In languages, what is the difference between?

Question

Latin American Spanish and Spain Spanish?

I wanted to learn Spanish, now I see I have a choice. What is the difference between the two?

Answer 1

When you go to Latin America speaking Spain Spanish they may laugh at you. Various areas in Latin America have some pretty big variation too, but really it depends where you want to spend your time.

And like when people learn English, it doesn't really matter if you learn American or British English in the beginning. You will learn the basics and make corrections and changes to what you say and how you say it once you get to where you are going.

Answer 2

The main difference is that Spanish in Spain uses the "vosotros" (you-plural-informal) verb conjugations and that Latin American Spanish just puts it all under "ustedes." In other words, Latin American Spanish doesn't make a distinction between you-plural-formal and you-plural informal.

And of course there are differences in pronunication/accent and slang. For example, there are a fair number of words that mean something proper in Spain, but mean something naughty in Mexican slang.

If you live in the USA, taking Latin American Spanish would be the most practical, since that's the form that's spoken the most here. But a Spainard in Latin America will have an easier time communicating than a Latin American Spanish speaker in Spain.

It's kind of a tough call, but the tie-breaker should be where you live. Latin American Spanish if you're in the USA or Latin America; anywhere else (especially Europe), Spanish Spanish.

Answer 3

The best answer really is that one is spoken in Mexico, Central & South America, the other in Spain. It's like English in the U.K. vs. English in the U.S. We can generally understamd each other, but accents are different, and some words or phrases have very different meanings. Make your decision based on where people you know are from or where you will travel or live.

Someone else can give you more specifics, I don't remember too much else except that Spain uses "vosotros" (the informal "we") more, and a lot of words are pronounced like the "th" in "the" instead of the "s" in "Spanish"

Answer 4

Like navigator correctly pointed the main difference is in the second person singular and plural
Spain
2 SING = Tu comes
2 PLU = Vosotros comeis

LA 1
2 SING = vos comés (from vosotros comeis lost the i)
2 PLU = ustedes comen

LA2
2 SING = tu comei (form comeis lost the s)
2 PLU = ustedes comen

Words change the sense but the conjugation of verbs is the most notorious change, the way the pronounce S, Z, and C (in ce and ci)

Answer 5

European Spanish sounds MUCH more distinguished in my opinion. I love hearing European Spanish, whereas Latin American Spanish grates on my ears.

But technically speaking, the differences lie in pronunciation.

Answer 6

There are variations that have developed over time, just as there are differences between British English and American English.

Answer 7

Each country has its own idioms. Pendeho means something different in every central american and south american country. Also, something different in Spain. Also, the language is spoken much different. Spain they sound like they lisp. In Panama they drop their "s". Everyplace is different.

Answer 8

Some of the words and phrases are different. Like I think in Spain, hablos usted Ingles? is do you speak English, and I think in Latin America its habla usted Ingles?

Answer 9

Obviouslsy, because they are separated countries there will be different vocab.. different expressions, different accent.

Answer 10

it is same as English from England and Englsih from USA one is more proper than other