Planning a trip to Mexico or Peru? Learn 11 everyday Spanish words that change from one country to the other so you can sound more natural and avoid confusing conversations.

If you're learning Spanish, it's easy to assume the same vocabulary works everywhere. But travel from Mexico to Peru and you'll quickly discover that's not always true.

I learned that lesson the hard way. While ordering a veggie and fruit juice blend in Mexico, I used the Peruvian word for beet (betarraga) instead of the Mexican one (betabel). The waiter looked at me and confidently informed me that I didn't know how to speak Spanish. 🤦‍♀️

The good news? Once you know some of the most common vocabulary differences, conversations become much easier—and you'll sound much more like a native Spanish speaker.

Learning the right vocabulary is only one part of speaking confidently. Knowing how to retrieve those words in real conversations is just as important. That's exactly what we focus on in the Amidon Method.

Here are 11 everyday words that are different in Mexico and Peru.

Here are 11 everyday words that you'll hear in Mexico and Peru. While both countries speak Spanish, the vocabulary for common foods, places, and objects can be surprisingly different.

1. Avocado

aguacate (Mexico 🇲🇽) | palta (Peru 🇵🇪)

The Mexican word for avocado, aguacate, comes from the Nahuatl word āhuacatl. We, in turn, get avocado in English from this.

In Peru and many other South American countries, avocado is called palta.

Palta is what the Quechua people from the Andes called the avocado they got from Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America) via trade centuries before the Spanish conquistadors ever arrived.

In Mexico, you'll usually find the Hass avocado, well known for its bumpy skin and relatively firm flesh, which makes excellent guacamole.

But in Peru, the Fuerte avocado is larger, with smoother, thinner skin and buttery flesh. Peru also grows and exports the Hass variety, but many Peruvians still prefer the Fuerte avocado, or palta fuerte.

There are a lot of other varieties than just those two, though. Many avocado varieties trace their origins to ancient domesticated varieties found in what is now Oaxaca, Mexico.

If you're traveling through Latin America, try as many local avocado varieties as you can. It's a fun way to experience just how much regional agriculture and cuisine vary across the Spanish-speaking world.

2. Chili pepper

chile (Mexico 🇲🇽) |ají (Peru 🇵🇪)

As with the Mexican and Peruvian words for avocado, the words for chili pepper, or hot pepper, in Mexico and Peru were originally indigenous.

Chile is derived from the Nahuatl chīlli and ají from Quechua. These native languages have had an enormous influence on regional Spanish vocabulary, which is one reason you'll find so many differences across Latin America.

The pepper plant, genus Capsicum, originates from the Andes but was cultivated in Mexico some 6000 years ago. However, recent studies show that the chili pepper may have been independently cultivated in the Bolivian Andes, central Mexico, and the Amazon.

Peru has the most varieties of cultivated chili peppers, but Bolivia has the greatest variety of wild chili peppers. Be sure to pull out that trivia the next time you meet up with friends.

3. Drinking straw

popote (Mexico 🇲🇽) | sorbete (Peru 🇵🇪)

There are at least 11 different words for drinking straw across Latin America and the Caribbean. Fortunately, you only need to remember two if you're traveling between Mexico and Peru.

The word for straw in Mexico is popote. It comes from the Nahuatl word popotl, which means straw, as in the straw, dried wheat, you find on a farm.

In Peru, they call a straw sorbete. It can also be called a cañita, which means a little cane, like a sugarcane. But at least in my experience living in Lima, they tend to use sorbete more.

4. Beet

betabel (Mexico 🇲🇽) | betarraga (Peru 🇵🇪)

In Mexico, the word for beet is betabel. In Peru, it's betarraga. So now you know what country that gif above sharing the benefits of betabel is geared to.

Both words ultimately derive from the Latin name for the species, Beta vulgaris. Betabel is masculine, but betarraga is feminine.

This is the word that got me into trouble in Mexico. I ordered a fresh juice and asked for betarraga instead of betabel. The waiter looked at me like I had no idea what I was talking about.

When I explained that betarraga was what Peruvians say, he rolled his eyes. In the end, I did get what I wanted in my juice, at least. And I got a language lesson I'll always remember. It turned into a memorable reminder that Spanish isn't the same everywhere.

5. Bus stop

parade (Mexico 🇲🇽) |paradero (Peru 🇵🇪)

Fortunately, these two words, parada in Mexico and paradero in Peru, are similar, making them much easier to remember.

They both derive from the verb to stop, parar. Parada is feminine, and paradero is masculine.

6. Money

lana (Mexico 🇲🇽) | plata (Peru 🇵🇪)

Just as English speakers might say "bucks" instead of "dollars," both Mexicans and Peruvians have their own slang for money.

Mexicans say lana, which means wool. The history behind lana becoming slang for money is surprisingly complex and dates back to colonial times.

Peruvians say plata, which means silver. That has a much more straightforward history. Money in Peru used to be in the form of silver coins until 1863.

Of course, dinero is understood everywhere. But using regional slang is a fun way to use the vocabulary locals actually use.

7. Gas station

gasolinera (Mexico 🇲🇽) | grifo (Peru 🇵🇪)

This is one of those words that if you say the wrong word in one country, they won't know what you're talking about.

You just have to memorize that in Mexico, a gas station is a gasolinera. And in Peru, it's a grifo.

A grifo is a faucet or tap, so when in Peru, think of a gas station like a water faucet but with gasoline.

Don't use grifo in relation to gas for the car in Mexico. Grifo has a totally different meaning. It's slang for pothead.

Learning regional vocabulary is one step toward speaking more confidently. But confidence doesn't come from knowing more words alone.

It also comes from being able to retrieve them when you need them. Read more about why confidence in Spanish has less to do with vocabulary than you might think.

Fruit Vocabulary Can Be Especially Confusing

Fruits create some of the biggest misunderstandings because English and Spanish don't always match, and the Spanish words themselves can change from one country to another.

8. Lime

Limón (Mexico 🇲🇽) | Limón (Peru 🇵🇪)

This one isn't a difference between Mexico and Peru—but it catches almost every English speaker off guard.

In both countries, a lime is a limón, while a lemon is a lima. It's exactly the opposite of what many English speakers expect.

It has to do with a complicated history of citric fruits in the Americas. The words are actually interchanged in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Even native Spanish speakers can get tripped up when traveling from one country to another because the names of citrus fruits aren't consistent throughout Latin America.

9. Cake

Pastel (Mexico 🇲🇽) | Torta (Peru 🇵🇪)

A cake in Mexico is called a pastel. But in Peru, it's a torta.

In Mexico, you'll find pastel de tres leches is popular, as it is in most of Latin America and the Caribbean. The rosca is popular for Three Kings' Day celebrated on January 6.

If you ever visit Peru, don't leave without trying a dessert made with lúcuma. It's one of the country's most beloved fruits and has a sweet, almost maple-like flavor that you won't find in most other parts of the world.

10. Sandwich

Torta (Mexico 🇲🇽) | Sangüiche (Peru 🇵🇪)

Now we have to switch up how torta is used. In Mexico, a big sandwich with nice thick bread that's stuffed with meat and veggies in the middle is called a torta.

In Peru, the English word sandwich has been adapted into Spanish as sangüiche, with a spelling that reflects how it's pronounced.

Peruvian sandwiches are often served on large, crusty, French-style rolls and filled with roasted meats, cheese, and fresh vegetables.

11. High heels

Tacones (Mexico 🇲🇽) | Tacos (Peru 🇵🇪)

This is one of my favorite examples because it almost always surprises Spanish learners.

In Peru, you'll hear people talking about tacos. At first, you'll think they're talking about the tacos you eat in Mexico and the U.S.

Then you realize they're talking about shoes, not food. The full name in Spanish for high heels is zapatos de tacón alto.

Experiences like these are a good reminder that learning regional vocabulary isn't just about memorizing words. It's about communicating more naturally with the people around you.

Think of it like going to England but only using American words for things. While generally, people know what you're talking about, it's usually easier just to speak like a local so people understand exactly what you're trying to communicate.

Whether you're traveling, studying abroad, or chatting with friends from different countries, learning regional vocabulary can make your conversations smoother and much more enjoyable.

Of course, these 11 examples are only the beginning. Every Spanish-speaking country has its own expressions, slang, and everyday words that reflect its history and culture. That's one of the things that makes learning Spanish so rewarding.

Don't worry about memorizing every regional variation overnight. Focus on the country you're most interested in, and you'll naturally build your vocabulary as you continue learning.

If you're looking for personalized help building confidence in real conversations, learn how our customized Spanish coaching helps students practice the Spanish they actually want to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Mexicans and Peruvians understand each other's vocabulary?

Yes. While some words are completely different, context usually helps people understand one another. If there's confusion, they'll often ask for clarification or use a more universal word.

Which Spanish should I learn first?

Focus on the country where you plan to travel, live, or interact with native speakers most often. Once you're comfortable with one variety of Spanish, learning regional vocabulary becomes much easier.

Are these the only vocabulary differences between Mexico and Peru?

Not at all. These are just some of the most common everyday examples. Each country has hundreds of unique words, slang expressions, and regional phrases.