Spain Spanish vs Latin American Spanish: The Complete Guide 🇪🇸🌎
Spanish is the official language of more than 20 countries, from Spain to Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. It's all one language, and a Spaniard and a Mexican understand each other perfectly. But there are some fun differences in words, grammar, pronunciation and slang. 🇪🇸🌎
At Fun Learning Spanish we teach the Spanish they speak in Spain (often called Castilian, or castellano). This guide explains the main differences, so you know what you're hearing and which one to learn.
Jump to: Words · Vosotros · Pronunciation · Grammar · Slang · Which should I learn?
🛒 1. Everyday words that change
This is the bit you'll notice first. Most words are the same everywhere, but some everyday ones aren't:
| English | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🌎 Much of Latin America |
|---|---|---|
| juice | el zumo | el jugo |
| car | el coche | el carro / el auto |
| mobile phone | el móvil | el celular |
| computer | el ordenador | la computadora |
| potato | la patata | la papa |
| flat / apartment | el piso | el departamento / el apartamento |
| glasses | las gafas | los lentes / los anteojos |
| to drive | conducir | manejar |
| bus | el autobús | el camión (Mexico), el colectivo (Argentina), la guagua (Caribbean) |
| OK | vale | okey / dale / sale |
💡 Watch out for coger. In Spain it simply means "to take" or "to catch" (coger el autobús). In parts of Latin America it has a rude meaning, so people there say tomar instead. In Spain, use it happily! 😄
👥 2. Vosotros: the big grammar difference
In English, "you" is "you", whether it's one person or ten. Spanish has different words:
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 🌎 Latin America | |
|---|---|---|
| you (one friend) | tú | tú (or vos in Argentina and some other countries) |
| you (one person, polite) | usted | usted |
| you lot (friends, family) | vosotros / vosotras | ustedes |
| you lot (polite) | ustedes | ustedes |
So in Spain, if you're talking to your friends you say ¿Vosotros habláis inglés? In Mexico you'd say ¿Ustedes hablan inglés? Both mean "Do you speak English?"
Some courses skip vosotros. We don't, because in Spain you'll hear it in every bar, shop and family dinner: ¿Qué queréis? (What would you like?), ¿Tenéis hambre? (Are you hungry?).
🗣️ 3. Pronunciation
The famous "th" sound
In most of Spain, z, and c before e or i, sound like the English "th" in "think":
- gracias: GRA-thee-as
- zumo: THOO-mo
- cerveza: thair-VEH-tha
In Latin America (and the Canaries and parts of Andalucía) those letters sound like "s": GRA-see-as, SOO-mo. And no, it's not a lisp! It's simply how the language developed in Spain. 😉
Other sounds
- J and g (before e/i): stronger and throatier in Spain, like the "ch" in Scottish "loch" (jamón: ha-MON, with a rasp).
- Ll and y: in Spain usually like the "y" in "yes". In Argentina and Uruguay they sound more like "sh" (pollo: PO-sho).
- Final s: clearly said in central Spain, often softened or dropped in southern Spain and the Caribbean.
📚 4. A few more grammar differences
- Talking about today: Spain likes the perfect tense for things that happened today: Hoy he comido paella (I've had paella today). Much of Latin America uses the simple past: Hoy comí paella.
- Le or lo: in central Spain you'll often hear le for "him" (le vi ayer, I saw him yesterday). Elsewhere it's usually lo vi ayer. Both are understood.
- Vos: in Argentina and Uruguay, vos replaces tú, with its own verb forms (vos tenés instead of tú tienes). You won't hear it in Spain.
😎 5. Slang
Slang is where countries really have fun. A few family-friendly examples:
| Meaning | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🌎 Latin America (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| cool | guay, mola | chévere (Colombia, Venezuela), padre (Mexico), bacán (Chile, Peru) |
| mate / pal | tío / tía | güey (Mexico), che (Argentina), pana (Venezuela) |
| money | la pasta | la lana (Mexico), la plata (much of South America) |
| to work | currar | chambear (Mexico, Peru) |
| Really? / No way! | ¿En serio? / ¡No me digas! | ¿En serio? / ¡No manches! (Mexico) |
Want 48 words Spaniards really use? Have a look at our Slang & Colloquialisms flashcards, or follow our Spanish word of the week.
🧠 Test yourself: Spain or Latin America?
Zumo or jugo? Coche or carro? Take our free 10-question quiz and see if you can spot the Spain Spanish word. 👉 Take the quiz
🤔 6. So which should I learn?
- Holidays in Spain, a home in Spain, Spanish friends or family? Learn Spain Spanish. You'll sound natural and understand the locals.
- Travelling in Mexico or South America? Learn that variety, or start with Spain Spanish and pick up the local words as you go.
- Not sure? Don't worry. The core of the language is the same, and whichever you learn, you'll be understood everywhere. The most important thing is to pick one, stick with it and start speaking. 💪
If you're in the UK, Spain is the Spanish you'll most likely use, as it's only a short flight away. That's why everything we make, from the flashcards to the app, is in Spain Spanish.
🚀 Start learning Spain Spanish
- 🎯 Not sure of your level? Take the free 5-minute Spanish level test.
- 🌱 Brand new? Read How to start learning Spanish.
- 📄 Grab the free Top 50 Spanish Phrases You'll Actually Use.
- ☀️ Going on holiday? See Spanish for Mallorca or Spanish for Benidorm and the Costas.
📱 Practise free in the app: every word, phrase and quiz in the Fun Learning Spanish app is Spain Spanish, with vosotros included. It's free to start! 👉 Try the Fun Learning Spanish app 🚀
👩🏫 Prefer a real teacher? Learn with Sam, in person in Basildon or online. Your first lesson is free.