español
standard, Latin America
In Latin America "Spanish" is usually español. In Argentina, Chile and some other countries many people also say castellano, and español latinoamericano names the Latin American variety.
Meaning: the Spanish language (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | Note |
|---|---|
| español | standard, Latin America |
| castellano | also used, Argentina, Chile |
| español latinoamericano | descriptive |
Which one should you use?
Both words name the same language. Castellano points to the Castile region of Spain where the language grew, and in some countries it is the word for the school subject.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Latin American Spanish uses ustedes for "you all", while Spain uses vosotros. It also pronounces c before e and i and z like s.
How does it change in a sentence?
The names are lowercase in Spanish: hablo español and not Español.
Did you know?
- Spanish is the official language in many countries in Latin America, and Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken, is the big exception.
Examples in context
- Hablo español.I speak Spanish.
- ¿Hablas castellano?Do you speak Spanish?
- Estudio español latinoamericano.I study Latin American Spanish.
Example conversation
Tourist Emma asks local guide Diego in Buenos Aires which word he uses for the language.
- EmmaDiego, ¿hablas español?Diego, do you speak Spanish?
- DiegoSí, hablo castellano, como decimos acá.Yes, I speak castellano, as we say here.
- Emma¿Es lo mismo que español?Is it the same as español?
