Spanish is the official language of 21 countries. The DELE includes speakers from Spain and Latin America, so you must understand the main varieties. You do not need to imitate them: choose one model (this course follows Spain) and be consistent.
| Feature | Spain (centre/north) | Most of Latin America, Canaries, Andalusia (partly) |
|---|---|---|
| c (+e,i) and z | [θ] like English th: cena, zapato | [s]: sena, sapato (seseo) |
| 2nd person plural | vosotros habláis (informal) / ustedes (formal) | ustedes hablan (always) |
| Vos | not used | Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Central America: vos tenés, vos sos, vení |
| Past tense | Hoy he comido (perfect for today) | Hoy comí (indefinido preferred) |
| Final -s | pronounced | often aspirated or dropped in the Caribbean, Andalusia, Canaries: lo(h) niño(h) |
| ll / y | [j] | Argentina/Uruguay: [ʃ] or [ʒ]: yo, calle sound like "sho, cashe" |
| j | strong, throaty | softer, like English h, in the Caribbean, Colombia, Central America |
Vocabulary differences (selection)
| Spain | Latin America (common) | English |
|---|---|---|
| el ordenador | la computadora | computer |
| el móvil | el celular | mobile phone |
| el coche | el carro (Méx., Col., Ven.), el auto (Arg., Chile) | car |
| conducir | manejar | to drive |
| coger (el autobús) | tomar (el bus / el camión en México / el colectivo en Argentina) | to take (the bus) |
| el zumo | el jugo | juice |
| las gafas | los lentes, los anteojos | glasses |
| el piso | el departamento / el apartamento | flat |
| la patata | la papa | potato |
| vale | bueno, está bien, dale (Arg.) | OK |
| enfadarse | enojarse | to get angry |
| guay | chévere (Col., Ven.), padre (Méx.), copado (Arg.) | cool |
| el billete | el boleto, el pasaje | ticket |
| aparcar | estacionar, parquear | to park |
Truco · Tip
When you watch Latin American series, note the differences in a separate column of your vocabulary notebook. Recognising them is enough for B2.