Spain Spanish or Latin American Spanish?
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Duolingo by EdouardC2020 See all items with this value
Language
English See all items with this value
Date Accepted
12/05/19 See all items with this value
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BenZeller See all items with this value
Title
Spain Spanish or Latin American Spanish? See all items with this value
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Latin-American-biased-opinion: Latin American Spanish is better. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Spain Spanish. But for learning purposes, choose Latin American. And here's why: But before that let me just say one thing: there is a difference. It's a minor one, like the way Brits spell color with a "u" and pronounce "via" like "v-EYE-ah," but there is still a difference.
Spain Spanish is picky! Geographically, it makes sense for Latin American Spanish, especially in places like Mexico, to be highly influenced by English. And if you want to learn "pure Spanish," then, by all means, stick to Spain Spanish. But if you forget how to say "computer" in Spanish and you try to get by with some Spanglish and say "computadora," then you better hope you're not in Spain, where the preferred term is "ordenador." That's a minor example, but this occurs a lot!
It's unique. And this can be a great thing. But for learning purposes, this gets old. Fast. Like when you want to talk about a knob on a drawer so you say "perilla," only to have the Spaniards wondering why you're talking about a goatee (and the Cubans wondering something much more vulgar...). Or when you ask for a nice refreshing glass of "jugo" (juice) only to have Spaniards correct you, saying "zumo," even though "zumo" actually refers to pulp in Latin America. And don't even get me STARTED on "coger," though that is technically Mexican Spanish's fault.
Vosotros. Just.... no.
Pronunciation. The hardest thing about Castilian (Spain) Spanish is the pronunciation. They speak incredibly fast, and say their "s" and "z" in a way that makes talking about your love for hunting (cazar = to hunt) into an awkward silence (casar = to marry).
Mexican Spanish is what I was taught, so it does have a special place in my heart. Though even Mexican Spanish has its quirks, like "torta" meaning "sandwich" in Mexico, whereas everywhere else if you try to order a "torta" for lunch you'll be given a judgemental face from the waiter and a chocolate-y surprise ("torta" everywhere else = cake).
Hope this lengthy rant helps! Happy learning! See all items with this value
Spain Spanish is picky! Geographically, it makes sense for Latin American Spanish, especially in places like Mexico, to be highly influenced by English. And if you want to learn "pure Spanish," then, by all means, stick to Spain Spanish. But if you forget how to say "computer" in Spanish and you try to get by with some Spanglish and say "computadora," then you better hope you're not in Spain, where the preferred term is "ordenador." That's a minor example, but this occurs a lot!
It's unique. And this can be a great thing. But for learning purposes, this gets old. Fast. Like when you want to talk about a knob on a drawer so you say "perilla," only to have the Spaniards wondering why you're talking about a goatee (and the Cubans wondering something much more vulgar...). Or when you ask for a nice refreshing glass of "jugo" (juice) only to have Spaniards correct you, saying "zumo," even though "zumo" actually refers to pulp in Latin America. And don't even get me STARTED on "coger," though that is technically Mexican Spanish's fault.
Vosotros. Just.... no.
Pronunciation. The hardest thing about Castilian (Spain) Spanish is the pronunciation. They speak incredibly fast, and say their "s" and "z" in a way that makes talking about your love for hunting (cazar = to hunt) into an awkward silence (casar = to marry).
Mexican Spanish is what I was taught, so it does have a special place in my heart. Though even Mexican Spanish has its quirks, like "torta" meaning "sandwich" in Mexico, whereas everywhere else if you try to order a "torta" for lunch you'll be given a judgemental face from the waiter and a chocolate-y surprise ("torta" everywhere else = cake).
Hope this lengthy rant helps! Happy learning! See all items with this value