Which Spanish accent is the hardest to understand?

[Marianopolita]

Some people using the Duolingo App had a discussion about Spanish accents. The question asked was which accent is the hardest to understand (for some people it’s more than one accent)?

BTW- I finally know someone who is using Duolingo to learn Spanish. This app has good reviews in general from people who have used it. I gave the person I know using the app the option to ask me any question he has after his lesson on the app. He has a grammar question everyday and I noticed some of the wording of the equivalent Spanish phrase in the application is backwards when translating from English to Spanish.

Here is the discussion:


https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/...st-for-you-to-understand-In-Spanish-of-course


-MP.

 

[pkaide1]

Some people using the Duolingo App had a discussion about Spanish accents. The question asked was which accent is the hardest to understand (for some people it’s more than one accent)?

BTW- I finally know someone who is using Duolingo to learn Spanish. This app has good reviews in general from people who have used it. I gave the person I know using the app the option to ask me any question he has after his lesson on the app. He has a grammar question everyday and I noticed some of the wording of the equivalent Spanish phrase in the application is backwards when translating from English to Spanish.

Here is the discussion:


https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/...st-for-you-to-understand-In-Spanish-of-course


-MP.

For me the Basque accent in Spain, it is the worst.

 

[Marianopolita]

Interesting. I have virtually no interaction with Spaniards being on the other side of the pond so to speak. However, the interaction I have had has been okay except for one encounter and it was expected. Spain has a lot of languages historically so that is a factor too.

I do know someone from Bilbao and I have never had an issue communicating with her. Actually, her Spanish is wonderful but that is just one example.


https://postimages.org/


A snapshot just to get an understanding of the region.


-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

Here is a thread in another forum about the same topic. Here is the question that was asked:

Spanish learners which Spanish accents are the hardest to understand?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Spanish/comments/8kfhte/spanish_learners_which_spanish_accents_are_the/


I read through the answers. They are all interesting and a lot of common responses meaning the countries that people find Spanish easy to understand vs. the ones they find difficult.


-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

This a good video that gives examples of Spanish accents from different countries. They are all Spanish teachers. Each gives a description of their country of origin, some cultural facts and typical expressions. Then they ask you to guess where they are from.

This is the second time I have stumbled across this video. I was able to identify each speaker. However, even in their respective countries the accent will vary.


-MP.

 

[malko]

Personally i enjoy the colombian accent(s) and on the other hand i don't enjoy mexicain accent(s) very much.

 

[Riva_31]

As Dominican i can tell the hardest one for me are tow, Paraguay was hard to understand some people there, noticed they had the accent of native language Guaraní so they speak with that accent, and speaking with Chilean people also some sentences while they are speaking hard to understand that i had to ask what did you say?

 

[Marianopolita]

Personally i enjoy the colombian accent(s) and on the other hand i don't enjoy mexicain accent(s) very much.

A mí también me gusta el acento colombiano.

I like the Colombian accent in general. However, there are so many and a few are quite distinct. I never miss it whether I hear it on TV, when speaking to someone on the phone or just on the street. What I like to do is try to guess which part of Colombia the person is from based on their accent. For example, in the video I posted above I knew right away where the Colombian speaker was from just from the brief intro. I knew the accent was North Colombia and the speaker clarified where exactly.

The Colombian accents that I have a lot of exposure to are:


1) Rolo - the accent from the capital Bogotá
2) Paisa- Antioquia which includes Medellín and surrounding area. This accent is very distinct and strong. When you hear it you recognize it right away
3) Costeño- Cartagena, Barranquilla- Colombian Caribbean accent
4) Caleño- Cali - Sur, Valle del Cauca accent


In general, Spanish from Colombia offers a lot of variety. Outside of Colombia one can get good exposure to the Colombian accent(s) in various North American cities such Miami, New York and Toronto.



-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

As Dominican i can tell the hardest one for me are tow, Paraguay was hard to understand some people there, noticed they had the accent of native language Guaraní so they speak with that accent, and speaking with Chilean people also some sentences while they are speaking hard to understand that i had to ask what did you say?

Were you in Paraguay?

That is not an accent I am familiar with as there are no large communities of Paraguayans outside of Paraguay. What I have heard is on TV or speakers on You Tube.

Guaraní, the native language is prominent then Spanish. As well, Paraguayan Spanish includes the linguistic influences from the surrounding geographic area so there is a mix for sure.

Chile is okay for me so far. I have never had a problem understanding Chileans. I even worked with a few. All good.


-MP.

 

[Riva_31]

Were you in Paraguay?

That is not an accent I am familiar with as there are no large communities of Paraguayans outside of Paraguay. What I have heard is on TV or speakers on You Tube.

Guaraní, the native language is prominent then Spanish. As well, Paraguayan Spanish includes the linguistic influences from the surrounding geographic area so there is a mix for sure.

Chile is okay for me so far. I have never had a problem understanding Chileans. I even worked with a few. All good.


-MP.

I was in Asuncion and Ciudad del Este, a taxi driver spoke to us in spanish and the speed of him speaking was similar as the Guarani, thats why I said sound like accent

 

[Marianopolita]

I was in Asuncion and Ciudad del Este, a taxi driver spoke to us in spanish and the speed of him speaking was similar as the Guarani, thats why I said sound like accent

Education is a factor and it influences the difference in speech from person to person. Other than influences from Guaraní Paraguay has similarities to Argentina and Uruguay. Also it is a voseo-speaking country. No usage of tú at all.


-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

I listened to this video a few years ago and I just listened to it again before posting it. In the discussion threads I posted in my previous posts many commented that the Chilean accent is difficult to understand. After listening to this again I still find it easy to understand. It is just another variation of many South American accents. I agree with the guys in the video. I would not compare Chilean Spanish to Spanish spoken in Argentina.

-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

A mí también me gusta el acento colombiano.

I like the Colombian accent in general. However, there are so many and a few are quite distinct. I never miss it whether I hear it on TV, when speaking to someone on the phone or just on the street. What I like to do is try to guess which part of Colombia the person is from based on their accent. For example, in the video I posted above I knew right away where the Colombian speaker was from just from the brief intro. I knew the accent was North Colombia and the speaker clarified where exactly.

The Colombian accents that I have a lot of exposure to are:


1) Rolo - the accent from the capital Bogotá
2) Paisa- Antioquia which includes Medellín and surrounding area. This accent is very distinct and strong. When you hear it you recognize it right away
3) Costeño- Cartagena, Barranquilla- Colombian Caribbean accent
4) Caleño- Cali - Sur, Valle del Cauca accent


In general, Spanish from Colombia offers a lot of variety. Outside of Colombia one can get good exposure to the Colombian accent(s) in various North American cities such Miami, New York and Toronto.



-MP.

Here is an article in English from the Bogotá Post about Colombia’s many accents.

Understanding Colombia's different accents

Whether this is because the Spanish spoken in Bogotá is “clearer” than others (as many capitalinos would have you believe) or simply because Colombian media broadcasts typically bogotano accents to the rest of the country, the reality is understanding the Colombia's different accents can be a...

thebogotapost.com