{"id":4086,"date":"2020-10-18T18:55:44","date_gmt":"2020-10-18T14:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cudoo.com\/?p=4086"},"modified":"2022-10-12T15:49:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T11:49:36","slug":"differences-between-mexican-spanish-and-castilian-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/differences-between-mexican-spanish-and-castilian-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Differences Between Mexican Spanish and Castilian Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spanish is a language that has users in Central and Southern America as well as Spain, in Europe. With over 500 million speakers across 23 countries, <\/span>Spanish<\/span><\/a> is also a romance language, deep-rooted in poetry and art.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the Spanish spoken in Central America is very different from that spoken in Spain. While the language shares its roots and is identical in structure, there are some subtle differences that set the two apart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have made it easier for you by listing out some of the major differences between <\/span>Mexican Spanish<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Castilian Spanish<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Vocabulary<\/b><\/p>\n

Languages vary within a country, with numerous dialects and variations in vocabulary. Hence it is not surprising for a language like Spanish to have a vocabulary that is different, continents apart. Similarly to <\/span>American English<\/span><\/a> and British English, the variation in Spanish vocabulary in Mexico and Spain are plenty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some common words listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n

Peaches in Mexico are called\u00a0<\/span>duraznos <\/span><\/i>while<\/span> in Spain, they are called\u00a0<\/span>melocotones.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Corn is\u00a0<\/span>ma\u00edz <\/span><\/i>in Spain while\u00a0<\/span>elote<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico<\/span>
\n<\/span>Potato is\u00a0<\/span>patata<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Spain,\u00a0<\/span>papa<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico<\/span>
\n<\/span>Candy is\u00a0<\/span>chuches<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Spain and <\/span>dulces<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico<\/span><\/p>\n

Bus is <\/span>autob\u00fas<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Spain and <\/span>cami\u00f3n<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico<\/span>
\n<\/span>Car is called\u00a0<\/span>coche<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Spain but <\/span>carro<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico
\n<\/span>Computer is called <\/span>ordenador<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Spain or <\/span>computadora<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Cellphone is\u00a0<\/span>m\u00f3vil<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Spain and <\/span>celular<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in Mexico<\/span>
\n<\/span>Glasses is called\u00a0<\/span>lentes in <\/span><\/i>Mexico<\/span> and\u00a0<\/span>gafas <\/span><\/i>in Spain
\n<\/span>Pen is <\/span>pluma\u00a0<\/span><\/i>in Mexico while <\/span>bol\u00edgrafo\u00a0<\/span><\/i>in Spain\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mexican<\/p>\n

Pronunciation<\/b><\/p>\n

Pronunciation is another aspect where Spanish in Spain and Mexico differ. The notable differences are in the pronunciation of certain letters, namely \u2018c\u2019,\u2019z\u2019 and \u2018s\u2019. In Spain, the pronunciation is categorized into three different categories: distinci\u00f3n, el seseo and el ceceo. Spanish speakers in Spain use distinci\u00f3n and ceceo, whereas in Mexico, seseo is more prominent.<\/span><\/p>\n

In seseo, \u2018s\u2019, \u2018c\u2019 and \u2018z\u2019 are pronounced as \u2018s\u2019 (like the \u2018s\u2019 in castle). For example, caza and casa is pronounced in the same manner without any difference as \u2018kasa\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

In ceceo however, the pronunciation of \u2018s\u2019,\u2019z\u2019 and \u2018c\u2019 changes, when used before the letters \u2018i\u2019 or \u2018e\u2019 into a \u2018th\u2019 sound. For example, \u201cgracias\u201d is pronounced \u201c<\/span>grathias<\/span><\/i>\u201d in Spain and \u201c<\/span>grasias<\/span><\/i>\u201d in Mexico.<\/span><\/p>\n

Formal vs Informal<\/b><\/p>\n

Languages like <\/span>French<\/span><\/a> have a distinction when it comes to the use of certain personal pronouns. \u2018Tu\u2019 and \u2018Vous\u2019 is the personal pronoun equivalent of \u2018You\u2019 in French, but \u2018Vous\u2019 is used to address a person with more respect. There is a similar use of personal pronouns in Spanish practiced in Spain. In Spain, the \u2018vosotros\u2019 tense is used to address strangers or someone older, as a sign of respect. \u2018Ustedes\u2019 is an informal term used to address a friend, a colleague or someone who is familiar to you. In Mexico however, that distinction is not necessary. \u2018Ustedes\u2019 is utilized both formally and informally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slang<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the more exciting differences between Spanish in the two countries, you\u2019re bound to experience this while interacting with the locals. Local slang or colloquial used in either country varies. These phrases might be of use to you when you\u2019re trying to impress the locals with your grip of the local vocabulary and expressions.<\/span><\/p>\n

You see something cool and want to convey your amazement? If you\u2019re in Spain, try words like <\/span>guay<\/span><\/i>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>chulo<\/span><\/i>. In Mexico, the words\u00a0<\/span>chido<\/span><\/i>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>padre<\/span><\/i>\u00a0can be used to convey the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mexican<\/p>\n

As with any language, interacting with locals enables you to absorb the local dialects and use of slang. Check out our online courses for <\/span>Mexican Spanish<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Castilian Spanish<\/span><\/a> to help you get started on your next Spanish adventure!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spanish is a language that has users in Central and Southern America as well as Spain, in Europe. With over 500 million speakers across 23 countries, Spanish is also a romance language, deep-rooted in poetry and art.\u00a0 However, the Spanish spoken in Central America is very different from that spoken in Spain. While the language […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":4092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3859,3862,3861,3159,2335,3860],"yst_prominent_words":[1807,3852,3856,54,3858,3851,3848,3847,3151,470,3853,3857,1403,3855,2799,306,3850,3849,3854,60],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4086"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4086"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5618,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4086\/revisions\/5618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4086"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=4086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}