Spanish in the world
One screen at a time — swipe, tap, or arrow keys.
The language that connects half a billion people.
Spanish is not one voice — it is a family of voices stretching from Europe to Africa to a whole American continent. Learning Spanish opens a door to half a billion people.
Where does Spanish come from?
Roman soldiers and merchants bring everyday Latin to the Iberian Peninsula.
Latin slowly turns into Castilian, a language born in northern Spain, around the kingdom of Castile.
King Alfonso X “the Wise” has history, law, and science written in Castilian. The language becomes official.
Spanish crosses the Atlantic with European voyages and meets dozens of Indigenous languages, which will enrich its vocabulary forever.
Modern Spanish is still a Romance language, close to French and Italian, but with its own music on every continent.
Spanish-speaking countries
Europe
The country of origin. Catalan, Galician, and Basque are also spoken depending on the region.
North America
The largest Spanish-speaking country by population, with accents that vary widely from north to south.
Central America
Small countries, warm dialects, strong cultural traditions.
Caribbean
Fast rhythm, musical vowels, and many local expressions — this is the starting zone for YoPratiqo's Travel section.
South America
Brazil is not Spanish-speaking — Portuguese is the language there. Worth keeping in mind on a map.
Africa
Spanish is an official language there, inherited from a later colonial history.
Why Spanish changes by country
Some countries say “tú,” others say “vos,” and others prefer “usted” to be polite. All of them mean “you.”
¿Cómo estás? · ¿Cómo está?
Caribbean Spanish sounds fast and musical. Spanish from Spain emphasizes the “s” and the “th.” Andean Spanish is slower and clearer.
A common word in one country can be unknown in another. For example, “guagua” means “bus” in the Dominican Republic and Cuba, but “baby” in Chile.
la guagua
In some countries, people switch to first names quickly. In others, “usted” stays the norm for a long time. A Pratiqo teacher can explain what's done where you're going.
Your first universal words
Tap the audio to hear the pronunciation.
These words work in every Spanish-speaking country. They are your entry ticket.
Hola
Hello / Hi
The most universal word. Works everywhere, from Mexico to Spain.
Gracias
Thank you
Por favor
Please
Sí / No
Yes / No
Buenos días
Good morning
Buenas tardes
Good afternoon
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
Universal greeting phrase.
Me llamo…
My name is…
Mucho gusto
Nice to meet you
Guided reading
A short A1 text so you can feel Spanish flow in your head.
Hola. Me llamo Ana. Hablo español. Vivo en Canadá, pero quiero viajar a la República Dominicana.
Quiero aprender palabras útiles para el hotel, el restaurante y la playa. Me gusta practicar con frases simples. No hablo perfecto, pero puedo decir: hola, gracias, por favor y no entiendo. Para viajar, quiero hablar un poco más cada día.
Useful words
Reading quiz
1 / 4
Three short questions to check what you just read.
What is the name of the person in the text?
Short culture quiz
Five short questions. No grade.
Question 1 / 5
How many countries have Spanish as an official language?
Universal flashcards
Demo · SM-2 review in the full program
Card 1 / 10
Hola
Tap the card to reveal the translation.
How did it go?
No pressure — flip the card first if you need to see the answer.
YoPratiqo Coach
Answer a short question and YoPratiqo Coach will suggest what to practice next.
YoPratiqo Coach helps you practice at your own pace. A real Pratiqo teacher helps you truly speak.
Find a teacherChoose your destination
Each country has its own rhythm and expressions. Start with the one that calls to you.
A1 travel · culture · local expressions · $24.99 CAD
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Bridge to a teacher
Practice with a Pratiqo Spanish teacher — local to you or native to the country you want to visit. You learn first with your companion, then talk with a real person.
