, as a teenager, I learned that in El Salvador they use it too! They will also use tú verbs, but in most informal settings, they use vos.
Vos is used in certain regions of most countries. From Costa Rica to outside Medellín, Colombia, you’ll hear it in certain pockets.
Body Language Differences: Don’t Forget It!
Spain: Both Cheeks. Latin America: Right Cheek Only
When you greet a woman in Spain, you tap your right cheek against theirs, kiss the wind, then move on to the left cheek.
In Latin America, you only do the cheek on the right.
There, I just saved you an embarrassing, awkward moment.
All Spanish is Beautiful and El Saber No Ocupa Espacio
There’s a saying in Spanish: “El Saber no ocupa espacio” — Knowledge doesn’t take up space.
To me, the more Spanish, the more slang, the more I can learn, the better. Every word provides a spark of joy, especially swear words. Even notice the little filler words or mannerisms I love to discover.
The best way to learn the difference between all the kinds of Spanish is to see it yourself. In you’re journey, you’ll learn stuff I don’t know. If you do, let me know if you think it belongs in this article.
Heading to Barcelona? Check Out My Guide
It’s the part of Spain I know best.
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