Most of the words are not only used by "cholos," but by many people in S. Texas - and their usage can vary. So cute! Try adding these phrases to sound more native! Chileans also dont pronounce the D when its surrounded by vowels. Its so common that it almost sounds like a filler word such as um. Remember that in Bolivian Spanish, the final S is rarely pronounced, so pues is more like pue. In Puerto Rican Spanish, this would be pronounced, , La pare de la ehcuela ya est terminaa., This Spanish speaking territory also follows the Caribbean trend of changing the R to an L sound. Never heard of it before? Unlike other countries where you would pronounce it like a Y, here they say zhh or shh with a buzz in it. Besides using vos like Argentina remember vos quers instead of t quieres Salvadoran Spanish also uses some Nahuatl words, which are historically Aztec words. That includes, endings. Often Z and C are said like S. For example, , El zorro ensucio mis zapatos/The fox got my shoes dirty. Maybe you can list off a handful, or perhaps youre a genius and know them all.
Another pitfall to watch out for: Colombians pronounce LL and Y differently than Argentina or Uruguay. Panamanian Spanish has several influences, including English loan words.
Two final pronunciation tips: this Spanish speaking country uses the disappearing D for -ado/ido endings and the final N is often pronounced as an NG sound. Instead, they let out a puff of air that is barely noticeable. Instead, Nicaraguans use a puff of air to finish the word. Nicaraguans pronounce these sounds as a K or C. So, dont be surprised if you hear something like , Mi laptop no se conecta a internet/My laptop doesnt connect to the internet, Nicaraguan Spanish also follows common Central American Spanish-isms. For example, Dme los platos/Hand me the plates would become Dme lo plato. This also happens for the D sound in those famous -ado/ido endings too. Youll also hear, Since Uruguay borders Brazil, it also has strong Brazilian influences. So, swallow the S at the end of words. Beaches arent the only beautiful thing Honduras is known for. (super chill). The Argentine expression che is common in Paraguay, for example. We hope after reading this article that you are more aware of the diversity of the Spanish language and are able to use some local slang during your next trip, . For example, a Spaniard could say the sentence Ive looked for a better gift as He buscado un mejor regalo. However, in most Latin American dialects, only past simple would be used: Busqu un mejor regalo. If youre in Spain, youll want to brush up on your present perfect tense! It can be added at the beginning or end of a sentence, and is almost always used casually. These include linguistic gems like elote (corn), chapuln (grasshopper) and papalote (kite). Can you name all 21 Spanish speaking countries? Luckily, Bolivian Spanish is known for being spoken precisely, so hopefully youll be able to hear these differences easily. In traditional Spanish, you might ask something like , ?/What do you want to eat? On the other hand, in Cuba they say, , Basically, drop any unnecessary sounds. Oftentimes, Argentines will take their time to emphasize what theyre saying. Many indigenous-influenced words in Mexican Spanish have become mainstream. While Guatemalan Spanish is neutral and clear, you may notice a few subtleties in their speech. They do this to make the request sound friendlier or more personal. For example, lets use the phrase How are you?. Because of the Panama Canal, Panamanians were exposed to English and incorporated words such as switch, fren (friend), guy and parquear (park).Besides English borrowings, Panamanian Spanish also has some unique pronunciation. For example, you could say . That includes -do/da endings. Speakers will also sometimes pronounce D as a T, especially at the end of words. Our recommendation is that you dont worry about imitating all these variations, but try to hear the differences so you can understand whats being said. Last but not least, Venezuelan Spanish is a unique accent that brings together Italian, African and indigenous influences. Surprised? This isnt the case for every region, but keep your ears open. ), so go on and try to fit it into your sentences. Writer Sergio Ramrez chose. Specifically the CH often is said as SH instead. First things first: Colombians use usted a lot. If youre going to fit into this Spanish speaking country, you should use it often. If you cannot afford a kite you can be a "pirate" wrap some string around a rock and hurl the rock on to a kites string and pull their kite into you area. Like Mexico, they use Nahuatl borrowings. Some common ones are: At the same time, this Spanish speaking country is heavily influenced by its neighbors, especially Argentina. Often, Cubans will place the subject before the verb, instead of after it. A great example is the beautiful city of Medelln, which Colombians pronounce Me-de-jin. Some speakers will also pronounce the Y this way. In this Spanish speaking territory, its common to drop the final S; after a syllable, you should replace S with a soft H. In addition, the D in, endings is also missing, as well as the final D. To demonstrate all four of these traits, check out this sentence: . While most immigrants come from Mexico or Puerto Rico, immigration and thus accents are diverse. You can also expect this Spanish speaking country to use, a lot more than usual. In this Spanish speaking country, youll find a unique pronunciation of P, T and K sounds typically found in English loan words. Remember that in this Spanish speaking country, is sometimes used as well. Spanish learners will be overjoyed with this one: theres no difference between subjunctive and indicative tenses in this Spanish speaking country. In addition, forget about the D in -ado/-ido endings. Instead of pronouncing the D, Cubans will drop it and just emphasize the A. However, standard Uruguayan Spanish is mostly drawn from Italian immigrants. Another feature of Mexican Spanish? (Oh my!) all the time, adding them to numerous words to make them sound nice or cute. If you want to stay on the safe side, just stick with usted. Like Chileans, Cubans dont like that final S. They will often ignore it, or give it a puff of air instead. will be pronounced joe. However, other Colombians will maintain the traditional Y sound. The verdicts in: the Peruvian accent is much easier than climbing Machu Picchu. Escuchamos la banda anoche/We listened to the band last night, In addition, Panamanian Spanish often places the subject pronoun before the verb in questions, unlike other countries. Besides English borrowings, Panamanian Spanish also has some unique pronunciation. Whats necessary? In this Spanish speaking country, is very common, as well as the pronunciation of Y/LL as SH. Instead, Nicaraguans use a puff of air to finish the word. They also leave out the D in. Mexico has the most Spanish speakers of any country in the world rale! As a Spanish speaking country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic has diverse influences: indigenous, Latin, African and Spanish.
Shakira would be proud. And you thought you knew all the verb tenses! Generally speaking, usted is used to signal respect for those of higher authority, t is a standard professional way to address somebody and vos is for informal or intimate situations. This isnt the case for every region, but keep your ears open. You should also be aware that Chileans have also invented their own, verbs tenses unique from other Spanish speaking countries. Like Guatemalan Spanish, Hondurans use, is reserved for familiar or intimate settings, while, Honduran Spanish is also heavily influenced by Aztec and Mayan indigenous languages, so youre likely to hear the X pronounced as SH. Nicaraguan Spanish, also called nicaol, is filled with quirky sayings and borrowings. Guatemalan Spanish is a great springboard for understanding all other accents in Spanish. I had never heard it any other way. In Venezuelan Spanish, its typical to clip some words, especially the final S and the D in -ado/ido endings. Speakers here dont cut off sounds or clip endings, so words can be understood more clearly than in other countries. 
Lucky for you, vowels are also more stable and are pronounced more slowly. There are several reasons why Chilean Spanish sounds speedy. Often, Cubans will place the subject before the verb, instead of after it. For example, , . This also happens for the D sound in those famous, endings too. Just look at the word. In specific regions, vos is also used, but t is dominant. If youre interested in one particular country, you can also use our essential guide to study that Spanish dialect in more depth. Here, speakers take lots of shortcuts, cutting off sounds and syllables. So, if you want to imitate it, think of your favorite, goofy, stupid, silly (sometimes shortened to bo), in eastern Bolivia. Even between friends and family, Colombians will use. You may also hear the final S and the S before consonants weakened. Many say Argentine Spanish even sounds Italian. Paraguayans switch out direct object pronouns lo/la for le instead. [CDATA[ Just look to the food to see Italian influences: oquis and fain are both common Uruguayan meals. Thank you for sharing. You may also hear the final S and the S before consonants weakened. Forget about, Thats not all, folks. Vos is almost never used, except in some rural regions. Salvadoran Spanish also uses some Nahuatl words, which are historically Aztec words. This gives the accent a clipped feeling. In this Spanish speaking country, its important to tomrselo suave (take it easy). The Peruvian accent is hands down one of the most well-spoken accents. Just look to the food to see Italian influences: are both common Uruguayan meals.
in asia the kite fighting kiddos coat the kite strings in crushed glass so they can literally shred their opponents. Also, Colombians use the word pues all the time (like Chileans say po), so go on and try to fit it into your sentences. . This isnt true of all Paraguayans, but its fairly common. It comes from the word pues, meaning well or so. Po is everywhere, so go on and sprinkle it into your speech! So, if somebody asks, , in this Spanish speaking country, it will sound more like , Another characteristic in this Spanish speaking country is the sentence order for questions. After speaking with somebody for a few minutes, youll be able to figure out which second person form theyre using. It has Spanish linguistic roots because it became a Spanish colony in 1778 and didnt gain full independence until 1968. So, instead of gatito, they say gatico.
Uruguayan Spanish on the border is distinct from the capital, as it uses many portuol words and also the pronoun. Theyve got the disappearing D in -ado/ido endings and also the final S that becomes an airy H. As you can see, Panamanian Spanish is a wonderful blend of influences. For example, Guatemalan Spanish has been influenced by Mayan languages, which often utilize the SH sound, written as CH or X. Theres a little of everything!
Tranqui, tranqui. So on days with a nice breeze you see lots of people on their roofs kite fighting. has become so common in everyday speech that its used like a kind of, Heres where Colombias diversity makes it a little tricky. This can make it challenging to understand for Spanish learners, especially when spoken quickly. In general, standard Peruvian Spanish shows a difference between the R and the rolled RR. This is best seen in the Guatemalan town Xela, commonly pronounced as SHEL-lah.. (Yay, clarity!) However, standard Uruguayan Spanish is mostly drawn from Italian immigrants. While in Uruguay, try to use ta to sound like a native. For example, muchachos is pronounced muchacho instead. While there are 21 official Spanish speaking countries, other places throughout the world speak Spanish. Everybody calls everybody else usted, so follow their lead. However, it depends on the specific region and person. There are several reasons why Chilean Spanish sounds speedy. 
After learning about the Uruguayan accent, youll feel tranquilazo (super chill). Here well refresh your memory on using vos: Another big giveaway that youre in the Rioplatense region is how they pronounce LL and Y. Lets look at an example of both: Fue al supermercado para el pescado/He went to the store for the fish. This would be said something like Fue al supermercao pal pescao. Talk about marbles in your mouth! These borrowings are everywhere in Paraguayan Spanish. By reading our guide, youll get a clear idea of how people from that country speak. If you want to sound more Mexican, pop these endings onto your words! In this Spanish speaking territory, its common to drop the final S; after a syllable, you should replace S with a soft H. In addition, the D in -ado/ido endings is also missing, as well as the final D. To demonstrate all four of these traits, check out this sentence: La pared de la escuela ya est terminada/The wall of the school is now finished. In Puerto Rican Spanish, this would be pronounced, La pare de la ehcuela ya est terminaa.This Spanish speaking territory also follows the Caribbean trend of changing the R to an L sound. This form of you plural (you all, you guys) is a distinguishing mark of Spain. Mexican Spanish also differs in its use of le and lo. (kite). Pues, you can do it! Mexicans pepper their speech with diminutives. The endings, is a typical phrase meaning right now or in a little while. However, they also use the ending, which is used to show a disparaging attitude. So, a sentence like La publicidad le dio felicidad/The publicity made him happy may be said like La publicidat le dio felicidat.In this Spanish speaking country, the words noms and pues are used all the time, especially after verbs. Even within the same borders, you can find countless different accents and ways of talking. Forget about t and bust out your best vos here. For example, lets use the phrase How are you?. Once you know how to fly your kite well, the next objective is to take someone else's kite down with your own kite, if you can take their kite down on to your roof you win it. If that isnt cool, I dont know what is! Lots of words are cut out. Equatorial Guinea is a small country on the western coast of Africa. Puerto Rican Spanish is fast and furious. This form of you plural (you all, you guys) is a distinguishing mark of Spain. In fact, t is only really used in literature, so go for vos when talking with friends and family. Honduran Spanish is also heavily influenced by Aztec and Mayan indigenous languages, so youre likely to hear the X pronounced as SH. There are three major differences between Castilian Spanish and Latin American dialects. The pronunciation here depends on the region. When in doubt, stick with, Finally, Panamanian Spanish displays similarities to other Central American countries. Another characteristic in this Spanish speaking country is the sentence order for questions. The influence of Nahuatl words is especially strong. Bolivia is a Spanish speaking country with lots of indigenous influences. Not just the famous revolutionary figure Che Guevara, but also the phrase, meaning hey or so. The first thing youll notice about the Argentine accent is that, is peppered into speech all the time. You should also be aware that Chileans have also invented their own t verbs tenses unique from other Spanish speaking countries. Dominican Spanish has a lot of shortcuts that can make your head spin if youre not used to it.
We hope after reading this article that you are more aware of the diversity of the Spanish language and are able to use some local slang during your next trip, dale? From there, you should try to make the sentence as compact as possible. That means you can throw subjunctive out the window!
To be fair, thats not even taking into account the diversity of dialects within each country. Sentences go lightning fast, so you better pay attention. Finally, in this Spanish speaking country, there are some specific pronunciations to keep in mind: Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish speaking country located on the African continent. Ready to tackle Colombian Spanish? Just like Colombia, you may hear animals referred to as gatico (kitty) or conejico (bunny). Many indigenous-influenced words in Mexican Spanish have become mainstream. At the same time, this Spanish speaking country is heavily influenced by its neighbors, especially Argentina. Estamos re copados/Were really interested. Costa Ricans dont really use t; when they use informal you, they opt for vos. (Kidding, not kidding.) Of course, every Spanish speaking country is extraordinarily diverse. Surprised? This means they change how the singular second person verb ends and is pronounced. to show this parents negative attitude about the sons living situation. Its important to note that there are regional differences in Peru, especially in the Amazon, so the Peruvian accent can vary greatly depending on where you are. If youre not sure, stick with vos. This can make it challenging to understand for Spanish learners, especially when spoken quickly. While other countries say Cmo ests t?, Dominicans will say Cmo t ta? A common response is ta to meaning est todo bien. Talk about fast! When in doubt, stick with t and usted. Argentina is the land of Che. 
