Differences in vocabulary between Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Latin America

Hi there! Today I want to show you some differences in vocabulary between the Spanish language that is spoken in Spain and the Spanish language spoken in the Spanish-speaking countries in America.

By the way, please note that when we say 'American Spanish', we are referring to the Spanish dialects of America, which means that there are differences in vocabulary between those dialects as well.

American Spanish	Spanish from Spain	English
gancho	percha	hanger
platicar	charlar	chat
conmutador	centralita	switchboard
encendedor	mechero	lighter
papa	patata	potato
computadora	ordenador	computer
tomar (una cosa)	coger (una cosa) *	take (something)
florería	floristería	florist
fotocopiado	copistería	copy shop
estacionarse	aparcarse	park
mesero	camarero	waiter

* Be careful not to use it in America trying to say 'take a thing', because over there that verb has a completely different meaning (to have sexual relations). Although people would understand what you mean, that is the first meaning of that verb in America. Therefore, please say 'tomar' or 'agarrar' in America for 'take something'.

And if you want to see how confussing could it get (making an admirable effort =), please listen to the following song: Qué difícil es hablar en español! from Inténtelo Carito (thank you, it is a very nice song!)

¡Gracias y hasta pronto! :)

Volverán las oscuras golondrinas - Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

¡Hola golondrinas (a type of bird)! :) Today I want to share with you a very well-known and beautiful poem called Volverán las oscuras golondrinas, written by the famous poetist Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.

He was kind of famous during his life, but he really became an icon in Spanish Romantic poetry after he died. He was from Sevilla (Spain), in the southern part of Spain. He also did some painting, but the poems were the key of his success.

He died from tuberculosis when he was 34 years old. Before dying, he asked his friend Augusto Ferrán to publish his work. He had the feeling that he would be much more famous after dead. And he certainly was right. It was the painter Casado del Alisal who made it possible, after raising a fund and getting enough money to publish it and help his family.

You can find the full poem Volverán las oscuras golondrinas here.
And its translation is here.

Following you can watch a beautiful recitation of the poem:

And here you have a romantic ballad made with its lyrics. Thanks to its author!

Hope you enjoy this unvaluable piece of the Spanish poetry!

¡Hasta pronto!
(See you soon!)