Spanish is the official language of Chile — but Chileans speak it in a way that’s all their own, and it has a reputation as the trickiest Spanish to follow in all of Latin America. Don’t let that put you off: a few words go a long way here, and locals genuinely appreciate the effort. Here’s what to listen for, plus the slang that’ll make you grin.
Chileans are famous for speaking fast, dropping the “s” at the ends of words, and folding in a whole dictionary of homegrown slang (chilenismos). Even fluent Spanish speakers from elsewhere can find it a workout — so if you catch only every third word at first, you’re in good company. English is widely spoken in Santiago and the main tourist spots, and Chilean youth love to practice with visitors, but it’s always polite to ask rather than assume.
Spanish isn’t the whole story, either. Several Indigenous languages live on: Mapudungun, the language of the Mapuche people, is spoken in the south-central regions; Rapa Nui, a Polynesian tongue, is heard on Easter Island; and Aymara and Quechua survive in the northern altiplano. In hotels, restaurants and major sights you’ll find English spoken, and every one of our guides is English-speaking, with other languages available on request.
If you’d like to brush up before you fly, a free app like Duolingo, a “Spanish for Travelers” class, or a program like Rosetta Stone makes the basics easy. Start with these:
Half the fun of Chile is its slang. You won’t need all of it, but recognizing a few of these will make the locals light up — and help you crack the code of a conversation:
Ready to test your chilenismos on the locals? Browse our Chile tours — with English-speaking guides along for the ride, nothing gets lost in translation.
