When you are in a Spanish speaking country Spanish slang is probably the first thing you’ll learn. It’s only normal surrounded by people speaking the language and probably making friends with them, that the sound of the language starts to become normal to your ears, as do some of the words.
It will probably help you to get by, and used in some of your day to day dealings. Sometimes you don’t realise that the words you have picked up are slang, to you they are just the most common words you hear for the way you need to express yourself.
Spanish Slang is quite varied depending on where you are. As a matter of fact, Spanish developed from slang, which was then called Vulgar Latin by the Romans.
In Spain there are many different states and regions and can vary, depending on local influences, like other local languages, Basque, Galician and Catalan, or the local dialects for example Asturian and Andalucian. Andalucian and Castellano from the capital have then influenced more foreign Spanish dialects than any other dialects.
Spanish are famous for their ceceo and seseo. Ceceo is the forced lisp on the letters “c” and “z” and seseo is the unforced lisp on “s’s”.
Castellano is the language standard, and Andalucia was the point from where most of the boats, and people departed for the Americas. Cuban, Puerto Rican, Argentinian and Chilean are good examples of the effect of the Andalucian dialect.
In Latin American dialects vary, and new vocabulary comes from local indigenous words and the neighbouring countries. American English is probably the most common influence that, differentiates Latin American Spanish with the Spanish of Spain
Mexico is a good example of neighbouring influences.
A lot of vocabulary has come from modern American slang, and has developed something similar to Spanglish. Words like “No hangear!” are used for “No hanging around” while this word does not exist in Spanish. Mexicans are also well known for their accent. Within Mexico there are many different dialects, and therefore different slang vocabularies.
Colombia is one country with a reputation of the cleanest sounding Spanish. You will certainly find this in the bigger cities, but by the coast there are strong Andalucian influences. Colombians will often greet you with their “Qubo” which originally was “Que hubo” meaning what was there?
Argentina another large Spanish speaking country, is famous for their distinct accent and vocabulary. The letters “y and ll” both with same sound are pronounced like the French “j” like no other Spanish speakers except Uruguay. Also they use the word “vos” instead of “tu- you” and changes to verbs accordingly. You might often hear “Che Boludo, Queres un matecito?”Hey stupid, do you want some yerba mate?
Chile is one country where Spanish slang has changed the language substantially. Andalucian Spanish is the norm here and like them, they don’t pronounce the “s” nor the “d”. So “chao pescado” will become “chao pecao”. Also common is the use of the word “Po” formerly “pues” to end any sentence. Possibly for the fact they don’t pronounce the “s” the verbs endings for “tu-you” follow the Italian tu- format so “estas” becomes “estay”
All this to give you a brief overview of the Spanish slang that exist nowadays. For more of this you can visit StreettalkSavvy.com and click the street talk tab for our extensive list of slang vocabulary from around the world.
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