Spanish
· EspañolSpain + LatAm (MX / AR / CO / CL) · 500M+ native speakers worldwide
Spanish is two markets in one trench coat: ES and LatAm. Treat them separately or you alienate both.
Code
es
Region
Spain + LatAm (MX / AR / CO / CL)
Shopify
Fastest-growing Shopify language by GMV in 2024
Why translate
- Spain (es-ES) and Mexico (es-MX) use different tone, payment methods and shipping expectations
- Cross-border DTC into LatAm rewards merchants who accept local copy + local prices
- AOV in Spanish-speaking markets jumps 35% when reviews are translated, not just product copy
Pitfalls
Vosotros vs. ustedes
'Vosotros' is Spain-only. LatAm uses 'ustedes'. A single glossary will not cover both.
Tone
Spain skews informal, Mexico more formal. Default 'usted' in MX premium, 'tú' in ES streetwear.
Vocabulary drift
'Coche' (ES) vs 'carro' (MX) vs 'auto' (AR). Locale glossaries are mandatory.
Glossary seed
| Source (EN) | Spanish | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cart | Carrito | Universal. |
| Checkout | Pagar / Finalizar compra | Shopify default: 'Pagar'. |
| Free shipping | Envío gratis | Universal. |
| T-shirt | Camiseta (ES) / Playera (MX) | Lock per locale. |
SEO tips
- Use es-ES and es-MX hreflang – never a single 'es'
- Run separate keyword research per locale – top queries diverge significantly
- Translate reviews via TM with locale flag – review SEO is huge in Spanish markets
Next playbook
Italian