i want to learn spanish, im from europe but the main reason i want to learn it is because im travelling to mexico and south america. Ive heard the spanish is different - just wondering how much and would i have to re-learn it if i went to spain?
2007-10-24 16:10:43 · 8 answers · asked by spdy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I live in Mexico and I agree with everyone who says it's mainly about the accent but I don't agree with the "FEW" words.
If we are talking about the Spanish you learn in books, and dictionaries then yes, it'd be a few words that are different from one country to another. But if we talk about real life Spanish, the one is spoken in the streets and has A LOT of idioms and variations of many many words. And then as my English Literature teacher says it can be really difficult to understand Spanish speaker from Southamerican countries or from Spain.
And it's true. I'm in some message boards where there are people from Spain and from South America and we often ask each other to explain words and terms and expressions.
My cousin went to Spain last year and she said she had a hard time trying to understand some people not only for many strange expressions they used but also because they spoke so fast!
2007-10-24 16:40:24 · answer #1 · answered by Miss LeBeau 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An educated or upper-class Mexican from Mexico City will speak Spanish nearly the same as someone in Spain. However, as in the rest of Latin America, they still do not lisp their Cs and Zs.
On the other hand , if talk to a campesino from the countryside or the small towns, you will find a much different Spanish. . . one full of slang and much influenced by the native Nahuatl (pronounce Nah-watt) or Aztec language. For example, the use of 'chamaca' for teenage girl, 'chango' or 'changuito' for monkey and 'guajalote' for turkey instead of the standard Spanish joven, mono, pavo etc.
There are no books or audio courses that teach regional Mexican Spanish that I know of. You will have to learn it from Mexicans.
2007-10-25 00:05:36 · answer #2 · answered by Brennus 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The major difference is pronunciation and a few words that are different. (Just like British English and American English.) Spanish speakers understand each other perfectly, but the accent tells where the person is from. You shouldn't have to re-learn anything.
2007-10-24 23:15:19 · answer #3 · answered by attack_of_the_5ft_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are "regionalismos" (words used in certain regions) that differ from country to country, but for the most part a mexican will understand your Spain's spanish and viceversa. Just ask the mexican to explain those few words you may not know.
For example: "Bicho" in most parts of America it refers to any small insect. But, in Puerto Rico and other caribbean islands it is a slang rude word for penis.
2007-10-25 18:42:31 · answer #4 · answered by Darth Eugene Vader 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, its the same basic language with an accent and several unique words. its like the difference between english in the US vs in the UK. i mean we can understand each other, but there is a noticeable accent. same with spanish
2007-10-24 23:15:56 · answer #5 · answered by jwintim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The accent, spaniards also use the vosotros form more often, and some regional sayings, not that different about structure or something else.
2007-10-24 23:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by XxRemyxX 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only in accent and the use of Vosotros. You wouldn't have to re-learn it- it is pretty much the same.
2007-10-25 11:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by Mercutia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi im from mexico and yes there is a big difference betwen mexican and european but is only de accent and few words
i.e.
nosotros(spanish-mex)-vos(spanish-spain)-us(english-usa)
its like an english person in us
2007-10-24 23:21:48 · answer #8 · answered by hahahe1232 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋