¡Vamos! Spanish in Spain and Latin America
One-time 1:1 Masterclass for travelers · 90 minutes
1Today's plan: 90 minutes, 6 steps
0–10'Warm-up
10–20'One language, two worlds
20–40'Sounds, grammar and words
40–60'Travel situations and typical food
60–75'Role-play
75–90'Quiz & wrap-up
Your goal for today: understand how Spanish changes between Spain and Latin America, and use the right words for your trip.
Warm-up: tell me about your trip
¿Cómo te llamas?
What's your name?¿Adónde viajas?
Where are you traveling to?¿Ya estudiaste español? ¿Dónde?
Have you studied Spanish before? Where?¿Por qué aprendes español?
Why are you learning Spanish?Answer starters
- Me llamo…
- Viajo a España / a Argentina / a Perú…
- Estudié un poco en la escuela.
- Porque quiero hablar con la gente.
One language, many accents
20
countries with Spanish as an official language
~500M
native speakers worldwide
1 of 20
Spain is just one of those countries
The good news
A speaker from Madrid and one from Buenos Aires understand each other perfectly. What changes is the accent, some everyday words and a few grammar points. That's exactly what we'll cover today.
8 phrases that work everywhere
01
Hola · Buenos días
Hello · Good morning02
Por favor · Gracias
Please · Thank you03
Perdón · Disculpe
Sorry · Excuse me04
¿Habla inglés?
Do you speak English?05
No entiendo
I don't understand06
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Can you repeat, please?07
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much is it?08
¿Dónde está…?
Where is…?How it sounds
Sound
Spain
Latin America
z · ce · ci
Most of Spain: a "th" sound
cerveza → "therbetha"
cerveza → "therbetha"
An "s" sound
cerveza → "serbesa"
cerveza → "serbesa"
j · ge · gi
Strong, from the throat
jamón, gente
jamón, gente
Softer, like an English "h"
jamón, gente
jamón, gente
ll · y
Like "y" (also most of Latin America)
calle → "caye"
calle → "caye"
Argentina & Uruguay: like "sh"
calle → "cashe", yo → "sho"
calle → "cashe", yo → "sho"
Three grammar differences you'll notice
What changes
Spain
Latin America
"You" (plural, informal)
vosotros tenéis
ustedes tienen
Talking about today
Hoy he comido paella.
Hoy comí tacos.
"You" (singular, informal)
tú tienes
tú tienes · vos tenés (AR, UY)
Tip: ustedes is understood everywhere, including Spain, so it's always a safe choice.
Same thing, different word
English
Spain
Latin America
car
el coche
el carro · el auto
mobile phone
el móvil
el celular
juice
el zumo
el jugo
computer
el ordenador
la computadora
swimming pool
la piscina
la pileta (AR) · la piscina (PE)
Spotlight: Argentina and the voseo
Vos instead of tú
tú tienes→vos tenés
tú puedes→vos podés
tú eres→vos sos
¿De dónde eres?→¿De dónde sos?
How to say "cool!"
Spain
¡Qué guay!
Argentina
¡Qué copado!
Peru
¡Qué bacán!
Colombia
¡Qué chévere!
Also in Argentina: ¡Che! (hey!) · Dale (OK, sure) · re lindo (very nice)
Careful: same word, different meaning
Word
Spain
Latin America
carro
a cart (a car is un coche)
Peru and most of Latin America: a car
tinto
red wine
Colombia: a small black coffee
guagua
Canary Islands: bus
Cuba: bus · Chile, Peru: baby
coger
to take (a bus, a taxi)
rude in much of Latin America: say tomar
At the bar and the restaurant
Situation
Spain
Latin America
the waiter
el camarero
el mozo (AR, PE)
a beer, please
¿Me pone una caña?
¿Me trae una cerveza?
the menu
la carta
el menú · la carta
money (slang)
la pasta
la plata
the bill
La cuenta, por favor.
La cuenta, por favor.
Typical food: what to try and how to order
Food
Spain
Latin America
must-try dishes
paella · tortilla de patatas
asado · empanadas (AR) · ceviche · lomo saltado (PE)
something sweet
churros con chocolate
dulce de leche (AR) · suspiro a la limeña (PE)
to drink
un tinto de verano
mate · Malbec (AR) · pisco sour · chicha morada (PE)
avocado
el aguacate
la palta
What do you recommend?
¿Qué me recomiendas?
¿Qué me recomendás? (AR) · ¿Qué me recomienda? (PE)
Getting around
English
Spain
Latin America
Where do I take the bus?
¿Dónde cojo el autobús?
¿Dónde tomo el colectivo (AR) · la combi (PE)?
the subway
el metro
el metro · el subte (AR)
the ticket
el billete
el boleto
straight ahead
todo recto
derecho
Is it far?
¿Está lejos?
¿Está lejos?
Culture tips: Spain vs Latin America
Topic
Spain
Latin America
Greetings
Two kisses.
Argentina: one kiss, even between male friends. Peru: one kiss; men shake hands.
Meal times
Lunch 14–16 h, dinner after 21 h.
Argentina: dinner after 21 h too. Peru: lunch is the big meal (13–15 h), lighter dinner around 20 h.
Tipping
Optional: round up.
Argentina: about 10%. Peru: about 10% in restaurants.
Role-play: same situation, two countries
Scenario 1
A bar in Madrid
Order a caña and something to eat, ask for the bill. Use vosotros if you're with friends.
Scenario 2
A restaurant in Buenos Aires
Call the mozo, order, and answer when he asks "¿Qué querés tomar?"
Scenario 3
Lost in Lima
Ask how to get to the Plaza de Armas. Which bus or combi? Is it far?
Final quiz: Spain or Latin America?
1"Juice" in Spain and in Latin America?
2"You all have" in Spain and in Latin America?
3How does an Argentine say "tú eres"?
4What is a "carro" in Peru?
5Which verb should you avoid for "take the bus" in Latin America?
5/5 = ready for both sides of the Atlantic!
Answer out loud, in Spanish.
Quiz answers
"Juice" in Spain and in Latin America?zumo · jugo
"You all have" in Spain and in Latin America?vosotros tenéis · ustedes tienen
How does an Argentine say "tú eres"?vos sos
What is a "carro" in Peru?a car → in Spain: un coche
Which verb should you avoid for "take the bus" in Latin America?coger → say tomar
¡Buen viaje!
Whether you land in Madrid, Buenos Aires or Lima, you'll be understood. Want more? Book another masterclass: conversation, culture or gastronomy.
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