 |
Learn Bolivian Spanish: A Spanish Course for Bolivia (Audiobook)
This is a guide to the nuances of Bolivian Spanish. It includes sections on Bolivian word usage, slang, food and drink, grammar rules, customs, and expressions. The audiobook also contains a brief overview of common Quechuan words, which are spoken in part of Bolivia. There is an overview of core Spanish words and phrases adapted where appropriate for Bolivian usage and language nuances. Of course, Bolivian Spanish is similar to Spanish spoken in other countries, but this introduction will help you pinpoint those words and phrases that will make you sound like a Bolivian local while offering a better understanding of culture and customs unique to Bolivia. This audio course is presented in 10 sessions of about 40 minutes each to divide the course into daily segments to make learning and review simple. |
An Overview of Bolivian Spanish
Native speakers: 11 million.
Bolivian Spanish refers to the Spanish language spoken in Bolivia by most of the population, either as a mother tongue or as a second language. Within the Spanish of Bolivia there are different regional varieties. In the border areas, Bolivia shares dialectal features with the neighboring countries.
Throughout Bolivia the preservation of phonemic contrast between /ʝ/ and the lateral /ʎ/ (i.e. the absence of yeísmo) is the norm. Aspiration of syllable-final /s/ is frequent in the lowlands, while in the highlands the sibilant /s/ tends to be preserved, realized either as a laminal or, frequently, an apical [s]. In highland dialects, the "trill" phoneme (orthographic ⟨rr⟩ or word-initial ⟨r⟩) is often assimilated, realized as a voiced apicoalveolar fricative, or alveolar approximant, which pronunciation is similar to the sound of ⟨r⟩ ([ɹ]) in English. In highland Bolivian Spanish there is "intense reduction" of unstressed vowels in contact with /s/, often resulting in syllables with /s/ as their nucleus, e.g. pues ("well,...") pronounced [ps].
The main varieties of Bolivian Spanish are as follows:
Andean Spanish
This dialect of Spanish is spoken in the central Andes, from western Venezuela, southern Colombia, with influence as far south as northern Chile and Northwestern Argentina, passing through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It is influenced principally by Castilian, Canarian and Andalusian Spanish, which is favored in the cities, but in rural areas and some cities, there is influence of Quechua, Aymara, and other indigenous languages.
Camba Spanish
This variety of Spanish is spoken on the Chaco-Beni plain and in the Santa Cruz valleys, a region that includes the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando. Spanish is spoken by almost the entire population of these regions, and—like Spanish throughout the Americas—has its basis in Andalusian Spanish and Canarian Spanish, but with influences of native languages such as Chiquitano, Chané and Guarani, as well as Old World languages including Portuguese and Arabic. And although it is fairly uniform across regions and social classes, there are subtle geographical differences.
This dialect is characterized by the debuccalization ("aspiration") of final /s/. For example, the word pues is pronounced [pweh]. For the second-person-singular pronoun and verb forms, the use of "voseo" is dominant. The use of diminutive ‑ingo and the augmentative ‑ango is unique to this dialect. For example: chiquitingo ("very small") and grandango ("very large").
Loanwords from Chiquitano or from an extinct variety close to Chiquitano include bi ‘genipa’, masi ‘squirrel’, peni ‘lizard’, peta ‘turtle, tortoise’, jachi ‘chicha leftover’, jichi ‘worm; jichi spirit’, among many others.
Chapaco Spanish
This dialect is spoken mainly in the valleys and the Gran Chaco of the department of Tarija, but also in the region of Villa Abecia and Camargo (in the department of Chuquisaca), in the province of Sud Chichas (capital Tupiza), and in the Chaco regions of Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz. The second-person-singular voseo is in full use in Tupiza, in the west of Tarija, and in the rest of the aforementioned areas. The Chapaco accent has an intonation similar to that of Jujuy, Salta, and Tucumán in Argentina, as the territory where it was spoken before was the Río de la Plata Province of Tarija. It has similar intonation throughout the Bolivian Chaco, Tupiza (Sud Chichas) and the Chuquisaca valleys of Camargo, Villa Abecia, Azurduy, Alcalá, etc.
Valluno Spanish
This variety is spoken in the departments of Cochabamba and Chuquisaca. It is somewhat similar to Andean Spanish but differs in intonation and the use of idiomatic expressions, due to the mixture of Spanish and Quechua spoken in the valleys of Bolivia.
Because many institutions and companies use "tú" and the "tuteante" verb forms for the familiar second-person singular, it is common to encounter the erroneous statement that "tuteo" rather than "voseo" is the usual form in the speech of Bolivia.
Source: Wikipedia
Bolivian Spanish refers to the Spanish language spoken in Bolivia by most of the population, either as a mother tongue or as a second language. Within the Spanish of Bolivia there are different regional varieties. In the border areas, Bolivia shares dialectal features with the neighboring countries.
Throughout Bolivia the preservation of phonemic contrast between /ʝ/ and the lateral /ʎ/ (i.e. the absence of yeísmo) is the norm. Aspiration of syllable-final /s/ is frequent in the lowlands, while in the highlands the sibilant /s/ tends to be preserved, realized either as a laminal or, frequently, an apical [s]. In highland dialects, the "trill" phoneme (orthographic ⟨rr⟩ or word-initial ⟨r⟩) is often assimilated, realized as a voiced apicoalveolar fricative, or alveolar approximant, which pronunciation is similar to the sound of ⟨r⟩ ([ɹ]) in English. In highland Bolivian Spanish there is "intense reduction" of unstressed vowels in contact with /s/, often resulting in syllables with /s/ as their nucleus, e.g. pues ("well,...") pronounced [ps].
The main varieties of Bolivian Spanish are as follows:
Andean Spanish
This dialect of Spanish is spoken in the central Andes, from western Venezuela, southern Colombia, with influence as far south as northern Chile and Northwestern Argentina, passing through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It is influenced principally by Castilian, Canarian and Andalusian Spanish, which is favored in the cities, but in rural areas and some cities, there is influence of Quechua, Aymara, and other indigenous languages.
Camba Spanish
This variety of Spanish is spoken on the Chaco-Beni plain and in the Santa Cruz valleys, a region that includes the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando. Spanish is spoken by almost the entire population of these regions, and—like Spanish throughout the Americas—has its basis in Andalusian Spanish and Canarian Spanish, but with influences of native languages such as Chiquitano, Chané and Guarani, as well as Old World languages including Portuguese and Arabic. And although it is fairly uniform across regions and social classes, there are subtle geographical differences.
This dialect is characterized by the debuccalization ("aspiration") of final /s/. For example, the word pues is pronounced [pweh]. For the second-person-singular pronoun and verb forms, the use of "voseo" is dominant. The use of diminutive ‑ingo and the augmentative ‑ango is unique to this dialect. For example: chiquitingo ("very small") and grandango ("very large").
Loanwords from Chiquitano or from an extinct variety close to Chiquitano include bi ‘genipa’, masi ‘squirrel’, peni ‘lizard’, peta ‘turtle, tortoise’, jachi ‘chicha leftover’, jichi ‘worm; jichi spirit’, among many others.
Chapaco Spanish
This dialect is spoken mainly in the valleys and the Gran Chaco of the department of Tarija, but also in the region of Villa Abecia and Camargo (in the department of Chuquisaca), in the province of Sud Chichas (capital Tupiza), and in the Chaco regions of Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz. The second-person-singular voseo is in full use in Tupiza, in the west of Tarija, and in the rest of the aforementioned areas. The Chapaco accent has an intonation similar to that of Jujuy, Salta, and Tucumán in Argentina, as the territory where it was spoken before was the Río de la Plata Province of Tarija. It has similar intonation throughout the Bolivian Chaco, Tupiza (Sud Chichas) and the Chuquisaca valleys of Camargo, Villa Abecia, Azurduy, Alcalá, etc.
Valluno Spanish
This variety is spoken in the departments of Cochabamba and Chuquisaca. It is somewhat similar to Andean Spanish but differs in intonation and the use of idiomatic expressions, due to the mixture of Spanish and Quechua spoken in the valleys of Bolivia.
Because many institutions and companies use "tú" and the "tuteante" verb forms for the familiar second-person singular, it is common to encounter the erroneous statement that "tuteo" rather than "voseo" is the usual form in the speech of Bolivia.
Source: Wikipedia
Bolivian Spanish Learning Books
 |
Bolivian Swear Words: Essential Bolivian Spanish and Quechua Phrases, Bolivian Slang Phrases You'll Need on Your Trip to Bolivia
Unlocking the colorful and quirky world of Bolivian Spanish, this book is a comprehensive guide to mastering Bolivian slang words, expressions, and phrases to enhance your language skills, connect with the locals, and embrace the vibrant culture of Bolivia. It contains a collection of Bolivian slang words and phrases, translated into English with explanations and cultural context. |
Bolivian Spanish Language Courses
|
1-on-1 Spanish tutoring at italki
One-on-one language tutoring at italki is hands down the most efficient way to reach language fluency. That's why it is the most popular platform today for learning a language online. You can practice conversational skills under different real-world scenarios with a native speaker tutor of your choice who provides you with undivided attention and customized lessons that cater to your learning needs and interests. Whether you’re at home, at the airport, or at your local park, you have complete access to learning Bolivian Spanish or any other language you want with a native speaker from any country of your choice. SPECIAL OFFER: Get $10 italki credits by joining via this link. |
|
Spanish Uncovered: The World’s First StoryLearning Spanish Home Study Course
This new, science-based language learning method was invented by polyglot language expert Olly Richards, who has authored more than a dozen best-selling language books available in bookstores around the world and on Amazon.com. This was the method he used to learn eight languages, and is the exact same method he has been using to help thousands of students learn Spanish. The course comes in both Castilian and Latin American versions, which means that it works for you whatever variety of Spanish you're learning. Find out more! |
|
Baselang's Real World 1-on-1 Spanish tutoring
This top-rated program offers UNLIMITED 1-on-1 Spanish tutoring where you can take as many online Spanish classes as you want, on a daily basis if you wish, with their professional teachers from all around Latin America for a monthly flat rate. Baselang's classes are specifically tailored to your level, from zero to advanced. Don't miss this amazing opportunity! |
|
Preply
Preply is a global online language learning platform designed to promote faster learning with one-on-one online tutors. It connects language tutors with millions of learners from all over the world. You can choose from thousands of Spanish teachers from any country of your choice available in the platform. Book a lesson with a private Spanish teacher today and start learning. Not entirely happy with your tutor? No worries, Preply offers free tutor replacement till you're 100% satisfied. |
|
Academia Latinoamericana in Sucre, Bolivia
The Academia Latinoamericana in Bolivia is located in the heart of Sucre, one of the most charming colonial towns in Latin America and makes an excellent destination to learn Spanish. It’s among the safest cities in Bolivia and thanks to its compact size easy to explore on foot. As a center for progressive and liberal thinking, in Sucre you get plenty of opportunities to practice your Spanish with the friendly locals. The town is full of little shops, local markets, restaurants and bars and it’s very easy to meet other students and travellers from anywhere in the world. |
Bolivian Spanish Learning Podcasts
|
Podcast on Bolivia by Lengalia
Listen to native speakers from Bolivia telling interesting facts about their country, culture and language in Bolivian Spanish accent. |
Bolivian Spanish Learning Blogs
|
28 Bolivian Slang Terms You Might Hear On The Streets of La Paz
An excellent blog article on Bolivian Spanish slang by Baselang. With Baselang's UNLIMITED 1-on-1 online Spanish tutoring you can take as many online Spanish classes as you want with their professional teachers for a monthly flat rate. Don't miss the opportunity! |
|
53 Essential Bolivian Spanish and Quechua Phrases
A great blog article on Bolivian Spanish slang by FluentU. |
|
1-on-1 Bolivian Spanish Lessons at italki
|
italki is the most flexible and affordable language learning platform that connects students with the most dedicated teachers around the world for 1-on-1 online language tutoring through video chat. At italki, you can choose an experienced Bolivian Spanish teacher for your personal tutor based on your goals and interests.
Here is a step-by-step instruction to find a native Bolivian Spanish teacher at italki:
Good luck and enjoy your lesson! |
 |
Home | About | Contact Us | Disclosure | Privacy Policy
This page contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosure page.
Copyright © 2024 LearnLatinAmericanSpanish.com
This page contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosure page.
Copyright © 2024 LearnLatinAmericanSpanish.com
