Spain vs. Mexico: 10 Words You’ll Get Wrong

Picture this: you’ve spent months perfecting your Spanish. You’ve mastered the verb conjugations, you know your subjunctive from your indicative, and you feel ready to conquer the Spanish-speaking world. You land in Mexico City, feeling confident. You walk up to a street food vendor and, wanting to sound like a local, you ask for a cold bottle of water to “coger.” The vendor stares at you, their friendly smile replaced by a look of utter shock.

What went wrong? You just fell into one of the most common traps for Spanish learners: assuming the Spanish you learned for Spain works exactly the same everywhere else. The Spanish language is a vast and vibrant tapestry woven across more than 20 countries, and nowhere is the difference more delightful and disorienting than between Spain and Mexico.

To save you from awkward silences, confused stares, or bursts of unintended laughter, we’ve compiled a list of 10 everyday words that have completely different meanings in Spain and Mexico.

So, Why Are They So Different Anyway?

Think of it like British and American English, but with centuries of extra separation and completely different local influences. When Spanish arrived in the Americas, it began its own evolutionary path. Mexican Spanish was heavily influenced by indigenous languages like Nahuatl, while Peninsular Spanish (from Spain) continued to evolve with influences from its European neighbors. The result? A shared language with some hilariously different vocabulary.

Let’s dive in.

1. Coche

In Spain, a coche is a… car. Simple. “Voy a aparcar el coche” means “I’m going to park the car.” It’s the most common word for an automobile.
In Mexico, a coche is a… baby stroller or pram. So if you say you’re going to drive your coche to the store, you might get some very strange looks.
What to say instead: In Mexico, use carro or auto for a car. In Spain, a baby stroller is a carrito de bebé.

2. Coger

This is arguably the most important word on this list. Getting this one wrong can shift a conversation from pleasant to deeply offensive in a split second.

In Spain, coger means… to take, to grab, or to catch. It’s used constantly and innocently. “Voy a coger el autobús” means “I’m going to take the bus.”
In Mexico (and much of Latin America), coger means… to have sex, in a very vulgar way. It’s a curse word. Using it in public will, at best, make you sound ignorant and, at worst, get you into serious trouble.
What to say instead: In Mexico, always use tomar (to take) or agarrar (to grab). Please, for the love of all that is good, do not use coger.

3. Torta

A classic food mix-up that could leave you with the wrong meal entirely.

In Spain, a torta is a… cake. Specifically, a round, flat cake, often of the sponge or sweet bread variety. “Una torta de cumpleaños” is a birthday cake.
In Mexico, a torta is a… a hearty sandwich served on a crusty bread roll called a bolillo. It’s a beloved staple, filled with anything from ham and cheese to slow-cooked pork.
What to say instead: If you want a sandwich in Spain, ask for a bocadillo. If you’re craving cake in Mexico, ask for a pastel.

4. Chaqueta

Another word that ventures into blush-worthy territory thanks to Mexican slang.

In Spain, a chaqueta is a… jacket or blazer. A perfectly normal piece of clothing. “Ponte la chaqueta, que hace frío” means “Put on your jacket, it’s cold.”
In Mexico, a chaqueta is… widely understood as crude slang for male masturbation. While it *can* technically mean jacket, no one really uses it that way.
What to say instead: The go-to word for a jacket in Mexico is chamarra. Stick to that one.

5. Piso

Talking about your living situation? Be careful with this word.

In Spain, a piso is an… apartment or flat. “Busco un piso de dos habitaciones” means “I’m looking for a two-bedroom apartment.”
In Mexico, a piso is the… floor or a building’s storey. “Se me cayó el teléfono al piso” means “I dropped my phone on the floor.”
What to say instead: In Mexico, an apartment is a departamento. In Spain, the floor is the suelo.

6. Patata vs. Papa

This is a classic Spain vs. The World difference. You’ll sound instantly foreign if you get it wrong.

In Spain, a potato is a… patata. The famous Spanish omelet is a “tortilla de patatas.”
In Mexico, a potato is a… papa. The rest of the Spanish-speaking world is with Mexico on this one.
What to say instead: This one’s easy. Say patata in Spain and papa everywhere else. (Yes, papa also means “pope”, but context will always save you!)

7. Zumo vs. Jugo

A simple vocabulary swap that marks you as a local or a foreigner.

In Spain, juice is… zumo, especially when it’s freshly squeezed from a fruit. “Un zumo de naranja, por favor.”
In Mexico, juice is… jugo. Always. If you ask for a zumo, they’ll know what you mean, but it sounds very formal and foreign.
What to say instead: Order zumo in Madrid and jugo in Guadalajara.

8. Ordenador vs. Computadora

The digital age has its own linguistic divide, largely influenced by France and the United States.

In Spain, a computer is an… ordenador. This comes from the French word ordinateur.
In Mexico, a computer is a… computadora. This clearly comes from the English word computer.
What to say instead: Use ordenador when you’re in Spain and computadora when you’re in Mexico.

9. Gafas vs. Lentes

Need to see clearly? Make sure you ask for the right thing.

In Spain, eyeglasses are… gafas. This also applies to sunglasses (gafas de sol).
In Mexico, eyeglasses are… lentes. This word is also used for camera lenses and contact lenses (lentes de contacto).
What to say instead: It’s gafas for Spain and lentes for Mexico.

10. Guapo / Guapa

Our final word is more about nuance than a completely different meaning, but it reveals a cultural distinction.

In Spain, guapo/a means… handsome or beautiful. It’s almost exclusively used to describe a person’s physical attractiveness.
In Mexico, guapo/a means… handsome or beautiful, but it can also mean brave, tough, or cocky. In a tense situation, “no te pongas guapo” is a warning that means “don’t get tough with me.”
How to use it: If someone calls you guapo or guapa in either country, it’s a compliment, so just say thank you! But be aware of the alternative, confrontational meaning in Mexico.

Embrace the Diversity

Navigating the nuances of regional Spanish is part of the adventure of learning the language. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes—they often lead to the most memorable travel stories. The key is to listen, be curious, and remember that a language is a living, breathing reflection of its culture. So next time you’re in Mexico, order a jugo with your torta, and leave the coger and chaquetas at home.