Uruguay Spanish is considered Latin American Spanish, not castellano, as Spain Spanish is called. However, there are some differences in pronunciation, and of course wording, due to a stronger Portuguese and Italian influence. The Spanish used in Uruguay is very similar to that used in Buenos Aires, Argentina because of their close proximity to one another.

Even with training and a decent knowledge of Spanish, you may find it a little difficult to understand the accent in Uruguay when you first arrive. What is the may difference? Well, the most prominent pronunciation difference from the Spanish spoken in Uruguay and Buenos Aires to that of the rest of Latin America is the pronunciation of the Spanish double L, “ll.” While many Latin American countries pronounce it more like a “y” sound, here in Uruguay is is said as “sh” and the same goes for the pronunciation of the letter “y” when it is used as a consonant.

For example the word for “I” which is “Yo” is pronounced “shoh” and the word “lluvia” which means rain, is said “shu-vee–uh” as opposed to “you-vee-uh” or “jew-vee-uh” in other Latin American countries.

Another prominent difference in the Spanish spoken in Uruguay is the used of the word for “you.” There are two ways to say “you” in Spanish, “tu” which is informal, used commonly with friends and family, and “usted” which is used the formal form, typically used with older people, professionals, and strangers. However, in Uruguay the “usted” form of the word is only used in VERY formal situations, and “tu” is almost never used. Instead, Uruguayans use the word “vos” for you, and “ustedes” for a group of “you.” The word “vos” comes from Castillian Spanish which, as pointed out at the beginning of this post, comes from Spain. (Although Uruguayans insist they use español, or Latin American Spanish.)

Whether you are just learning Spanish, or you already speak some form of Spanish, understanding Uruguayans just takes a little bit of time. They speak clear, and crisp, just with an accent that may be slightly different than what you are used to, and with words, such as “vos” that you are comfortable using yet. No worries though, Uruguayans are used to understanding Spanish from other countries and you will be able to get your point across even if you don’t follow their rules, or speak with their accent.

Remember, English is not as common in Uruguay as in other Latin American countries such as Panama and Costa Rica. There are however, more and more people studying the language that may be willing to help you out if you don’t speak any Spanish. But be pro-active and try to learn at least a little Spanish before you go. It shows respect and appreciation for their culture.

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