How can we compare a language in one country against a huge part of a continent? To be honest, there are many things countries in Latin America share while Spain has other peculiarities.
If you are doing business with Spaniards and Bolivians at the same time, you will definitely notice various differences. Bolivians are just an example, the same applies to people from Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, and other countries whose mother tongue is Spanish.
Today I’ll mention a few of the main differences between Spanish in Spain and in Latin America:
The use of vosotros instead of ustedes
In Spain, people use vosotros to refer to they. However, in Latin America, they use ustedes.
Let’s take a look at this short conversation between Paco (the nickname they use for Francisco in Spain) and Pancho (the nickname they use for the very same name, Francisco, but in Argentina).
Paco: ¡Oye Pancho! ¿Cómo estáis vosotros? Digo, tú y tu familia… | Hey, Pancho. How are you? I mean, you and your family…
Pancho: Todo bien, todo bien por suerte, ¿Y ustedes?, hace tanto que no nos vemos… | All good, thank God, and you? Long time no see…
What happens if you use vosotros instead of ustedes? That’s perfectly fine, people from different countries will definitely understand. Just make sure to mention the fact that you work or interact with people from Latin America or Spain to your teacher so that she or he can adapt some of the words or expressions to your needs.
The use of usted instead of tú
Another typical difference between Spanish in Spain and in Latin America is the use of usted. In Latin America, when people don’t have a close relationship with someone at work, when they go to the doctor or even when they interact with a shop assistant, people tend to use usted to show some respect.
The first encounter between a consultant and a client in Latin America would be like this:
Consultant: Yo me llamo Carlos, ¿y usted? | I’m Carlos, and you?
Client: Soy Rosana, mucho gusto. | I’m Rosana, nice to meet you.
In some countries, like Colombia, people use usted to refer to family members as well.
Usted is also used when the person addresses the elderly or any official authority such as a police officer or a judge.
In Spain, it is much more common to use tú in most contexts.
Borja: Yo soy Borja, ¿y tú cómo te llamas? | I’m Borja, and you? what’s your name?
Patricia: Hola Borja, mi nombre es Patricia. Encantada | Hi Borja, my name’s Patricia, nice to meet you.
When it is an official authority or someone important Spaniards will use usted but you will definitely hear it much more often amongst people in Latin America.
Differences in pronunciation
Whether or not you have the chance to speak to Spaniards and Latin American people, I am almost sure you have listened to their music. Then, you should have noticed some differences between Spanish in Spain and Latin America.
- The Z and the S
In Latin America, there is no difference between words with Z and those with S as they are pronounced the same.
If the phrase is: el zapato azul, you will hear it differently:
In Latin America you will hear: El sapato es asul.
In Spain you will hear: El zapato es azul.
- The Argentinian SH
In Argentina people pronounce words with the letter Y and LL as SH.
If the phrase is: Me llamo Yolanda
In Argentina you will hear: Me shamo sholanda.
In the rest of the countries, you will not produce that sound.
The use of the pretérito indefinido (the past tense) and the perfecto (perfect tense)
There is also another difference between Spanish in Spain and Latin America and this one is related to grammar.
People in Spain use the perfect tense much more often than people in Latin America. They are likely to say:
Paco: Hoy he trabajado un montón. | Today I’ve worked a lot!
While most people in Latin America will say
Rosa: Hoy trabajé un montón. | Today I worked a lot.
Do you know any other difference that is not on the list? Share it with us!
If you need guidance on how to improve your Spanish skills to be better prepared to do business with Spanish-speaking clients at work, or you want to prepare for an international exam to have better opportunities abroad, do contact us. Book your FREE SESSION and LET’S TALK.
Don’t forget to check other blogs if you want to avoid making mistakes in Spanish. Read our blog Common mistakes in Spanish and how to correct them!
