### Vocabulary
| **Castilian** | **Latin American** | **English** |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------- |
| Albaricoque | Chabacano | Apricot |
| Aparcamiento | Estacionamiento | Parking Lot |
| Aparcar | Estacionar | To park |
| Armario | Clóset | Closet |
| Ascensor | Elevador | Elevator |
| Atasco | Embotellamiento | Traffic Jam |
| Bañador | Traje de baño | Bathing suit |
| Batata | Camote | Sweet Potato |
| Beicon | Tocino | Bacon |
| Billete | Boleto | Ticket |
| Bocadillo | | Sub (sandwich type) |
| Bolígrafo | Pluma | Pen |
| Bombilla | Foco | Light bulb |
| Bragas | Calzones | Women’s Underwear |
| Cacahuete | Maní | Peanut |
| Calcetín | Media | Sock |
| Calzoncillos | | Men’s Underwear |
| Camarero | Mesero | Server |
| Camarero | Mesero | Waiter |
| Camiseta | Polera | T-Shirt |
| Cera | Crayón | Crayon |
| Cerilla | Fósforo | Match |
| Chulo (adj) | | Cool |
| Coche | Carro | Car |
| Coger | Tomar | To take |
| Conducir | Manejar | To drive |
| Conductor | Chofer | Bus Driver |
| Crema de cacahuete | Mantequilla de maní | Peanut Butter |
| Criarse | Crecerse | To grow up |
| Crío | Chamaco | Kid |
| Cuarto de baño | Baño | Bathroom |
| Curro | Chamba | Job (Slang) |
| Dormitorio | Recámara | Bedroom |
| Echar de menos | Extrañar | To miss |
| Enfadarse | Enojarse | To get angry |
| Enfermar | Enfermarse | To get sick |
| Enseñar | Mostrar | To show |
| Fiambrera | Lonchera | Lunchbox |
| Fregadero | Lavaplatos | Kitchen Sink |
| Frigorífico | Refrigerador | Fridge |
| Gafas | Anteojos | Glasses |
| Grifo | Llave | Faucet |
| Guay (interjection) | Génial | Cool |
| Horno | Microonda | Microwave |
| Interruptor (de la luz) | Apagador | Light Switch |
| Jersey | Suéter | Sweater |
| La radio | El Radio | Radio |
| Lavabo | Lavamanos | Bathroom Sink |
| Lavabo | | Restroom |
| Maíz | Elote | Corn |
| Maletero | Cajuela | Trunk |
| Maquinilla (de afeitar) | Rastrillo / Rasuradora | Razor |
| Melocotón | Durazno | Peach |
| Móvil | Teléfono celular | Cellphone |
| Neumático | Llanta | Tire |
| Ordernador | Computadora | Computer |
| Pajita | Popote | Straw |
| Patata | Papa | Potato |
| Pedir prestado | Prestarse | To borrow |
| Pendiente | Arete | Earring |
| Pintalabios | Labial | Lipstick |
| Piscina | Alberca | Swimming Pool |
| Piso (apartamento) | Departamento | Apartment |
| Plátano | Banana | Banana |
| Pyjama (M) | Pyjama (F) | Pyjamas |
| Qué hay? | ¿Qué pasa? | What’s up? |
| Ratón | Mouse | Mouse |
| Refresco | Gaseosa | Soda |
| Ropa interior | | Underwear |
| Sándwich | Sándwich | Sandwich |
| Tarta | Pastel | Cake |
| Tío | Tipo | Dude |
| Tumbarse | Acostarse | To lie down |
| Vale | Está bien | Okay |
| Vaqueros | Jeans | Jeans |
| Zapatillas | Tenis | Sneakers |
| Zumo | Jugo | Juice |
| Encimera | | Kitchen Counter |
### Leísmo
- **Spain**:
- In some regions, particularly central Spain, **"le"** is used as a direct object pronoun for masculine singular nouns (known as "leísmo").
- **Example**: _Le vi ayer_ instead of _Lo vi ayer_ (I saw him yesterday)
- **Latin America**:
- Typically uses **"lo"** as the masculine direct object pronoun.
- **Example**: _Lo vi ayer_ (I saw him yesterday)
### Verbs
In Spain, especially central-northern varieties like Madrid, the pretérito perfecto compuesto (e.g., he ido, has visto) is used more often than in Latin America for past events within a still-open time frame or with present relevance. The pretérito indefinido (fui, viste) is still very much used for finished, closed periods and for narration.
- **Perfecto (he + participle)** → past within a time span that **includes “now”** or is felt as open / relevant to the present.
- _Hoy_ **_he visto_** _a Marta._
- _Esta semana_ **_he trabajado_** _mucho._
- _¿_**_Has comido_** _(ya)?_ (“Have you eaten yet?”)
- **Indefinido (pretérito simple)** → past in a **closed time frame** (no present connection) and for moving stories forward.
- _Ayer_ **_vi_** _a Marta._
- _El año pasado_ **_trabajé_** _en Sevilla._
- _Entró,_ **_miró_**_, y_ **_se fue_**_._ (narration)
- **Center–north (e.g., Madrid, Castilla):** strong preference for the **perfecto** in “today/this week/this year” contexts.
- **Andalucía, Canarias, parts of Extremadura:** the **indefinido** is used **more broadly**, often aligning with Latin-American patterns (e.g., _Hoy comí temprano_).
### **Minimal pairs (feel the contrast)**
- _Esta mañana_ **_he hablado_** _con mi jefa_ (still today / open).
vs. _Esta mañana_ **_hablé_** _con mi jefa_ (speaker treats it as a closed past block; more common outside center-north Spain).
- _Ya_ **_he terminado_** (result matters now).
vs. _Ya_ **_terminé_** (more neutral “finished,” typical in many American varieties).
### Prepositions
- **Spain**:
- Might use different prepositions or prepositional phrases in certain contexts.
- **Example**: _Pensar **en** alguien_ (To think about someone)
- **Latin America**:
- The same, but some regions might have variations.
- **Example**: _Pensar **de** alguien_ (less common)