Take in the stunning landscapes of the tepuis or stand in awe of the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, Angel Falls. Encounter a city vibe with urban street art, infectious salsa beats, sip local coffee and enjoy freshly prepared arepas (cornmeal cakes). Your extraordinary experience in Venezuela can feed your sense of adventure as you trek through dense rainforest or explore underground caves, or you can simply sink into the relaxing golden sands of the beaches near Caribbean waters. However you experience Venezuela, you’re sure to fall in love with the culture, cuisine, and music, enjoying the company of warm, hospitable, and kind people. Your Spanish will serve you well, as most of the population of Venezuela will speak Spanish as their first or second language.
Even if you’re not practicing your Spanish in Venezuela, you may encounter Venezuelan Spanish in other parts of the world, including Colombia, Peru, the United States, and other areas of America and Europe.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Venezuelan Spanish unique, with pronunciation tips and a full list of phrases you can use in conversation—whether you’re traveling abroad or deepening the connections you have with family and friends!
Venezuelan Spanish has distinct elements, but it’s still easily recognizable by all Spanish speakers. If you’re looking to strengthen your Spanish knowledge, Rosetta Stone’s immersive, bite-sized lessons are the perfect place to start. Plus, you’ll be able to refine your pronunciation in every lesson with TruAccent!
Why is Spanish spoken in Venezuela?
Like much of Latin America, Spanish is an official language in Venezuela brought to the region by Spanish colonizers centuries ago. Expeditions led by Christopher Colombus reached the east coast of present-day Venezuela in 1498, when colonists began to exploit the country for its pearl oysters and other resources, enslaving and exploiting the indigenous populations.
Many of the colonists were from the South of Spain or the Canary Islands. This is the variant of Spanish that began to dominate government, education, and public life. The dialect of Spanish in Venezuela is quite similar to other Caribbean dialects due to this shared history.
How many people speak Spanish in Venezuela?
An estimated 27-31 million people in Venezuela speak Spanish as their first or second languages. This represents multiple regional styles including:
- Central Venezuela Spanish spoken in Caracas, the capital of the country
- Marabino Spanish in the northwestern part of the country and specifically Zulian
- Venezuelan Andes Spanish in the mountain range near the border with Colombia
- Llanero, spoken throughout the plains
- Guaro / Larense in Lara and other central-western states
- Margaritan on Isla Margarita and the northeast mainland
In addition to Spanish, over 50 indigenous languages are spoken, mainly in rural areas, and are recognized as official languages of the country. Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, and Wayuu are minority languages in Venezuela as well. Venezuelan sign language also thrives among the deaf community.
What does a Venezuelan Spanish accent sound like?
One might say that the Venezuelan accent shares a few characteristics with Caribbean Spanish, such as:
- omitting the d or s sounds at the end of words
- s at the end of words can be aspirated
- rhythmic-sounding speech
- using “Spanglish” (or words borrowed from/influenced by English words) occasionally
- the sounds ll and y are pronounced the same
- s and z are pronounced the same
- v and b are pronounced very softly, almost like a w
However, as you move further from the coast, you may find that the pace or speed of Venezuelan Spanish is slowed down and with more emphasis on articulation. R will remain a standard pronunciation, rolled or not, but it does not change to l like other Caribbean dialects. In addition, many of the features of Venezuelan Spanish are similar to Colombian Spanish, as the two countries share a history and a border.
If you’re hoping your comprehension of other Spanish dialects will help you understand and use Spanish in Venezuela, you’re right! Still, it’s a great idea to learn to tune your ear to the sounds of Venezuelan Spanish, as it can be challenging for learners until they grow accustomed to the accent. And when you master that, increase your speed and try Dominican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban Spanish!
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What are the differences between Venezuelan Spanish and Standard Latin American Spanish?
Most Venezuelan Spanish shares vocabulary and structure with other Latin American Spanish dialects, but there are a few distinct Venezuelan Spanish clues.
Subject pronouns
In much of the country, the use of tú as the informal singular “you” and usted as the formal singular “you” might mirror what you learned in a typical Spanish class, but there are multiple variations.
In the Andes near Colombia, only usted is used, even in informal contexts.
In Zulia, Falcón, and Trujillo, learners will encounter vos for the informal singular you. It can be used interchangeably with tú. Vos, a form that rarely shows up on conjugation charts intended for learners, but is used in other parts of Latin America, usually has its own verb endings.
In Venezuela, it might remind you of the vosotros form that is used in Spain. In Zulian Spanish some of these verb forms and endings mirror the vosotros forms of Peninsular Spanish, but vos is only used in the singular.
The plural “you” is always ustedes, as in all Latin American dialects.
Influence of other languages
In the 19th and 20th centuries, immigrants from Italy and Portugal left their mark, mainly perceived in the sing-song quality of Spanish in Venezuela. The languages of enslaved Africans and indigenous people also influenced this dialect, as vocabulary from each language found a permanent place in Venezuelan Spanish. In addition, many English speakers from the United States lived in Venezuela due to the petroleum industry, which led to some mispronounced English words being commonly used.
| Word and meaning | Origin |
| chévere (excellent, awesome) | Yoruba |
| el guayoyo (type of coffee) | Indigenous word |
| un budare (flat round griddle pan) | Cariban |
| un guachimán (a “watchman” – security guard) | American English |
| una arepa (corn cake) | Cariban |
| una caraota (black bean) | Indigenous word |
| unos macundales (luggage) | Inspired by an English brand |
Use of diminutives
Many varieties of Spanish use -ito and -ita at the end of a word to make the meaning smaller, cuter, more affectionate, or even derogatory, making it confusing for learners to catch the exact nuance and meaning of a word. These suffixes are used a great deal in Spanish in Venezuela, as well as -tico and -tica. Listen carefully, and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, as sometimes the use of these suffixes can change the meaning of a word entirely.
El chalequeo
In your culture do you make fun of, tease, or “roast” your friends? How close would you need to be to someone before you could attack them with a good-natured insult? Depending on your culture, you might answer this question differently, or even say that this couldn’t happen at all without someone’s feelings being hurt.
In Venezuela, el chalequeo (teasing) can be a typical part of friendships and family relationships, among those who have a sense of trust and confidence in each other. At its best, it would not be intended to truly offend or hurt feelings, rather, to increase a sense of closeness. Some say that as long as this teasing is mutual and well-tolerated, it can help people learn to set boundaries with humor instead of being easily offended.
Other perspectives exist and may be changing, however. There is easily a gray area between good-natured teasing between friends and what might be considered harassment, bullying, or discrimination. Schools are one area where it is important to differentiate between the type of interactions that bring people together with positive intentions, and negative interactions that could be categorized as mistreatment or disrespect of another’s dignity.
When in doubt, let native speakers lead the way with el chalequeo.
What words or phrases should I know if I’m traveling to Venezuela?
Get a head start on your study of Venezuelan Spanish with these useful phrases!
| Venezuelan Spanish | Meaning |
| ¡Échale pichón! | Give it your all! You can do it! |
| ¡Epa! (ey, oye) | Hey! (expressing surprise) |
| ¡Háblame el mío! / ¡Háblame la mía! | What’s up? (to a friend) |
| ¡Bájale dos! (or another number) | Calm down, lower your intensity |
| burda | a lot (muy/mucho) |
| de pana | for real, not a joke, seriously |
| de pinga | cool, excellent |
| de tal palo tal astilla | the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; offspring are similar to their parents |
| las cotúfas | popcorn |
| los corotos | random things, miscellaneous objects |
| pana | friend, buddy, mate, dude |
| Sí va. | OK, I agree. |
| sifrino / sifrina | snobby, arrogant |
| un bolo | a single unit of Venezuelan currency, like saying “a buck” |
| un bululú | a large crowd of people |
| un cambur | banana |
| un chamo / una chama | a young person, kid, “dude” |
| un jevo / una jeva | a boyfriend / girlfriend |
| un mamarracho | someone ridiculous, who acts like a clown or makes things of bad quality |
| un musiú | a person from europe; note the similarity to the french word monsieur (mr.) |
| un sapo | a gossip, a snitch (literally, a toad) |
| una bala fría | junk food / quick snack (literally, “cold bullet”) |
| una birra | a beer |
| una franela | a t-shirt |
| una nevera | a refrigerator |
>>Here’s 100+ basic Spanish phrases to add to your vocabulary!
Explore Spanish in every region with Rosetta Stone
As one of the most widely spoken languages, you’re destined to encounter Spanish no matter where you are in the world. Over 20 countries claim Spanish as their official language—from Venezuela to Argentina—and while each dialect is distinct, the fundamentals of Spanish are a must-know.
Rosetta Stone can help you by focusing your language learning journey on what matters most. As a Rosetta Stone learner, you’ll capitalize on early successes to boost your confidence fast. Our Dynamic Immersion method provides maximum exposure to a new language, through audio spoken by native speakers, written words, and real-world images. Everything is presented in your new language, providing a truly immersive experience. ¡Échale pichón! and get started today!
