Which Spanish Accent Should You Learn?

Did you know that every Spanish speaking country has a different accent, sometimes even a different lexicon, than the neighboring Spanish speaking country? It’s no wonder since even in the same country, like the United States for example, there are so many different regional accents and different expressions used. Given that the number of countries that have Spanish as their official language spans three continents, there are definitely going to be some variations. Even on the continent of South America the difference between a Spanish speaker from Colombia and a Spanish speaker from Argentina is quite noticeable!

So which Spanish accent should you learn to be the most understood by Spanish speakers worldwide? Well what you first have to know is that all languages have a “standard” form, which is often what is taught in schools and to non-native speakers of the language. Generally, native speakers don’t speak an exact “standard” of their language, but it is understood equally among all native speakers.

From there, what country’s accent you choose may be up to your surroundings. You should first ask yourself, “What accent am I exposed to the most?” Do you work with Spanish speakers primarily from Mexico? Do you have family from Cuba? Have you always dreamed of living in Spain or Argentina? Based on what your answer is, this may be the accent you “should” learn.

Now you can always adopt a new Spanish accent along your learning journey, but it’s important to note that the accent you choose is as directly related to the language as it is to the culture. So though speaking Puerto Rican Spanish in Chile is perfectly acceptable, it may separate you some from the culture in which you’re trying to immerse yourself if that’s your goal.

Whatever accent you're most drawn to, our Spanish teachers come from a variety of backgrounds and have a knowledge of many of the accents in the Spanish speaking world. Ask them how you can sound more like a native speaker from the country of your choice and they would be more than willing to help you achieve this.