When you start learning Spanish the teacher might ask you if you prefer to learn Spanish from Spain or from South America. You may have a clear idea of which one you would prefer, or you may be wondering what is the actual difference between the two.
If your mother tongue is English, I would describe the difference as the one that exists between English from England and the USA, or Australia, South Africa, Scotland or Ireland. The main language is the same, but the vocabulary, and some grammar, have been influenced by geography, history and the influence of local or neighboring languages.
Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that languages change faster in the countries where they were born than in the countries than have "traveled to". This means that Spanish from Spain has evolved more than the same language in Latina America, just like English in Great Britain has evolved more than English in the USA.
The first big difference, grammatically speaking, between the old and the new continent, is the presence of the form VOSOTROS in Spain, which is not used in Latin America. VOSOTROS means "you all" (multiple people), and verbs in Spanish from Spain have a specific conjugation for this pronoun. In Latin America, on the other hand, only the form USTEDES is used for YOU ALL, whereas in Spain USTEDES is used in formal situations, much like Mme or Sir in the plural form. In Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay the form VOS for YOU informal is used, but only in those countries!
The vocabulary can also differ from Latin America to Spain, but please consider that in Latin America itself, different countries may use different words for the same object (not easy!). When researching a specific word in Spanish, I would recommend using WORD REFERENCE, which not only gives the word translation, it also gives examples in sentences, and states which country uses which word.
Let's look at a few examples of words that are used differently in Spain and in Latin America:
SPAIN | LATIN AMERICA | |
Husband | Marido | Esposo |
Wife | Mujer | Esposa |
Juice | Zumo | Jugo |
Car | Coche | Carro |
To drive | Conducir | Manejar |
Glasses | Gafas | Lentes |
Camping tent | Tienda de campana | Carpa |
Fridge | Nevera | Refrigerador |
Ticket | Billete | Boleto |
Pen | Boligrafo | Pluma |
Peach | Melocoton | Durazno |
Mobile phone | Movil | Celular |
This are just a few examples. Does this mean people would not understand you if you used a different word? No, they would still know what you mean, based on context, but them might be confused is, for example, they use the same word in another situation (for example Carpa (for camping tent) is only the circus tent in some South American countries.
Another difference in the two countries is the use of the PRESENT PERFECT (he ido) in Spain, use much like the present perfect in English (I have gone). In Latin America, people use mostly the preterito (simple past).
This can be overwhelming, but no worries, once you start becoming conversational in Spanish, no matter which Spanish, you will embrace the beauty of language evolution as well, and will realize that this will never be an obstacle to your ability to speak Spanish!
Are you ready to start your language learning?
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