What's the difference between Latin America Spanish and Spain Spanish? Which one is better to know?

Question

If I know one of the dialects will people who know the other understand me?

Answer 1

What the other person wrote is nonsense. The differences between (esp. the educated) speech in the main Spanish-speaking countries are not great. Some accents are easier and more widely accepted than others, however. Spain Spanish is fine, but so is Mexican or Colombian or Peruvian or Salvadoran, for example.

Answer 2

The answers that the others gave are pretty good. I agree with them. A lot of times the differences between the two dialects will come in the form of the way of calling certain things. For example, if I were living in Spain the word that I am most likely to use for juice is "zumo". However, if I were in a country like Cuba you're more likely to hear the word "jugo" to refer to juice. Another difference might come in the form of how people address each other. In Spain, when a person is talking informally to a group of friends and wants to say "you all" he/she will likely use the word "vosotros (vosotras if they are talking specifically to females). But when a Spaniard is addressing a group of people in a more formal manner he/she will refer to them as "ustedes". However, in Latin America, the word most likely to be used in both situations is "ustedes". While vosotros is mostly understood there it is considered archaic in sound and usually only appears in the Bible and old Spanish literature. Despite these differences and the fact that each Spanish country usually has a slightly different accent, speakers are usually able to understand each other. But it definitely helps if one or both speakers no a bit about the other person's dialect in case any differnces do exist. So as far a choosing a specific dialect to learn it's mostly up to you. Try listening to t.v. programs or music from the different countries (since not even Latin Amerian Spanish can be clumped together as one dialect) and find out which accent you like the most.

Buenas suertes! (Good luck!)

Answer 3

BabyBoy is correct. I would use the same analogy. The only thing I would add is that there is "La Real Academia Española" which is considered the ultimate arbiter of what is correct Spanish (or Castellano/Castillian Spanish but few call it that anymore.)

Whether or not you need to focus more on Spanish from Spain or Latin America really depends on the purpose for using the language. Most schools will (and should) teach you "Spain Spanish" as you refer to it. But practically speaking, you will want to know local idioms if you will be using it mainly in Latin America. Remember that Latin America is made up of many different countries and there are differences in regional idioms.

I sometimes do translations for work so I have a Real Academia Española dictionary. However, because I live in Southern California I need to know the different terminology used by Spanish speakers from this part of the world, too.

Answer 4

It's like American English and British English (I think if I put it that way, you'll understand): if an American speaks to a British, the British will understand him 80%, regardless of the different terms they use for the same word (elevator and lift or apartment and flat), and the accent. That's pretty the same, you just have to find a comprehensive list of words which mean differently in the other side and listen on the web to the difference between the two accents.

Answer 5

Study and learn the Castillion, pure Spanish.
This is spoken in all Spanish speaking countries.
This is taught in schools.
You may not understand all dialects, but they will understand Castillion.

Answer 6

The best is, of course, Spain.
THOSE ARE NOT DIALECTS, YOU GENIUS !