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Different ways to say things. Regional differences?
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I'm working my way through Level 1 of Latin American Spanish. Many years ago I had some Spanish in high school (which is why I'm starting from level 1). Here you teach the word "car" as "el auto". I learned "el coche". Is this a regional difference? Also, I learned "what is your name" as "como se llama". Here it is "cual es su nombre". (Sorry, U.S. keyboard, no accents) Also regional?
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Hi @Keats !
Yes, the differences you've noticed in vocabulary and phrases between what you learned in high school and what you're learning now are mostly regional differences."El auto" vs. "El coche": Both terms are used to refer to a car, but their usage varies by region. In many Latin American countries, like Argentina and Mexico, "el auto" is more commonly used. In Spain, however, "el coche" is the preferred term.
"¿Cómo se llama?" vs. "¿Cuál es su nombre?": Both forms are correct and understood in any Spanish-speaking region. "¿Cómo se llama?" (literally "How do you call yourself?") is more commonly used in everyday conversation. "¿Cuál es su nombre?" (literally "What is your name?") is also correct but can sound a bit more formal or direct.
These differences are a natural part of language variation across different regions. Keep practicing, and you'll become familiar with the regional nuances!
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