I’m from Madrid, so you might expect me to say “Spain, obviously”. I won’t. About nine out of ten native Spanish speakers live outside Spain. The real question is: who do you want to talk to?
The real differences
| Feature | Spain | Latin America |
|---|---|---|
| “You all” informal | vosotros (habláis) | ustedes (hablan) |
| z / ce / ci | TH (“grathias”) | S (“grasias”) |
| Recent past | Hoy he comido paella | Hoy comí paella |
| Car | coche | carro / auto |
| Computer | ordenador | computadora |
| Mobile phone | móvil | celular |
| Juice | zumo | jugo |
| Cool | mola / guay | padre (MX), chévere (CO/VE), copado (AR) |
More words in Spain vs Mexico Spanish.
What does NOT change
- Grammar is 95% the same.
- Most vocabulary is the same.
- Educated speakers understand each other without any problem.
- Learning one doesn’t “ruin” the other.
How to choose
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Live in, move to or travel often to Spain | Spain |
| Live in the US, especially near Mexican communities | Mexican Spanish |
| Have a partner or family from a specific country | Their Spanish, always |
| Love Spanish series (La Casa de Papel, Élite) | Spain |
| Don’t know yet | Either; be consistent |
Next: do you need to learn vosotros? and why Spaniards “lisp”.
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Is Spain Spanish different from Latin American Spanish?
Slightly: vosotros, the TH sound, some vocabulary and tense use. Speakers understand each other perfectly.
Which Spanish is easier to learn?
Neither is easier. Latin American Spanish skips vosotros, which is one less verb form to produce.
Will people in Spain understand Latin American Spanish?
Yes, completely. Spaniards are used to it through music, TV and friends.
Should I learn Castilian Spanish?
If your goal is Spain, yes. “Castilian” is often used to mean the Spanish of Spain.
Can I mix Spain and Latin American Spanish?
Yes. Try to be consistent in pronunciation, but mixing vocabulary is normal.
— Monica Bernabe Perez
$20 symbolic price · 30 minutes · with Mónica
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