Spanish is spoken by over 400 million people in over 20 countries, and there are hundreds of dialects and regional variations of the language. While most Spanish speakers can understand each other without too much trouble, many countries have words and phrases that aren’t used elsewhere.
Here’s a list of some of the most common words that are different in different Spanish-speaking countries.
Adjectives
Angry
- Bravo/a (Caribbean, Colombia)
- Enfadado/a (Spain)
- Enojado/a (Mexico, Argentina)
Cool/Awesome
- Bacán (Peru, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador)
- Bárbaro/a (Argentina)
- Chévere (Colombia, Venezuela, Panama)
- Chido/a (Mexico)
- Chulo/a (Spain)
- Cojonudo/a (Spain)
- De puta madre (Spain – vulgar)
- Guay (Spain)
- La raja (Chile)
- Padre (Mexico)
- Piolo (Argentina, Chile)
Buildings and Rooms
Apartment/Flat
- Apartamento (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela)
- Departamento (Argentina, Chile, Peru)
- Piso (Spain)
Restroom/Toilet
- Aseo (Spain)
- Baño (most of Latin America)
- Lavabo (Spain)
Clothes
Jacket
- Campera (Argentina)
- Casaca (Peru)
- Chamarra (Mexico)
- Chaqueta (Spain)
Sneakers
- Championes (Uruguay)
- Tenis (Colombia, Mexico, Cuba)
- Zapatillas (Chile, Spain)
Sweater
- Buzo (Argentina, Uruguay)
- Chomba (Chile)
- Chompa (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)
- Jersey (Spain)
- Saco (Colombia, Ecuador)
- Suéter (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela)
- Pulóver (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
T-shirt
- Camiseta (Spain)
- Franela (Venezuela)
- Playera (Mexico)
- Polera (Chile)
- Polo (Argentina)
- Remera (Argentina)
Food, Drink & Dining
Avocado
- Aguacate (standard)
- Palta (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay)
Banana
- Banana (Argentina)
- Banano (Colombia)
- Cambur (Venezuela)
- Guineo (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico)
- Plátano (Spain)
Beans
- Frejoles (Peru)
- Fríjoles (Mexico)
- Judías (Spain)
- Porotos (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay)
Beer
- Cerveza (standard)
- Birra (Argentina)
- Chela (Mexico)
- Pola (Colombia)
Cake
- Tarta (Spain)
- Torta (most of Latin America)
- Pastel (Mexico, Ecuador)
Chili
- Ají (Colombia, Peru, Caribbean)
- Chile (Mexico, Central America)
- Pimiento (Spain)
Corn
- Maíz (standard)
- Choclo (Argentina, Peru, Chile)
- Elote (Mexico, Central America)
Juice
- Jugo (Latin America)
- Zumo (Spain)
Peach
- Durazno (Latin America)
- Melocotón (Spain)
Popcorn
- Cabritas (Chile)
- Canchita (Peru)
- Canguil (Ecuador)
- Cotufas (Venezuela)
- Crispetas (Mexico, Colombia)
- Palomitas (Spain)
- Pochoclo (Argentina)
- Poporopos (Guatemala)
- Pororó (Paraguay, Uruguay)
- Rosetas de maíz (Cuba, Puerto Rico)
Potato
- Papa (Latin America, Canary Islands)
- Patata (Spain)
Sandwich
- Bocadillo (Spain – refers to sandwiches made from baguettes)
- Emparedado (Panama)
- Sánduche (Colombia)
- Sándwich (Argentina)
Straw
- Pajilla (Central America)
- Pajita (Spain)
- Pitillo (Colombia, Venezuela)
- Popote (Mexico)
- Sorbete (Argentina, Peru, Puerto Rico)
Waiter
- Camarero/a (Spain, Peru, Ecuador)
- Garzón/Garzona (Chile)
- Mesero/a ( Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador)
- Salonero/a (Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua)
- Mozo/a (Argentina, Uruguay)
Law & Crime
Snitch
- Chivato/a (Spain)
- Sapo/a (Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela)
The police
- La policía (standard)
- Los pacos (Chile, slang)
- La tira (Argentina)
- Los tombos (Colombia)
People
Baby
- Bebé (standard)
- Guagua (Chile)
Boyfriend/Girlfriend
- Novio/a (standard)
- Enamorado/a (Peru)
- Pololo/a (Chile)
Child/Kid/Adolescent
Note that many of these words can be used for people of varying ages and some can be used to refer to people younger than oneself, even if they aren’t a child or adolescent.
- Chamaco (Mexico)
- Chamo (Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba)
- Chaval/a (Spain)
- Chavo/a (Mexico)
- Muchacho/a (most of Latin America)
- Pibe/a (Argentina)
- Pelado/a (Colombia)
Friend
- Amigo/a (standard)
- Colega (Spain)
- Pana (Venezuela, Puerto Rico)
- Parce (Colombia)
Girl
- Tía (Spain)
- Nena (Argentina)
Guy
- Man (Colombia, Caribbean)
- Tío (Spain)
Technology
Cell phone
- Celular (Latin America)
- Móvil (Spain)
Computer
- Computadora (Latin America)
- Ordenador (Spain)
Laptop
- Laptop (Latin America)
- Portátil (Spain)
Transport
Bus
- Autobús (standard)
- Bondi (Argentina – informal)
- Bus (Colombia, Ecuador, Central America)
- Camión (Mexico)
- Colectivo (Argentina)
- Guagua (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Canary Islands)
- Flota (Bolivia)
- Micro (Chile, Paraguay)
- Ómnibus (Uruguay)
Car
- Coche (Spain)
- Carro (Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, most of Central America and the Caribbean)
- Auto (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay)
Traffic jam
- Atasco (Spain, Peru)
- Embotellamiento (Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico)
- Taco (Chile)
- Tráfico (Mexico)
- Trancón (Colombia)
- Tranque (Panama)
Trunk/Boot (of car)
- Baúl (Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic)
- Cajuela (Mexico, Dominican Republic)
- Maletero (Spain)
Work & Money
Job
- Trabajo (standard)
- Chamba (Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)
- Pega (Chile)
- Laburo (Argentina)
Money
- Dinero (standard)
- Lana (Mexico) Guita (Argentina)
- Pasta (Spain)
- Plata (Argentina, Colombia)
To work (verb)
- Trabajar (standard)
- Chambear (Mexico)
- Currar (Spain)
- Camellar (Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras)
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