What is the Difference Between Mexican and Spanish?

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The main difference between Mexican Spanish and Spanish from Spain lies in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical variations. Both countries speak the same language, but they have developed distinct regional variations and idiomatic expressions. Here are some key differences between Mexican Spanish and Spanish from Spain:

  1. Pronunciation: Spanish from Spain tends to be more guttural due to its Arabic influences, whereas Mexican Spanish is softer. The main difference in pronunciation between the two is how they pronounce z, ci, and ce.
  2. Vocabulary: One of the most significant differences between Mexican Spanish and Spanish from Spain is the vocabulary used. Some words and phrases may be unique to each region, and these differences can be quite extensive. For example, the word for "computer" in Mexican Spanish is "computadora," while in Spain, it is "ordenador".
  3. Grammar: There are some minor grammatical differences between the two variants of Spanish, but these generally do not affect the overall intelligibility of the language.
  4. Influences: Spanish from Spain has been influenced by various civilizations throughout history, including the Romans, Moors, and other Mediterranean cultures. On the other hand, Mexican Spanish has been influenced by indigenous languages and cultures, as well as Spanish colonization.

Despite these differences, speakers of Mexican Spanish and Spanish from Spain can generally understand each other, as the variations are not significant enough to hinder communication.

Comparative Table: Mexican vs Spanish

Here is a table highlighting some differences between Mexican Spanish and Spanish from Spain:

Feature Mexican Spanish Spanish from Spain (Castilian)
Pronunciation "c" and "z" are pronounced like "s" "c" and "z" are pronounced like "th"
Vocabulary uses "carro" for car, "jamoncillo" for ham, "computadora" for computer uses "coche" for car, "jamón" for ham, "ordenador" for computer
Formality uses "tú" for informal situations, "usted" for formal situations, "vosotros" is not used only uses "tú" for informal situations, no "vosotros" used, "usted" is not common
Tenses Used leumes, letras, levas, etc. for emphasis unifies all tenses into "llevar"

Please note that this table is not exhaustive and there are many more differences between the two dialects. However, these are some of the most noticeable differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, formality, and tenses used.