102 Differences Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish (2024)

Spain vs Mexico! You probably know that Spanish spoken in Spain and Mexico are not exactly the same. In fact, they are quite a bit different! Just as British people understand American English and vice versa, most Spanish speaking people understand each other’s dialect. However, knowing the differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish will help you understand Spanish better and improve your listening skills. Let’s talk about the difference between Spanish spoken in Spain vs Mexico today.

You might have experienced in your native language that as soon as you learn a new word, you notice that everyone around you has also started using the same word all of a sudden. In reality, the word has been used around you, but your brain didn’t “hear” it because it was unfamiliar to it. As you’ve guessed, this happens with foreign languages as well.

If you have experienced difficulty understanding native Spanish speakers, it might have been because they were speaking a different type of Spanish than what you have learned. Even just between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish, there is quite a bit of difference in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Knowing the difference will help communicate in Spanish more easily and improve your listening skills dramatically.

As an Amazon Affiliate, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading! See our disclosure here.

Do Spanish and Mexican speak the same language?

Mexico Spanish vs Spain Spanish: Both Spanish people and Mexican people speak “Spanish language.” However, both versions seem to have evolved over the centuries. So each version has its own special way of calling items and pronouncing words. Since many native languages had already existed in Mexico before Spanish was brought in, you can definitely notice the influence of the native languages in Mexican Spanish.

Let’s take a look at some of the differences between Castilian (Spain) and Mexican Spanish.

1. Spain vs Mexico – the Differences in Vocabulary

This is a super long list, but you can download this list for later.

United States: Broccoli

Spain: Brécol

Mexico: Brócoli

United States: Cabbage

Spain: Repollo

Mexico: Col

United States: Corn

Spain: Maíz

Mexico: Elote

United States: Grapefruit

Spain: Pomelo

Mexico: Toronja

United States: Green beans

Spain: Judíasverdes

Mexico: Ejotes

United States: Lime

Spain: Lima

Mexico: Limón

United States: Peach

Spain: Melocotón

Mexico: Durazno

United States: Peas

Spain: Guisantes

Mexico: Chicharos

United States: Potato

Spain: Patata

Mexico: Papa

Download Your Copy of 102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish PDF!

Signup for our freebies and newsletter!

United States: Tomato

Spain: Tomate

Mexico: Jitomate

United States: Zuccini

Spain: Calabacín

Mexico: Calabacita

United States: Beef

Spain: Carnede vacuno

Mexico: Carne de res

United States: Pork

Spain: Carne de cerdo

Mexico: Carne de puerco

United States: Shrimp, Prawn

Spain: Gamba

Mexico: Camarón

United States: Cake

Spain: Tarta

Mexico: Pastel

United States: co*ke

Spain: Coca-Cola

Mexico: Coca

United States: Ice Cream

Spain: Helado

Mexico: Nieve

United States: Juice

Spain: Zumo

Mexico: Jugo

United States: Straw

Spain: Pajita

Mexico: Popote

United States: Hang over

Spain: Tenerresaca

Mexico: Estarcrudo(a)

United States: To do the laundry

Spain: Hacer la colada

Mexico: Lavar la ropa

United States: To drive

Spain: Conducir

Mexico: Manejar

United States: To get angry

Spain: Enfadarse

Mexico: Enojarse

United States: Tograb

Spain: Coger

Mexico: Agarrar

(Note: In Mexico and Latin American countries, the verb coger has a sexual connotation. So, I would definitely avoid using it when speaking with someone who is from those countries.)

United States: To park

Spain: Aparcar

Mexico: Estacionar

United States: To take

Spain: Coger

Download Your Copy of 102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish PDF!

Signup for our freebies and newsletter!

United States: Lawn

Spain: Césped

Mexico: Pasto

United States: Jeans

Spain: Baqueros

Mexico: Jeans

United States: Sweater

Spain: Jersey

Mexico: Suéter

United States: Shorts

Spain: Pantalonescortos

Mexico: Shorts

United States: Jacket

Spain: Chaqueta

Mexico: Chamarra

United States: Bra

Spain: Sujetador

Mexico: Brasier

United States: Men’s underwear

Spain: Calzoncillos

Mexico: Trusas

United States: Woman’s underwear

Spain: Braga

Mexico: Calzón

United States: Shorts

Spain: Pantalonescortos

Mexico: Shorts

United States: Tennis shoes

Spain: ZapatillasDeportivas

Mexico: Tenis

United States: High heels

Spain: Zapatos de tacón

Mexico: Zapatillas

United States: Slippers

Spain: Zapatillas

Mexico: Pantuflas

United States: Shoelace

Shoelace in Spanish?

Spain: Cordón, Cordones de zapatos

Mexico: Cadete, Agujeta

United States: Hanger

Spain: Percha

Mexico: Gancho

United States: Earrings

Spain: Pendientes

Mexico: Aretes

United States: Brown

Spain: Marron

Mexico: Café

United States: Appetizers

Spain: Tapas

Mexico: Botanas

United States: Waiter/waitress at bar

Spain: Camarero(a)

Mexico: Mesero(a)

United States: Hot Dog

Spain: Perritocaliente

Mexico: HotDog

United States: Sandwich

Spain: Bocadillo, bocata

Mexico: Torta

United States: Beer

Spain: Caña (draft), Cerveza

Mexico: Chela, Cerveza

United States: Snob

Spain: Pijo(a)

Mexico: Fresa

United States: Lazy

Spain: Perezoso(a)

Mexico: Flojo(a), güevón(a)

United States: Loose

Spain: Suelto(a)

Mexico: Aguado(a)

United States: Cheat sheet (for exam)

Spain: Chuleta

Mexico: Acordeón

United States: Friend

Spain: Colega, Amigo(a)

Mexico: Cuate, Amigo(a)

United States: Fireworks

Spain: Fuegos artificiales

Mexico: Cuetes

United States: Lighter

Spain: Mechero

Mexico: Encendedor

United States: Cool

Spain: Chulo(a), Mola

Mexico: Chido(a), Chingón(a), Padre

United States: Guy/girl

Spain: Tío(a)

Mexico: Güey

United States: Kid

Spain: Niño(a)

Mexico: Chamaco(a), niño(a)

United States: Husband

Spain: Marido (esposo is also used, but more formal)

Mexico: Esposo

United States: Wife

Spain: Mujer (esposa is also used, but more formal)

Mexico: Esposa

United States: You (plural, you all)

Spain: Vosotros (Vosotoras)

Mexico: Ustedes

United States: Niceto meet you

Spain: Encantado(a)

Mexico: Mucho gusto

United States: Come on! Let’s go!

Spain: ¡Venga! / ¡Vamos!

Mexico: ¡Ándale!

United States: That’s it, Yeah (Affirmation)

Spain: Eso es, Así es, Si

Mexico: Ándale,Órale

United States: What?(What did you say?)

Spain: ¿Qué?,¿Cómo?

Mexico: ¿Mande?

United States: Alright, OK

Spain: Vale

Mexico: Sale, Ándale pues, Órale pues

United States: Hello? (to answer the phone)

Spain: Hola, Dígame, Dime

Mexico: ¿Bueno?

United States: How’s it going?

Spain: ¿Qué Tal?

Mexico: ¿Qué onda? (¿Qué Tal? is also used)

United States: Have a great time.

Spain: Qué lo pases bien.

Mexico: Qué la pases bien.

United States: Under, Underneath

Spain: Debajode

Mexico: Abajo de

United States: Behind

Spain: Detrás de

Mexico: Atrás de

2. Spain Spanish vs Mexican Spanish – The Differences in Pronunciation

You might have noticedthis when you were talking to your Spanish friends. In Spain, the Ce, Ci, Ze,and Zi are pronounced with the lisp. For example, when a Spaniard says “Cerveza,”Ce and Z are pronounced with a lisp like “ther-be-tha.” But in Mexico, theseletters sound like the S, so “cerveza” is pronounced like “ser-ve-sa.” Anotherexample is the pronunciation of Casar (to marry) and Cazar (to hunt). Theywould sound the same in Mexico or Latin American countries. Both are pronouncedlike “ka-sar.” This is called the “Seseo.”

Also, in the Southof Spain, you’ll hear some people use the “Ceceo.” In this case, the S, C, andZ are pronounced with the lisp. Using the examples from the above, Casar andCazar would both sound like “ka-thar.”

The second difference in pronunciation is less obvious, but I think it’s worth mentioning. It’s the Y. Most Spanish people pronounce it like the English Y, but Mexican people pronounce it like the J in English. For instance, Yo (I) would sound like “yo” in Spain but “jo” in Mexico. My husband Luis being Mexican, he tends to pronounce a Y like a J when he speaks English. So, his “yellow” would sound like “jello” 😊

Although it’s fairlyeasy to understand (or sometimes guess ha ha) the differences by context, itdefinitely helps to know what they are so your brain can translate back andforth automatically.

The third difference is the B and V. In Spain, the B and V are pronounced in the same way, meaning there is no sound of V. Both are pronounced like the English B. However, in Mexico and probably in other Latin American countries, the V sounds more like something between the English B and the V though a bit lighter on vibration.

The last one I wantto mention is the G and J. Mexicans pronounce them almost like the English H,but it sounds a little tiny bit heavier. The sound comes from the throat more thanthe English H. In Spain, the G and J sound a lot heavier. They kind of sound likethe H but with the famous cat’s hairball sound. The sound a cat makes when shehas a hairball stuck in her throat and is trying to cough it out, or that washow my friend Jorge explained it to me.

It was really hardto pronounce the G/J sound in the beginning, but his analogy helped me a lot.He said most Latin American people can’t pronounce the G and J like the Spanishpeople do either. So, don’t fret if you can’t quite get it right.

3. Mexican Spanish vs Spain Spanish – The Differences in Grammar

In general, grammar is the same everywhere, but the usage is a bit different depending on the region. So, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, but here are some of them.

As you know, the main difference is the use of “Vosotros” for you all (informal plural) in Spain and “Ustedes” for you all (both formal and informal plural) in Mexico Spanish. This means that the verb conjugations are also very different.

Another grammatical difference is “Leísmo and Laísmo.” The “Leísmo” is the incorrect usage of the indirect object pronouns “le.” And the “Laísmo” is the incorrect usage of the direct object pronoun “la.” I heard this often when I lived in Spain. Many Spanish people use “le” or “les” instead of “lo” or “los.”

Here are someexamples.

I saw him yesterday.

Spain with Leísmo: “Le vi ayer.”

Mexico and other Latin American countries: “Lo vi ayer.”

She likes chocolate.

Spain with Laísmo: La gusta el chocolate. (It may not be super common, but I’ve heard people say this several times in Central Spain.)

Correct form: Le gusta el chocolate.

The last grammatical difference you may notice is this. Most Spaniards use the present perfect tense for any actions completed recently or that relate to the present unlike in English. Some of the trigger words include this morning, this afternoon, this week, this summer, etc. However, Mexican people use the perfect and past tenses as they are used in English.

Here are a couple ofexamples.

United States: I ate an apple this morning.

Spain: He comido una manzana esta mañana.

Mexico: Comí una manzana esta mañana.

United States: I went to Tokyo this summer.

Spain: He ido a Tokio este verano.

Mexico: Fui a Tokio este verano.

In Conclusion – Spanish in Spain vs Mexico

There are more, but as I mentioned earlier, most Spanish-speaking people are familiar with other dialects and accents. If not, they will eventually figure them out by context or asking questions. So, while it is not crucial to know the differences between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish, it is fun to learn about them. Plus, expanding your vocabulary always helps your listening and comprehension skills.

Happy Spanish-ing!

Download Your Copy of 102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish PDF!

Signup for our freebies and newsletter!

FAQs

What is the difference between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish? ›

One of the biggest pronunciation differences between the two languages are in z and c before an i or e. This sounds like s in Mexico, but “th”in Spain, for example, Barcelona. Additionally, Spanish from Spain tends to be more guttural, due to its Arabic influences, whereas Mexican Spanish is softer.

Discover More ›

Is there a difference between Mexican and Spanish people? ›

Mexican refers to an inhabitant or a native of Mexico which is a Latin American country. Hispanic refers to a person who speaks Spanish, one of Latin American descent and resides in the USA. In Mexico, Spanish is the main language but that doesn't mean that all Mexicans can and do speak the language.

Learn More Now ›

What are two differences between Mexico and Spain? ›

Mexico is almost four times bigger than Spain: 1,964,375 km² (758,449.4 miles) vs 505,990 km² (195,360 sq mi). The population of Mexico is also larger than the Spanish population: 128.6 million, more than 9 of them living in the capital city, Ciudad de Mexico.

Discover More Details ›

What is Mexican Spanish called? ›

Mexican Spanish (Spanish: español mexicano) is the variety of dialects and sociolects of the Spanish language spoken in Mexican territory.

See Details ›

Is Mexican Spanish or Spain Spanish easier? ›

Generally, Americans tend to learn Mexican Spanish over Spain Spanish due to the similarities with the English language. In contrast, people from Europe tend to prefer Spanish spoken in Central Spain. Regardless of these differences, if you're a beginner, 90% of the Spanish you'll be learning will be the same.

Why is Spain Spanish different from other Spanish? ›

Spain is the only Spanish-speaking country where the pronoun vosotros and vosotras is used, giving Spaniards an extra ending to memorize for each tense. This is one of the key differences between the two languages. Vosotros is the plural form of the second person (you) and is used in a casual manner.

Discover More ›

What are the 3 types of Mexicans? ›

Ethnic groups

Mestizo Mexicans.
White Mexicans.
Indigenous Mexicans.
Other Ethno-Cultural communities.

Are there 2 types of Spanish? ›

The key differences between European Spanish and Latin American Spanish. Naturally, there are regional variations in how Spanish is spoken throughout Latin America, and even throughout Spain. But there are some key differences between European Spanish and Latin American Spanish, and that's what we'll be looking at now.

Get More Info Here ›

What are the top 3 languages spoken in Mexico? ›

The top 3 languages spoken in Mexico are Spanish, Nahuatl and Yucatec Maya. Spanish is the go-to language as it's spoken by roughly 94% of the population. No surprise there. The runner-up is Nahuatl.

Read On ›

What is a Mexican that doesn't speak Spanish called? ›

Many American-born Latinos like Esparza have been called a “pocho” or “pocha,” a pejorative used to describe Mexican Americans who don't speak Spanish fluently, at some point in their lives.

Keep Reading ›

What is the hardest Spanish to understand? ›

Which Spanish is hardest to understand? Chile, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Andalusia (Spain) are a few of the places considered to speak more difficult Spanish.

Keep Reading ›

Which Spanish is the easiest to understand? ›

In this section, I am referring to Spanish spoken in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia. These dialects are often considered easier to understand, and the Colombian accent has been called the “most neutral Spanish accent.” That's because in this region, people speak Spanish more slowly and don't cut words.

Discover More ›

What type of Spanish is best to learn? ›

Castilian Spanish from Madrid

While there are varieties within the country, the Spanish spoken in Madrid and in general in central and northern Spain is considered standard. More than 45 million people speak this version of Spanish, and it's the most preferred dialect of Spanish taught in schools.

View Details ›

Why do Mexicans speak Spanish? ›

The most obvious reason why Mexicans started speaking Spanish is because it was a former Spanish colony. Spanish General Hernán Cortes arrived in what is now Mexico City in 1519. After conquering the Aztec empire, the Spanish Crown stuck around as the "Viceroyalty of Mexico" until 1821.

See Details ›

Is Mexican Spanish Latin or Spain? ›

Although Mexico is considered part of Latin America, the region has a variant all of its own. From vocabulary to idioms, there lives a dialect that is unique and specific to the country. In many cases, Mexican Spanish is the selected variant because of its large demographic and reach.

How many types of Spanish are there? ›

The answer to the above question is: There are ten major Spanish dialects. Generally, languages seem to be named after a certain culture or the people or inhabitants of a country.

Discover More ›

Do Mexicans say hello? ›

The common verbal greeting is “Buenos dias” (Good day), “Buenas tardes” (Good afternoon) or “Buenas noches” (Good evening/night) depending on the time of day. A more casual greeting is “Hola” (Hello), “¿Qué tal?” (What's up?) or “¿Cómo estás?” (How are you?).

View Details ›

Do Spain and Mexico speak the same? ›

There are differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and other nuances, but essentially the official Spanish in Mexico is the same as the Spanish in Spain and throughout most of the world.

Know More ›

What is Hello everyone in Mexico? ›

To greet someone in Mexican, you can say either Hola or Buenas Dias.

Read The Full Story ›

What DNA are Mexicans? ›

But most people in Mexico or of Mexican descent these days are not indigenous but rather mestizo, meaning they have a mixture of indigenous, European, and African ancestry.

Discover More ›

Why do Mexicans have 3 names? ›

Mexicans have a personal name(s) followed by two surnames – the father's paternal family name and then the mother's paternal family name. For example: Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ.

Know More ›

Is Mexican and Spain the same? ›

Even though they speak Spanish in Mexico, and the Spaniards are the reason for that, there are huge differences between the two peoples. Accent, culture, food, just to name a few.

Discover More Details ›

Can someone from Mexico understand someone from Spain? ›

The Spanish vs Mexican debate is an interesting way of understanding how languages evolve and how they stay the same. Because it's amazing that after 500 years of being apart, Mexicans and Spaniards can still understand each other without any trouble.

Learn More ›

Is Mexican Spanish and Latin Spanish the same? ›

LATAM Spanish is considered to be a broader variant than Mexican Spanish. When localizing cultural references such as food, pop-culture, legal, and marketing texts, in-country linguists may be best to accurately reflect the target country's expressions.

Learn More ›

Does duolingo teach Mexican Spanish or Spain Spanish? ›

The first major downside to the Duolingo Spanish program is that there is no distinction between the Spanish from Latin American and from Spain. Lingodeer and Rosetta Stone allow you to choose between the two accents and vocabularies, whereas Duolingo only teaches European Spanish.

Get More Info ›

How do you say hello in Mexico? ›

The common verbal greeting is “Buenos dias” (Good day), “Buenas tardes” (Good afternoon) or “Buenas noches” (Good evening/night) depending on the time of day. A more casual greeting is “Hola” (Hello), “¿Qué tal?” (What's up?) or “¿Cómo estás?” (How are you?).

Explore More ›

What is a Mexican that doesn't know Spanish called? ›

Pocho (feminine: pocha) is slang in Spanish used in Mexico to refer to Mexican Americans and Mexican emigrants. It is often used pejoratively to describe a Mexican expatriate or a person of Mexican ancestry who lacks fluency or the ability to speak in Spanish and knowledge of Mexican culture.

What is it called when a Mexican doesn't speak Spanish? ›

Discover More ›

What language did Mexico speak before Spanish? ›

Nahuatl was the lingua franca of the Aztecs, who ruled Mexico between the 14th and 16th centuries before they were conquered by the Spaniards. It is still spoken by nearly 1.5 million Mexicans, but otherwise is largely unknown.

Find Out More ›

What type of Spanish is spoken in Spain? ›

Castilian Spanish is the official national language of Spain. However, there are other co-official languages spoken in Spain´s many culturally diverse regions that form an important part of the Spanish cultural patrimony.

View Details ›

How long does it take to learn Spanish? ›

How Much Time And Energy Are You Willing To Spend Learning Spanish? The Foreign Service Institute—the people who train U.S. diplomats and foreign affairs officials—estimate that it will take 600-750 class hours for most native English speakers to learn Spanish.

102 Differences Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish (2024)

Do Spanish and Mexican speak the same language?

1. Spain vs Mexico – the Differences in Vocabulary

Download Your Copy of 102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish PDF!

Download Your Copy of 102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish PDF!

2. Spain Spanish vs Mexican Spanish – The Differences in Pronunciation

3. Mexican Spanish vs Spain Spanish – The Differences in Grammar

In Conclusion – Spanish in Spain vs Mexico

Download Your Copy of 102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish PDF!

You might enjoy these posts. Check them out!

FAQs

What is the difference between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish? ›

What is the hardest Spanish to understand? ›

Why do Mexicans have 3 names? ›

How long does it take to learn Spanish? ›