Common mistakes foreigners make when learning Colombian Spanish

Learning Colombian Spanish can be an exciting experience, but it also represents a challenge for many foreign students. Whether it's pronunciation, local vocabulary, or typical expressions, it's normal to make mistakes along the way.

In this article, we'll show you the most common mistakes foreigners make when learning Colombian Spanish and how you can avoid them to communicate more confidently and naturally.

In Colombia, especially in regions like the coast or Antioquia, there are characteristic sounds:

• The soft or almost silent "s" at the end of a word: "gracias" can sound like "graciah."

• The "ll" and "y" sound the same: "llave" and "ya" are pronounced as [ʝaβe] and [ʝa].

• Sound reduction in rapid speech:“¿Qué estás haciendo?” → “¿Qué 'tas haciendo?” [What are you doing?]

Common mistake: Trying to apply this pronunciation without understanding the cultural or regional context.

Tip: First learn to pronounce in a neutral and clear way, like in Bogotá, and then explore regional accents little by little. Listen to Colombian podcasts or TV series to get used to the regional accents.

In Colombia, pronoun usage varies. Although "tú" is very common, in many regions the use of "usted" is preferred even in informal contexts, such as with friends, older people, or strangers.

Example: “¿Usted qué va a hacer hoy?” - [What are you going to do today] one young person might say to another young person. 

Common mistake: Using "tú" in every situation, which can come across as impolite. 

Tip: Learn to identify when "usted" is used in Colombia. As a general rule, if you're unsure, start with "usted." You are used to show respect and closeness, not just formality.

Many students try to translate phrases literally, which results in incorrect expressions or expressions that aren't used in Colombian Spanish.

Common mistakes include:

❌ “Estoy embarazado” (I’m embarrassed) → means to be pregnant 😳.

❌ “Estoy caliente” → sounds sexual in Colombia. It's better to say “Tengo calor” (I'm hot) 🥵.

Tip: Learn colloquial expressions and common phrases in their correct context, and don't rely solely on the translator!

Colombian Spanish is full of unique idioms like "¿qué más?" (How are you?) or "¡de una!" (Sure, no problem!). Ignoring them can make it difficult to understand and connect with native speakers.

Examples:

“¡Qué nota!” = How cool!

“Estar embalado” = Not having money or being in trouble.

¡Qué pena! = I'm sorry, excuse me.

Common mistake: Not understanding informal conversations due to a lack of knowledge of local vocabulary.

Tip: Spend time learning typical Colombian phrases and listen to native content like podcasts or local series.

Helpful tip: Write down a new expression each week and use it in class or with friends.

The incorrect use of the preterite and imperfect tenses is another common mistake. Many students don't differentiate between completed actions (preterite) and habitual actions (imperfect).

Common mistake: Saying “cuando era niño fui al parque cada día” - (when I was a child I went to the park every day) (it should be:  "iba al parque".

Tip: Study practical examples and clear comparisons of these verb tenses.

There are words that sound or are spelled similarly in other languages ​​but have very different meanings in Spanish.

Example: “Embarazada” doesn't mean embarrassed, but rather pregnant.

Tip: Be wary of false friends and verify the meaning with reliable sources or your Spanish teacher.

Colombia has a wide variety of regional accents, and that can be confusing at first:

• In Bogotá, people speak more slowly.

• In Medellín, the accent is melodic.

• On the coast, people speak faster and more relaxed.

Helpful tip: Don't get frustrated if you don't understand everything at first. Active listening is key.

Many students limit themselves to theoretical study and miss the opportunity to practice with native speakers, which slows their progress.

Common mistake: Studying grammar but not speaking.

Tip: Take conversation classes, do language exchanges, or participate in activities with Colombian speakers.

Common mistake: staying silent for fear of misunderstanding.

Colombian advice: Speak without fear! Mistakes are part of the process.

In Colombia, people are very friendly and usually appreciate the effort foreigners make to speak the language.

Helpful tip: Make mistakes with pride. Every mistake brings you closer to speaking fluently.

Making mistakes is natural when learning a new language, but recognizing and correcting them will help you progress much faster. Colombian Spanish is rich, warm, and full of life… and you can speak it with confidence too!

Do you want to improve your Colombian Spanish and avoid these mistakes from the start?

At Spanish Learning Tips, we help you with practical, fun classes that are 100% focused on your goals.

Book your free class today and start speaking like a Colombian.