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Why Does Argentine Spanish Sound Different? Pronunciation and Intonation in Buenos Aires

Many students notice the pronunciation before they notice the vocabulary. You may have studied Spanish for years and then arrive in Buenos Aires and suddenly realize that the Spanish around you sounds surprisingly different. People are still speaking Spanish, of course. But the pronunciation, rhythm and intonation can make the variety immediately recognizable. This is … Read more

Argentine Spanish vs. Spanish from Spain: What’s the Difference?

If you are learning Spanish, you will eventually discover that Spanish does not sound the same everywhere. The Spanish spoken in Buenos Aires is different from the Spanish spoken in Spain. Vocabulary may differ, pronunciation can sound different, and some grammatical forms are used differently. But can Argentines and Spaniards understand each other? Absolutely. These … Read more

What Is Rioplatense Spanish? A Guide to the Spanish of Buenos Aires and the Río de la Plata

If you arrive in Buenos Aires after studying Spanish somewhere else, you may notice that the Spanish around you sounds different. You may hear vos instead of tú, notice a distinctive pronunciation of ll and y, encounter unfamiliar expressions, or find that the rhythm and intonation of everyday conversations take some getting used to. You haven’t arrived in a different language. … Read more

Why Do Argentines Call Spanish “Castellano”?

If you are learning Spanish in Buenos Aires, you may notice that Argentines often call their language castellano rather than español. You might hear someone say: “¿Hablás castellano?” But why castellano? And does it mean that Argentines speak a different language from other Spanish speakers? The answer takes us back to the origins of the Spanish language. Where does … Read more

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