Understanding Latin American vs. Spanish Culture – Key Differences
Join our Spanish Conversation Events—Led by Native, Expert Human Teachers (LIVE on Zoom).
This blueprint will help you prepare for this LIVE conversation event so you can participate actively, expand your Spanish skills, and engage in meaningful discussions 🚀
Welcome to this ElayaaHUB Spanish conversation event!
In this session, we’ll explore the fascinating cultural differences between Latin America and Spain — from daily routines and food to communication styles and social customs.
By learning how these cultures differ (and what they share), you’ll enrich your Spanish skills, develop intercultural awareness, and connect more deeply with people from different parts of the Spanish-speaking world.
Let’s expand our minds and vocabularies while celebrating cultural diversity in Spanish. ¡Vamos!
Key Vocabulary & Expressions
Spanish words and phrases that will help you navigate this conversation 😊
1
Food & Daily Life
-
Lunch / Dinner time – Hora de comer / cenar
-
Siesta – Siesta
-
Spicy food – Comida picante
-
Street food – Comida callejera
-
Regional dishes – Platos típicos
-
Schedule / Routine – Horario / rutina
3
Cultural Concepts
-
Family values – Valores familiares
-
Celebrations – Celebraciones
-
Religion / Spirituality – Religión / espiritualidad
-
Identity – Identidad
-
Colonial history – Historia colonial
-
Language varieties – Variedades del idioma
5
Spain (Europe)
-
Cultural Base: Heavily influenced by centuries of European development, regionalism, and a post-dictatorship push for modernization.
-
Communication Style: Often more direct, especially in cities like Madrid. Irony and sarcasm are common, and interrupting during conversation can be part of passionate discourse.
-
Formality: Spain uses "tú" much more broadly than many Latin American countries, even in work contexts. The tone can feel more casual or egalitarian.
-
Time & Punctuality: More structured schedules, especially in business settings. While siesta culture exists, it's mostly regional or symbolic now.
-
Cultural Identity: Spaniards often identify strongly with their autonomous regions (Catalonia, Galicia, Basque Country…), often more than with the country itself.
-
Food Culture: Late mealtimes, tapas culture, long dinners. Alcohol like wine or beer is casually integrated into meals.
7
Bonus Cultural Insight
Some countries in Latin America share a stronger cultural resemblance to Southern Europe, especially Argentina and Uruguay. These similarities show up in communication style, lifestyle, and even values:
-
🇦🇷 Argentina (especially Buenos Aires): Direct, expressive, heavily influenced by Italian and Spanish immigration.
-
🇺🇾 Uruguay: Extremely similar to Argentina. Uses "vos", enjoys mate, tango, and a laid-back, European-flavored urban vibe.
-
🇨🇱 Chile (Santiago): Organized, creative, with notable European cultural influence.
These regional nuances can shape not only how Spanish is spoken but how relationships and experiences unfold.
2
Communication & Social Norms
-
Tú vs. Usted – Informal vs. formal “You”
-
Physical contact – Contacto físico
-
Eye contact – Contacto visual
-
Gestures – Gestos
-
Humor – Humor
-
Direct / Indirect communication – Comunicación directa / indirecta
-
Punctuality – Puntualidad
4
Useful Phrases
-
In Latin America, it’s common to... – En Latinoamérica, es común...
-
In Spain, people usually... – En España, la gente suele...
-
That depends on the country – Eso depende del país
-
It surprised me that... – Me sorprendió que...
-
I noticed a big difference in... – Noté una gran diferencia en...
-
It’s similar in both places – Es similar en ambos lugares
6
Latin America (Generalized Patterns)
NOTE: There’s massive diversity across the region, so this is a wide brushstroke!
-
Cultural Base: A blend of indigenous, African, and European influences (especially Spanish and Portuguese), with strong roots in family and community.
-
Communication Style: Generally more indirect and more relationship-centered. Politeness and warm language are emphasized over bluntness.
-
Formality: Greater use of "usted" in many countries (like Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru), even with people close in age. Respect and social distance are often linguistically marked.
-
Time & Punctuality: More flexible or relaxed sense of time in everyday life. Being late isn’t always considered rude—it can be part of the rhythm.
-
Cultural Identity: Strong national identity, with pride in heritage, local traditions, and family stories. Identity often includes an emotional connection to the land or region.
-
Food Culture: Varies hugely! But generally more spice, more rice/beans/corn base, and street food has a stronger presence than in Spain. Meals may be simpler and more regionalized.
Reflection Question 🌱
¿Has notado diferencias culturales? ¿Cuáles te llamaron más la atención?
Have you noticed cultural differences? Which ones stood out to you the most?
Consider writing down your thoughts in Spanish to warm up for the event!💡
Beyond Language ✨
"Learning a language is learning a culture—or, in this case, many cultures. Spanish is spoken across more than 20 countries, each with its own flavor, rhythm, and soul.
When we recognize cultural differences, we don’t divide—we connect. We open space for respect, curiosity, and humility. We learn to listen more deeply and speak with more empathy.
To see beyond words is to see people. And in doing so, we remember that diversity is not something to overcome—it is something to celebrate."
LIVE on Zoom – Ready to Join? 🚀
Share this Spanish conversation event with your friends – Together is more fun!
