History of the Spanish Language in Mexico

Wanna delve deeper into Hispanic cultures and discover their roots?

Latinos have an impressive and delicious mix.

Learn here the history of the Spanish language in Mexico that you didn’t know!

How Spanish came to Mexico

As in the rest of Latin American countries, the Spanish came to Mexico during the time of the conquest. It turns out that the conquistadors arrived on Mexican shores and found natives (Aztecs) with their ingrained customs and cultures.

This happened in the 16th century and, despite the repression and persecution of the natives, some managed to defend themselves and stay alive. Especially in Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec empire, which was also home to other Nahuatl-speaking cultures. Since they outnumbered the Spaniards, they exerted an important influence on the new language.

Mexican Spanish

Mexican Spanish isn´t a single variant of Spanish but several dialects that make up the language spoken in Mexico. Some are uneducated colloquial dialects mostly spoken in rural areas. As for the capital and other more educated or formal regions, neutral Spanish is a delight, widely used for dubbing programs with international projection.

Indeed, Mexican Spanish is the favorite of Latin audiences. It´s very difficult for Latin Spanish speakers to understand the Spanish dialect. Although it is the mother tongue, it has phrases, vocabularies, cultures, and even a sense of humor very different from Latinos.

While Mexicans are born with the spark of a cheerful, jocular, and romantic language. That´s why it´s much easier to understand by the rest of the Hispanic countries in Latin America.

It has features that differentiate it, for example, the speed is adequate for any foreigner to understand it. The words are pronounced in full, that is, without as many apocopes as in other Hispanic dialects. There are several reasons to choose Mexican Spanish as the main source of learning.

Where is Latin Spanish or Mexican Spanish from?

Mexican Spanish is known as Latin Spanish in the entertainment world. Better known as a neutral accent or neutral Spanish by Spanish speakers. This dialect originates from central Mexico.

Curious facts about Mexican Spanish

Native Speakers

• 129 million

Alphabet

• Latin / Spanish

Language family

• Romance language descended from Latin and Classical Spanish.

Status

• The official language in Mexico.

Regulatory entity

• Mexican Academy of Language.

Dialectal varieties

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Northern peninsular
• Western
• Abajeño
• Central
• Southern
• Coastal
• Chiapaneco
• Yucatecan

Differences between Mexican Spanish dialects

There are important and notable differences between Mexican Spanish dialects. Although it´s the same country, Mexican Spanish varies according to the region. Let us look at some of them.

• The southern border with Guatemala: A Spanish similar to Guatemalan is spoken, using voseo (vos).
• Northern border with Texas: Many Spaniards chose the Texan territory to live in after the independence of Mexico.
• Coastal areas and Gulf of Veracruz: A dialect with more Caribbean phonetic features.
• Yucatan Peninsula: It has a different intonation and includes Mayan words.

Phonetics of Mexican Spanish

The phonetics of Mexican Spanish have similarities with other languages and, of course, with other dialects of Spanish. However, some elements are unique and that´s due to the indigenous influence. As we said before, Nahuatl greatly influenced the language and its pronunciation.

Consonants

• Affricates
• Fricatives
• Stopped

Vowels

• a: open unrounded
• e: anterior medial unrounded
• i: anterior closed/unrounded closed
• o: posterior half-rounded
• u: posterior rounded closed rounded

Unstressed vowels

The reduction or elision of unstressed vowels in the last syllable of words. It usually occurs when the vowel is between two consonants, as we will see below.

s + vowel + s

• Transports

• Trasts

• Mess

Morphology of Mexican Spanish

The morphology of Mexican Spanish is characterized by the use of the expression tú (you) in the second person singular. As you know, this is the informal form of the pronoun. The formal form is usted (you).

The term vosotros (you) is rare, except for formal texts such as translations of the Christian bible and ceremonial acts. Some Spanish words from Spain are still present in the national anthem, such as “aprestad“.

Diminutive suffixes

Diminutive suffixes are used in adverbs, adjectives, and nouns. They denote semantic diminution of size or intensity, although they are also used affectionately. No matter the social group, the excessive use of diminutives is associated with poor education.

Some diminutive suffixes express affective ties, submission, courtesy, affection. While augmentative suffixes denote something is bigger or more powerful. Let’s see some examples to help you understand how to speak Mexican.

Words ending in vowels: ito (masculine) / ita (feminine)

Words ending in n: cito (masculine) / cita (feminine)

Names

• Juanito

• Carlitos

Augmentative suffixes ote (masculine) / ota (feminine)

Derogatory suffixes

Nicknames

Nicknames are very common in Mexican slang. Usually, the letter “s” is replaced by “ch”, making a sound similar to “ts”. This creates diminutives that may or may not be affectionate, but it´s custom in Spanish.

• Chela

• Chabela

Mexican Spanish words

There is no doubt that the indigenous cultures greatly influenced the Spanish in Mexico. It´s part of their history and roots that they refused to let die. Because Mexicans are patriotic and very traditional people.

You should know these Mexican Spanish words. Whether you want to spend your vacacionzotototas in Cancun or you want to study a language immersion course.

Indigenous words

• Chocolate

• Aguacate

• Guajolote

• Papalote

• Jitomate

Colloquial words

• Ahorita

• Bronca

• Camión

• Chichis

• Chingadera

• Cholo

• Güero

• Güey / wey

• ¡Órale!

• Pinche

• Valer madre

A stupid love story

Mexico is a country full of feelings and passions, joys and illusions, loves and heartbreaks. The history of the Spanish language in Mexico goes beyond being a stupid love story.

There is a lot of indigenous blood and suffering paving the way. However, the Mexican feeling is love, purity of heart, and strength of character.

That which they inherited from the caciques who lived in perfect harmony with nature. Those who played their flutes in honor of their ancestors.

That essence still exists and is present in Mexican Spanish. If you don’t wanna “valer madre” in Spanish, “échale ganas, güero“!

Mexican Spanish and What Makes it NOTORIOUS