Spain's Spanish or Latin American Spanish: does it matter for learning?

Key rules

• Exams: DELE and SIELE accept all standard varieties of Spanish, so your choice of variety will not hurt you.
• Main differences: Vosotros and everyday vocabulary are where Spain and Latin America differ most.
• Apps: Most major apps lean towards Latin American or neutral Spanish, so check the course notes for Spain content.
• Coger: The verb coger is harmless in Spain but offensive in parts of Latin America.

Does it matter? A little, but not for exams

Either variety will get you started. The differences are mainly vosotros and everyday vocabulary. Both DELE and SIELE accept all standard varieties of Spanish, so you do not need Spain's Spanish to pass them. You may use your own standard variety, and the materials use a mix of accents and vocabulary.

Still, if you will live in Spain, a course that matches what you hear daily will make the first months easier.

What differs

Vosotros. In Spain, "vosotros" is the informal plural "you", with its own verb forms (coméis). Latin America uses "ustedes" for all plurals. Many Latin American courses skip vosotros, so you will meet it first on the street.

Vocabulary. These words are common in Spain:

• coche (car)
• ordenador (computer)
• móvil (cellphone)
• piso (apartment)
• zumo (juice)
• patata (potato)
• grifo (tap)
• coger (to take)

Be careful with "coger". In Spain it is an ordinary verb, but in parts of Latin America it is offensive. If you learn it from a Latin American course, you may avoid it. If you learn it in Spain, do not use it while travelling in Latin America.

Grammar and sound. Spain often uses the present perfect for recent events (hoy he comido), where Latin America often uses the simple past. Most of northern and central Spain pronounces z and ce/ci like English "th". Latin America, the Canary Islands and much of Andalusia do not. In the south, final s is often dropped or softened. Spain rarely uses "voseo", the "vos" form of Argentina and parts of Central America.

Spain also has regional languages: Catalan, Galician and Basque. Depending on where you live, you may hear them too.

How to check a course or app

1. Look at the course description. It should say "Spain", "Castilian" or "Latin America".
2. Look for vosotros. Check whether the verb tables include the vosotros column.
3. Listen to the audio. Do the voices sound like the people you will hear around you?
4. Check the vocabulary lists. Look for coche, ordenador, piso and zumo, rather than carro, computadora, departamento and jugo.
5. Ask the teacher. Ask which variety they teach.

Where to find Spain-focused learning

Most major apps lean towards neutral or Latin American Spanish. Duolingo is mainly Latin American, with a Mexican lean. Babbel is mostly Latin American, with some Spain content. Pimsleur offers Latin American courses. Rosetta Stone offers separate Spain and Latin America options. Busuu and Memrise are generally neutral or mixed. App defaults change with updates, so read each app's course notes before you commit.

For Spain's Spanish, look at Instituto Cervantes courses, language schools in Spain, and online courses from Spain-based teachers. Textbooks such as Aula Internacional, Prisma and Español en marcha are Spain-based.

Common questions are answered in the FAQ below.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to study Spain's Spanish to pass DELE or SIELE?

No, DELE and SIELE both accept all standard varieties of Spanish, so you can use the standard variety you learned. Materials and examiners use a mix of accents and vocabulary. SIELE is designed to represent the whole Spanish-speaking world.

How can I tell if a course teaches Spain's Spanish?

Check the course notes for the variety it teaches, and look for vosotros verb forms like coméis in the lessons. Spain-focused options include Instituto Cervantes courses, schools in Spain, and textbooks such as Aula Internacional, Prisma and Español en marcha.

Which everyday words differ between Spain and Latin America?

Spain says coche, ordenador, móvil, piso, zumo and patata for car, computer, cellphone, apartment, juice and potato. Be careful with coger: it means to take in Spain, but it can be offensive in parts of Latin America.