Updated on February 3, 2024 by Lou Mac
So you’ve decided to learn Spanish. Congratulations!
With close to 500 million native speakers across the globe, it’s an excellent language to learn.
And while any sort of Spanish will be useful, there are specific types which might be more useful to you than others.
In this post, I’ll help you unravel the different sorts of Spanish, and factors to consider when choosing the dialect that’s perfect for you!
It’s not just about speaking the language – it’s about experiencing cultures and connecting with people along the way.
Are you ready?
Does it Really Matter Which Spanish I Learn?
In all honesty, no, it doesn’t really matter which type of Spanish you learn.
Firstly, Spanish is (usually) mutually intelligible around the world. So if you learn Colombian Spanish you’ll be understood – and understand – people in Spain 99% of the time and vice versa.
Secondly, you can always change the type of Spanish that you’re learning! I started off learning Castilian Spanish for a few years, then switched to Argentinian Spanish, and finally ended up speaking Chilean Spanish.
However, it is true that the dialect you learn can shape your experiences and interactions. Each one offers unique cultural insights and advantages, so it can be worth reflecting on which dialect aligns with your goals and interests.
But if you’re really unsure which type you want to learn, do not worry – it doesn’t matter as much as you’d think!
Which Spanish Should I Learn? The Quick Answer!
If you want a very simple answer, here it is: If you’re planning on travelling in Latin America or interacting with Latin Americans, then learn Latin American Spanish.
And if you’re going to be travelling in Spain or interacting with Spanish people, then go with Castilian Spanish!
Of course, “Latin American Spanish” is an umbrella term, but you wanted a quick answer, right? 😉
For a nuanced answer, keep on reading!
Factors to Consider When Deciding Which Spanish to Learn
Personal Goals
This is perhaps the most important consideration! You need to sit down and ask yourself, “Why do I actually want to learn Spanish?”
Whether you’re learning Spanish to travel, communicate with family, open up career opportunities or just as a hobby, it’s important to pinpoint the reason because this will affect your decision.
For example, if you’re learning Spanish to travel through Patagonia, then Chilean or Argentinian Spanish would make sense for you to learn. If your extended family are all from Peru, then I’d recommend Peruvian Spanish. You catch my drift!
Interests
Your personal interests will also play a big part when deciding which type of Spanish you want to pursue, as they will help motivate you.
Think about how your hobbies or interests might be related to Spanish: Do you love reggaetón, or salsa dancing? Do you have an affinity for Spanish indie films, or is Spanish food your absolute favourite?
If anything is related to a certain Spanish dialect, then you have your answer!
Ease of Learning
The last major consideration is how easy it’ll be for you to learn this type of Spanish, as dialects vary in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
If you’re all about smooth sailing, Colombian Spanish is a good place to start: Being a pretty neutral accent it’s easy to pronounce and understand, and Colombians often speak slower than a lot of other Spanish speakers. But if you’re up for a challenge, Chilean or Caribbean Spanish might be what you’re looking for!
But ease of learning also includes the resources that you have on hand. For example, if you’ve got a lot of Mexican Spanish speakers in your area, or your best friend is from Argentina, then it could make sense to learn their type of Spanish because you’ll have people to practise with!
It’s also easier (and sometimes faster) learning a major Spanish dialect than a less common one, as they tend to have more content available that you can learn from (think movies, songs, podcasts etc).
So, Which Spanish Is Best for You?
Now that you’ve considered your goals and aspirations for your Spanish journey, let’s get into some specific recommendations.
Recommendations Based on Goals and Interests
Let’s start off with recommendations based on travel, as this one is pretty straightforward! If you’re planning on travelling to:
- Spain → learn Castilian Spanish
- Several countries in Latin America → learn Latin American Spanish
- A specific country in Latin America → learn the Spanish from that country
- Both Spain and Latin America → try learning a bit of both (but if I had to pick, I’d choose Latin American Spanish!)
Next we’ll have a look at some common goals and interests. Obviously people have endless goals and interests, so I’ve just considered some of the main ones:
If you like or are interested in the following:
- Spanish-language music → learn Latin American Spanish
Latin American Spanish speakers vastly outnumber Castilian Spanish speakers, and so most Spanish-language music comes from Latin America
- Communicating with specific people → learn either Latin American or Castilian Spanish
If your reason for learning Spanish is primarily to communicate with extended family, friends, workmates or neighbours, I’d recommend learning the dialect that they speak.
- Football → learn either Latin American or Castilian Spanish
Football is such a popular sport worldwide, so whether you’re listening to commentary, watching player interviews or discussing it with other fans, both Latin American Spanish or Castilian Spanish will come in handy.
- Salsa, bachata or other styles of dance → learn Latin American Spanish
Again, most of the music you’ll hear while dancing these styles will be Latin American, and any dance partners will likely come from Latin America over Spain!
- Spanish food or culture → learn Castilian Spanish
This one is pretty self-explanatory!
- Latin American food or culture → learn Latin American Spanish, or more specifically learn the Spanish from the specific culture that interests you!
This one is also pretty self-explanatory.
- For business or career opportunities → learn Latin American or Castilian Spanish
As we’ve seen, Latin American Spanish is spoken much more widely than Castilian Spanish, so it seems like the obvious choice in this scenario. However, some people prefer Castilian Spanish to do business as they think it sounds more formal.
Recommendations Based on Ease of Learning
If you’re wanting a smaller learning curve, you could start out learning more clear, slower Spanish dialects.
There’s a lot of debate over which Spanish dialect is the easiest and which is the hardest, but I’ve tried to categorise the most common ones the best that I can. It’s not always straightforward, though, as the ease of understanding also comes down to the individual speaker. People just speak in different ways!
And just a disclaimer: Even though these dialects might be classed as “easier” than others, they’re still going to be challenging regardless!
- Easier Spanish dialects: Colombian, Guatemalan, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Mexican
These accents are known for sounding more neutral and having clear pronunciation. A lot of Colombians especially speak quite slowly, too, which is helpful as a beginner.
- Intermediate Spanish dialects: Castilian (European), Argentinian, Uruguayan, Mexican
Note that I’ve put Mexican in both “easier” and “intermediate” – this is because the accents vary quite a lot, and people can’t decide which category it should fall into!
- Difficult Spanish dialects: Chilean, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Andalusian (spoken in Southern Spain)
These dialects are notoriously fast, and each has unique features which make them challenging to learn. But on the bright side, if you can master one of these dialects, most others will come easily to you!
Latin American vs Castilian (European) Spanish
The two biggest categories of Spanish are Latin American and Castilian Spanish. So while each category (especially Latin American Spanish) has a bunch of different dialects within it, let’s have a look at the major differences:
- Latin American Spanish uses the pronoun and verb conjugations for ustedes (“you” plural) instead of vosotros like in Spain
- Latin Americans pronounces c and z like “s,” while in Spain it’s usually “th”
- Vocabulary varies a lot between Latin America and Spain
That’s just a quick overview, so for more information you can check out my full post on the topic:
The Major Differences Between Latin American Spanish vs Spain Spanish (Plus Examples and Common Questions)
Overview of Popular Spanish Dialects
Castilian Spanish (Spain)
Castilian Spanish is where it all began, and is the “original,” formal dialect that laid the foundation for all other variations.
Spanish people speak with what you may know as a “lisp” (even though it’s not really a lisp) and use the pronoun vosotros for “you” plural, instead of ustedes which is used elsewhere.
With its polished tone, some prefer this dialect for doing international business. But more importantly, learning this dialect will open doors to Spain’s fascinating history, art, and culture.
I personally really like the Castilian accent and find it super interesting! Check out this video to hear it.
Mexican Spanish
Mexican Spanish, by far the most widely spoken dialect, has its roots deeply embedded in the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. It’s (usually) known for its clear pronunciation and relatively neutral accent, making it widely understood in the Spanish-speaking world and also great for beginners.
The Mexican Spanish accent is pretty distinct, as well as its slang – including unique words like wey (dude/bro), and the extreme use of the word pedo (fart)!
Check out this famous Mexican vlogger to hear her accent!
Argentinian Spanish
Argentinian Spanish is heavily influenced by the country’s Italian immigrants, and you can spot an Argentinian Spanish speaker a mile away! They seriously almost sound like an Italian person speaking Spanish – some Argentinians don’t like that comparison, but I can definitely see why people say that.
The unique pronunciation is characterised by the ll and y pronounced as a soft “sh” sound, resulting in a special and often melodious accent. It’s a very expressive sort of Spanish (thanks to the speakers themselves), and if you choose to pursue it then I can guarantee you’ll have many passionate conversations along the way!
To hear this brilliant dialect spoken by natives, have a look at this video of Argentinians talking about what defines an Argentinian.
Chilean Spanish
Oh, the infamous Chilean Spanish. This distinctive dialect is notoriously challenging to learn and may require some extra perseverance! But don’t let that put you off – I personally love this dialect and it’s the one that I learned.
It’s characterised by rapid speech, the dropping of s and ado/ada at the end of words and a colourful arsenal of slang (among other things). The vocabulary used by Chileans could pretty much be considered another language in itself, and is heavily influenced by the indigenous Mapuche language.
Check out this video to hear some typical phrases! You can also click here for full posts on the intricacies of Chilean Spanish and why it’s so hard to understand, as well as an introduction to some colourful Chilean slang.
Colombian Spanish
Colombian Spanish is a beautiful dialect renowned for its clarity and neutrality. It’s precise and well articulated, and Colombians often speak more slowly than other Spanish speakers (as I mentioned earlier). In fact, the accent is considered one of the most understandable in the Spanish-speaking world!
There are lots of different accents within Colombia itself – my favourite being the Paisa accent, which hails from Medellín. It’s music to the ears!
Watch this video for an example of Colombian Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Better to Learn Latin American or Castilian Spanish?
The “better” option really comes down to your goals, interests and objectives, as we’ve discussed throughout this post.
For example, Latin American Spanish is ideal for travellers and those seeking cultural immersion, whereas Castilian Spanish is just as great if you’re travelling to Spain or love Spanish culture!
But if I had to pick which was “better,” I’d go with Latin American Spanish – simply because it’s the most widely spoken.
Should I Learn Castilian or Mexican Spanish?
Aain, your choice should match your goals and interests: Mexican Spanish is the most widely-spoken dialect and is advantageous for some things, while Castilian Spanish is advantageous for others.
So, learn whichever you like!
Which Spanish is the Easiest to Understand?
As we’ve seen, Colombian is often considered the easiest for learners to understand. It features neutral accents and clear pronunciation, making it great for beginners.
Other “easy” Spanish dialects are Guatemalan, Venezuelan, Peruvian and Mexican Spanish.
Which Spanish is the Hardest to Understand?
This is a tie between Chilean and Dominican Spanish! Both are spoken very rapidly and have unique pronunciation features that make them difficult to learn.
Other dialects like Cuban, Puerto Rican and Andalusian are also pretty challenging.
And there we have it!
I hope you’re a step closer to deciding the Spanish dialect you want to pursue – or not!
Either way, watch how doors open, horizons expand, and connections deepen when you start to learn Spanish.
¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)