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The language today

Pronunciation of v and b in Spanish: which one is correct?

In Spanish, the question often arises as to whether or not there is a difference in the pronunciation of the letters v and b, mainly due to the influence of other languages, such as English, where this difference is clear. However, there is no phonetic distinction between the letters in modern Spanish, Spain, and Latin America. Both are pronounced similarly and are known as voiced bilabials, producing a sound represented in phonetics by the symbol /b/.

This unification in pronunciation has historical roots: in ancient Spanish, both sounds were distinguishable, but over time, the differences were lost. Today, throughout the Spanish-speaking world, the letters b and v often sound identical, which creates the peculiarity that, when speaking, these letters are distinguished only in writing. This characteristic means that in Spanish, the term “uve” is often used to refer to v and thus differentiate it from b, called “be”.

It is important to note that, although this equalisation in pronunciation is the norm in modern Spanish, some Spanish speakers in frequent contact with English tend to mark the difference between v and b when speaking Spanish, imitating the English pronunciation. This is observed in some areas of Latin America, where speakers, especially bilinguals, try to reproduce the difference to avoid confusion in English, a language in which b and v represent different sounds.

This distinction is also present, now spontaneously, in Valencian or Majorcan speakers and in areas of Catalonia due to the influence of Catalan. Additionally, it is found in certain very specific parts of America, where the influence of Amerindian languages has led to the use of labiodental articulation to pronounce the letter v.

From a normative perspective, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) states that there is no need to make this distinction in Spanish since it is not part of the phonetic system of the language. So, to speak correctly in Spanish, it is optional to differentiate these sounds. This particularity of our language is an example of how it has evolved to simplify communication without losing clarity.

Now, from a linguistic point of view, there is no “mistake” in pronouncing b and v in one way or another; in fact, linguistics records the different ways of speaking. What is certain is that pronouncing b and v in the same way is the most widespread way in the Spanish-speaking world.

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The language today

Chilean Spanish and its peculiarities

Have you ever been to Chile? Maybe not, but have you heard that in Chile, it seems like no one speaks Spanish because no one who speaks Spanish appears to understand them? Chilean Spanish is one of the most unique language varieties, standing out for its unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and idioms. Although it shares a joint base with the Spanish spoken in other Latin American countries and Spain, the Chilean variant has developed unique characteristics influenced by historical, geographical, and sociocultural factors. In this article, we will explore the main peculiarities of Chilean Spanish, from its distinctive intonation to its most popular colloquial expressions.

Pronunciation and Phonetics

One of the most notable aspects of Chilean Spanish is its pronunciation, which can challenge non-native speakers. Chileans speak quickly and often drop or soften certain consonants, especially at the end of words. A classic example is the disappearance of the “s” at the end of syllables or words, a phenomenon known as aspiration or elision of the “s.” Thus, “más o menos” can sound like “má o meno.” This trait affects comprehension for speakers of other Spanish varieties and contributes to Chilean Spanish’s musicality.

In addition, the Chilean accent is known for its rising intonation at the end of sentences, which gives the impression that sentences end in a question, even when they do not.

Vocabulary and Lexicon

Chilean Spanish has a vibrant and varied vocabulary, with many words and expressions not found in other Spanish variants. These words may be of Indigenous origin, adaptations of English words, or simply local inventions. For example, “pololo” and “polola” are colloquial terms for a boyfriend or girlfriend, respectively, a word not used in other Spanish-speaking countries.

Chileanisms, the words native to Chilean Spanish, are not just a part of the language but a part of daily life. Words like ‘fome’ (boring), ‘cachai’ (do you understand?), ‘al tiro’ (immediately), and ‘luca’ (a thousand pesos) are used in everyday conversations, reflecting the language’s creativity and adaptability in Chile.

Talking to Animals: Idioms and Colloquial Expressions

Using idioms and colloquial expressions is another distinctive feature of Chilean Spanish. Due to their symbolic meaning or specific context, many of these expressions are incomprehensible to Spanish speakers from other countries. “Pasarlo chancho” is an expression that means “to have a lot of fun,” whereas “chancho” literally means “pig.” These expressions highlight how Chilean Spanish uses humour and metaphor in daily communication. “Quedar o andar pato” means to be without money, and “chicotear los caracoles” means to rush someone to do something.

The verb “cachar” is extremely common and versatile in Chile, used as a synonym for understanding, grasping, or realising something. “Cachai” is a way of asking, “Do you understand?” and its use is so widespread that it has become a linguistic marker of Chilean Spanish. In addition, polite phrases and exclamations such as “po” (derived from “pues”) are characteristic of Chilean Spanish, added at the end of sentences to emphasise or soften the tone of the conversation. For example, when saying “sí, po.”

Historical and Cultural Influences

 The particularities of Chilean Spanish did not emerge out of nowhere. The country’s history and cultural influences have played a key role in shaping the language. The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors brought the language to Chilean territory, but the interaction with Indigenous languages, especially Mapudungún, left an indelible mark on the lexicon and phonetics. Words such as “kultrún” (ceremonial drum) and “guata” (belly) have Mapuche roots and are examples of this influence.

Furthermore, Chile’s geography, with its elongated, narrow shape nestled between the Andes Mountains range and the Pacific Ocean, has fostered a profound sense of cultural and linguistic identity distinctly reflected in the language. This relative geographic isolation has allowed Chilean Spanish to evolve uniquely, distinct from other Spanish-American dialects, and this is something to be appreciated.

Like all languages ​​and dialects, Chilean Spanish continues to evolve. Globalisation, migration, and access to international media are introducing new words and idioms, while some traditional terms may be falling into disuse. Nevertheless, the distinctive features of Chilean Spanish remain strong and are likely to continue to evolve and adapt, reflecting the dynamic Chilean society.

Chilean Spanish is not just a variety; it’s a rich and unique contribution to the Spanish language. Its phonetic, linguistic, and idiom features add colour and diversity to the Spanish-speaking world’s linguistic landscape, reflecting the Chilean people’s cultural and historical identity and enriching the global Spanish community.

Another distinctive feature of Chilean Spanish is the modern urban conjugation of the second person singular; thus, instead of saying ¿qué edad tienes? (How old are you?) one would informally ask ¿qué edad tenís? and instead of asking ¿cómo estás? (How are you?) one would ask ¿cómo estái?

With its fast rhythm, unique words, and melodic intonation, Chilean Spanish is a dynamic example of how a language can adapt and flourish in different cultural contexts.

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you want to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, subscribe to our superb grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language

Spanish dialects around the world

Spanish, also known as Castilian, is spoken, or studied by more than 500 million people around the world; of these, more than 450 million are fully fluent – approximately 50 million are fluent with certain limitations, and nearly 20 million are in the language learning process. This means that 67% of the world’s population speaks Spanish. Yes, I said it right: 67% of the world’s population speaks Spanish!!

It is the second most spoken language after Mandarin, ahead of English, and is the official language of 21 countries. In Europe, it is spoken in Spain; In America, it is the official language of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Uruguay, and Venezuela. and in Africa, it is the official language in Equatorial Guinea. Additionally, there is a significant percentage of native speakers in parts of the United States, Brazil, Canada, Algeria, the Philippines, Australia, and Israel.

Faced with this enormous demographic and geographical extension, there is also massive linguistic diversity, both phonetic (that is, in the accents and pronunciation of words), lexical (forms of writing) and morphosyntactic (ways of structuring a sentence).

Measure your words when talking to your grandfather

Spanish speakers know very well that these peculiarities exist since not everyone uses the same variety of the language. Just as there are linguistic varieties of the same language depending on the cultural or social group to which one belongs, the same language also varies depending on the generations. For example, a grandfather does not use the same expressions or words as his grandchildren; these intergenerational linguistic subtleties probably come to light when interacting.

Being aware of these differences can be complicated, but at the same time exciting and very entertaining when learning a new language. Let’s look at some examples.

Do you know the adage “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”?

Well, it makes perfect sense when talking about language, and even more so about the same language, since geography is an essential factor in the formation and evolution of languages: ¿tú vas hoy? or ¿vos vas hoy? ¿vosotros vais hoy? or ¿ustedes van hoy? How should you ask? Don’t panic, don’t collapse, all those options are fine. The difference is that the “¿vas hoy?” It is used in Spain and much of America, while “¿vos vas hoy?” It is the common expression in Argentina and Uruguay. If you are in Spain, you will hear this same question in the plural as ¿vosotros vais hoy? in an informal context, while in a formal context, it will be ¿ustedes van hoy?” in the case of American countries, ¿ustedes van hoy?” is used, whether in a formal or informal context. Spaniards will only say “ustedes” when they want to address someone with respect. On the other hand, the formal singular for Spain and for the countries of America is “you”.

If you want to know more about these morphosyntactic differences, you can review the Cervantes Virtual Centre’s article about the linguistic diversity of contemporary Spanish.

Potatoes or tomatoes?

But let’s leave behind the more formal issues of language use and give way to the most fun of the Spanish variants. Where there is the most outstanding number of lexical variations is in the vocabulary related to food, so while in Spain they talk about patatas, in Latin America, they are papas, and while in Mexico, Venezuela and Spain they call the delicious summer fruits fresas, in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are called frutillas.

Since I have lived in Spain and am Chilean, I can tell you more anecdotes. For example, we stress words of Anglo-Saxon origin differently: in Spain, people say deo, while in Chile we say video and while Chileans say ícono, Spaniards say icono.

Does the hole in your sock have a name in your country? Well, in Spain, they call it tomate (tomato); that was very funny to me when I learned it because, in Chile, we also use the name of a vegetable, but it’s papa (potato), ha-ha!

I will give you two last pieces of information that have to do with professional translation and, of course with the country for which it is translated. Do you know the children’s movie Chicken Run? (it has been a few years since it was released). In Chile it was translated as “Pollitos en fuga”, while in Spain its commercial name was “Evasión en la granja”, and when “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” was released, it arrived in Chile as “Eterno resplandor de una mente sin recuerdos”, while in Spain its translation was “¡Olvídate de mí!”, erasing all poetic traces of the original title ☹.

Finally, I leave you a video that summarises in a very entertaining way what we have been talking about in this article. Don’t despair and laugh at how challenging and diverse Spanish is sometimes! Enjoy it!

Remember that no matter what variant of Spanish you speak or are learning, there is no one Spanish that is better than another, as there are only differences within the same language, and they are all fine. If you travel or share with Spanish speakers of a different variant than yours, you will have fun and be significantly enriched by seeing the differences. In addition, the new iScribo considers a large part of these within its latest version of grammar correction. So, practice, learn and enjoy!

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