Why They Don't Speak Spanish in Chile

Nowadays, most people know that South America is home to the Spanish language. With the exception of Brazil, where Portuguese is the national language, Spanish is the main language spoken in almost all other countries. But is that really the case?

When travelling through the many Latin American countries, from Colombia and Ecuador to Peru and Argentina, you will quickly find this confirmed. Yet in Chile, many who until now believed they had mastered the Spanish language come up against resistance.

“Come again?” is what you often hear from non-Chileans who have great difficulty understanding the locals. The Chilean accent is thus frequently described not merely as an accent, but as a language in its own right: Chilean.

It is not only those who have learned Spanish as a foreign language who have to listen twice, three or even four times; even native Spanish speakers often see understanding Chileans as a real challenge. When it comes to the question of whether the language of the Chileans can still be called Spanish, opinions are frequently divided.

So what sets Spanish apart from Chilean Spanish? The locals in Chile have developed a special slang that varies from region to region.

The main characteristic of Chilean Spanish, however, is its speed. Chileans love to talk fast. As a result, they tend to swallow the odd word ending here and there. While they generally go about their daily lives as though they had all the time in the world - relaxed and without any rush - when you listen to Chileans you rather get the feeling that they are putting in a verbal sprint.

Another peculiarity is the addition of the sound “poh” after sentences. For many locals this is part of everyday speech and is considered typically Chilean. When asked about the meaning of “poh”, even Chileans usually cannot give a clear answer. It is simply part of the language - a little add-on that rounds off the sentence.

Curious why such a unique Spanish is spoken in Chile? Explore our trips to discover Chile's cultural quirks.

Just as often you will hear the word “wéon” in Chile, which translates as “guy” or “mate”. This depends very much on the context in which the expression is used, though. When Chileans greet a long-standing pal, they will happily call him “wéon”, which replaces the “amigo” of standard Spanish. Yet it is just as common to use this expression as an insult. That means when the neighbour is once again playing music too loudly late into the night so that no one else can sleep, he too will readily be branded a “wéon”. In that case the translation would be closer to “you idiot”. Working out exactly when “wéon” is an insult and when it is something good, however, is hard to say. Most of the time Chileans simply shrug their shoulders at this question and say mischievously: “You just feel it.”

On top of that, Chileans not infrequently bend the grammar rules when they speak. So “tu hablas” (English: you speak) quickly becomes “tu hablai”. The most common expression of this kind, though, is “¿Cachái?”, which translates roughly as “do you get it?” or “understand?”.

But that is not all. The locals also have a large repertoire of their own Spanish words that are used only in Chile - Chilean words, so to speak. Unless you learn these as vocabulary, their meaning is usually hard to guess even for native Spanish speakers.

So that you are well prepared for your trip to Chile, here is a short list of the absolute “must-know” terms in Chilean:

If you are now unsure whether your Spanish is good enough for travelling around Chile, some good news awaits you: all our Viventura trips are accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide. They will gladly help you translate menus, as well as with conversations with the locals. So when it comes to the challenge of understanding the locals, you are never on your own.

The Chileans, too, are usually patient and understanding, so they are happy to repeat what they have said slowly.

In the end, though, it must also be said that Chileans are not the only ones who speak a “different Spanish”. In many countries the locals have developed a special accent that deviates from the typical Spanish taught at school. There are particularly many such differences between the various countries of South America. Terms and their meanings often differ too. While in Spain, for example, a jacket is called a “chaqueta”, in Argentina it is happily referred to as a “campera” and in Mexico a “chamarra”. With all these differences in pronunciation and vocabulary, it is difficult to pin down one single true Spanish. Ultimately there is no right and wrong, and every kind of Spanish is special and correct.

So do not worry! Spanish speakers may need a little time to adjust in Chile, but you quickly get used to the Chilean accent and can chat and get to know the locals without any problem. At the end of the day, Spanish is indeed spoken in Chile - just differently.

Curious why such a unique Spanish is spoken in Chile? Explore our trips to discover Chile's cultural quirks.