Which is the best Spanish accent?

Which country has the best Spanish accent? (Poll choices divided by region)

  • Caribbean Antilles-Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. 🇨🇺🇩🇴🇵🇷

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Mexico 🇲🇽

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Central America (not incl Panamá) Guatemala 🇬🇹,Honduras 🇭🇳,Nicaragua 🇳🇮El Salvador🇸🇻,Costa Rica 🇨🇷

    Votes: 2 9.5%
  • Caribbean basin/ Northern Andes- Panamá, Colombia, Venezuela 🇵🇦 🇨🇴🇻🇪

    Votes: 9 42.9%
  • Andes- Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia 🇪🇨🇵🇪🇧🇴

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Southern and Southern Cone- Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay 🇨🇱🇦🇷🇺🇾🇵🇾

    Votes: 4 19.0%
  • Spain 🇪🇸

    Votes: 5 23.8%

  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
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Spanish spoken in Peru is considered to be neutral (at least in Lima) and very easy to understand. It always gets high ratings when accents are discussed in the Spanish-speaking world. That is why a lot of Spanish movies that are dubbed are by Peruvian speakers because their Spanish is considered to be very clear. However, telenovelas at least in the US is colombianos almost 100%.
I'm glad it's not just me. I find it clear and it does sound 'neutral' to me.
 

Africaida

Gold
Jun 19, 2009
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My favorite accent is Caribbean (not because they are easier to understand, I just really like the rhythm) followed by Colombian (clearer to understand)
Many tend to praise Argentinean, I don't hear it, depending on the region, I find the accent a bit difficult (nice flow though).
 

Auryn

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Apr 22, 2012
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I went to an international teaching job fair when I was interested in going overseas. I remember the presentation from one of the schools in Ecuador because they said it was a great country to learn Spanish because they speak slowly and clearly.
I liked the Colombian accent when we visited friends there because it was easier to understand than Dominican Spanish. Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican all sound very different to me. Argentinian sounds a bit harsh and choppy.
There was a language thread here where someone posted a video of Spanish speakers from different countries talking and you had to guess where each was from. I got 8/10 or something, which I found surprising because my Spanish still has a long way to go. Although accent IDs are usually easier for me.
 

nanita

Well-known member
Jul 28, 2014
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I find the Argentinian (Argentine?) accent quite lovely, that vocalized and breathy 'yo me llamo'.... Uruguayan Spanish has that lovely, Italianized accent also.
Hehehe, it's so pretty to me, it sounds elegant.
I am also partial to the Venezuelan accent as I learned Spanish in Caracas. They sound a bit out of breath when they speak Spanish and they drop their s's
I find Colombian and Peruvian Spanish quite clear and neutral.
Not crazy about the Cuban, Dominican or Puerto Rican accents, don't know why exactly, it's so fast and loud to my ear.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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I'm glad it's not just me. I find it clear and it does sound 'neutral' to me.

Just to make sure we are on the same page I looked up the definition of neutral in the context of language:

#2 is what applies.

Having referenced Peru and specifically Lima while the accent of its speakers is defined as neutral they do have a noticeable accent. I have worked with many Peruvians. I only realized afterwards in non work scenarios that I recognize the accent (Lima) because when I hear it on the street or any public place I recognize it before the speaker says I am from Peru. So there is something there just not as strong as other countries.


 
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Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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Yes, Sabatini sounds beautiful but her accent is a milder version of the typical bonaerense Spanish. I am not pro or against the accent from Argentina. However, their phonetic pronunciation along with Uruguay and to a certain extent Paraguay is not standard Spanish. You will not hear a professor (outside of Argentina) telling a group of foreigners learning Spanish to say posho.

Regarding Haitians, I am not referring to those born in DR and grew up there. I am referring to the adults who go to DR in search of work etc. In my experience, the Spanish does not sound good.
 
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Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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My favorite accent is Caribbean (not because they are easier to understand, I just really like the rhythm) followed by Colombian (clearer to understand)
Many tend to praise Argentinean, I don't hear it, depending on the region, I find the accent a bit difficult (nice flow though).

Como decimos en español:

Para gustos se hicieron los colores.

I too am a fan of Caribbean Spanish and specifically the Caribbean basin but a bit of the Antilles too. I also just like South American Spanish in general with the exception of a few countries.

I used to have two professors from Argentina and they were rigid about how Spanish in South America has changed and it is so bad. At the time I told them in comparison to other parts of the Spanish-speaking world Spanish spoken South America is still quite good.
 
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Marianopolita

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I went to an international teaching job fair when I was interested in going overseas. I remember the presentation from one of the schools in Ecuador because they said it was a great country to learn Spanish because they speak slowly and clearly.
I liked the Colombian accent when we visited friends there because it was easier to understand than Dominican Spanish. Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican all sound very different to me. Argentinian sounds a bit harsh and choppy.
There was a language thread here where someone posted a video of Spanish speakers from different countries talking and you had to guess where each was from. I got 8/10 or something, which I found surprising because my Spanish still has a long way to go. Although accent IDs are usually easier for me.

In my experience, Ecuador passes under the radar but indeed quite a neutral sounding Spanish from what I have heard.

Colombia has a lot of linguistic zones. It is incredible even though it is a large country. Most accents are very distinct but identifiably Colombian. For ex, paisa accent (Medellin), rolo (the capital), costeño (the Caribbean coast). In general, a nice sounding Spanish. It always gets mentioned in Spanish speech and accent comparisons.
 
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Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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I find the Argentinian (Argentine?) accent quite lovely, that vocalized and breathy 'yo me llamo'.... Uruguayan Spanish has that lovely, Italianized accent also.
Hehehe, it's so pretty to me, it sounds elegant.
I am also partial to the Venezuelan accent as I learned Spanish in Caracas. They sound a bit out of breath when they speak Spanish and they drop their s's
I find Colombian and Peruvian Spanish quite clear and neutral.
Not crazy about the Cuban, Dominican or Puerto Rican accents, don't know why exactly, it's so fast and loud to my ear.

The accent from Caracas is very distinct. Easy to recognize. Colombian and Peruvian accents are considered easy to understand for sure. Although the paisa accent can be difficult for some people.
 
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bob saunders

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In my experience, Ecuador passes under the radar but indeed quite a neutral sounding Spanish from what I have heard.

Colombia has a lot of linguistic zones. It is incredible even though it is a large country. Most accents are very distinct but identifiably Colombian. For ex, paisa accent (Medellin), rolo (the capital), costeño (the Caribbean coast). In general, a nice sounding Spanish. It always gets mentioned in Spanish speech and accent comparisons.
When my wife was teaching Spanish on Vancouver Island she had a party for her students and invited some friends that spoke Spanish, some native speakers and others that had learned in different countries. One of the guys there was an Ecuadorian guy that spoke beautiful English and Spanish, an ex-tourist guide in the Galapagos Island. A woman started talking to him in Spanish and asked him what he thought of her Spanish. He replied in English " Pardon me, but you speak Spanish like a Peruvian peasant" Instead of being offended she beamed and said " That is because I spent several years as a missionary in rural Peru. " That was a very mixed party with lots of people from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba. Only arguments were about soccer.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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When my wife was teaching Spanish on Vancouver Island she had a party for her students and invited some friends that spoke Spanish, some native speakers and others that had learned in different countries. One of the guys there was an Ecuadorian guy that spoke beautiful English and Spanish, an ex-tourist guide in the Galapagos Island. A woman started talking to him in Spanish and asked him what he thought of her Spanish. He replied in English " Pardon me, but you speak Spanish like a Peruvian peasant" Instead of being offended she beamed and said " That is because I spent several years as a missionary in rural Peru. " That was a very mixed party with lots of people from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba. Only arguments were about soccer.


Yes, you mentioned this in other threads in the forum.

If you read the article in my first post it does mention that a person that is learning Spanish or lives in an area for a period time will invitably acquire some of the speech patterns and accent of that place or region.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
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Here is one of hottest players in baseball right now. I wanted to hear his thoughts about how he feels to finally settle in and start to find some success in the Major Leagues. This is part I of a three part interview.

Listen to his accent. Identifiably Colombian (one of many accents in Colombia) and certainly Caribbean. In my opinion, he speaks clearly and is easy to understand.

Que viva Colombia 🇨🇴