Spanish and English cultures in Europe and the Americas have historically had close relations. Influences between the two naturally exist, and differences remain as the cultures proudly hold to their respective heritage.
Much of North America was colonized by the UK, laying the foundation for an English culture. The South and Central Americas were influenced by the Spanish who settled there. The most apparent difference is language. Spanish is one of the Romance Languages, and relies on gendered word forms, specific accents and unique sounds such as the trill. English is a Germanic language and is generally more basic than any of the romance languages. Loan words in English from Spanish are numerous, including, comrade, tornado, patio and cigar.
Life in Spain and Latin Americas revolves around the family structure. Businesses and social interactions are very often word of mouth and necessarily involve close friends and family. The Western world tends to promote more individualism. Over the last thirty years, the traditional family structure has become less important in the USA and UK.
The contrast in diet can be stark. America is the birthplace of notoriously unhealthy fast food, and the UK is known for fish and chips. By contrast, Spain and the Latin Americas have stuck more to an unprocessed diet, with many fresh natural ingredients in recipes like gazpacho or tacos.
Forms of entertainment emphasize different things. Time outdoors plying physical games, either at the playground or on the soccer field are emphasized. The US and UK have a higher number of citizens engaged in sedentary activities like watching television, video games or online. Much of the difference in activities has to do with the climates. Much of the Spanish cultures lie in warmer, tropical or Mediterranean regions. In the UK and USA, many areas are subject to long periods of cold and adverse weather.
The proximity between some Spanish and English cultures offers an interesting contrast for those citizens. Learning about your neighbors next door or in the next nation can be a great way to build bridges and expand a world view.
Spanish and English cultures are different but have very close relations. Differences and similarities exist between these cultures that can be of immense interest both personally and professionally. Check out our comparison info guide.
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