Peruvian Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish: What’s the Difference?

Two of the most commonly compared varieties when learning Spanish are Peruvian Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish. They’re both clear, widely understood, and great for learners — but they’re not identical. So… what’s the real difference? Let’s break it down 👇

¿Palta o aguacate?: Indigenous language influence

One of the key differences between Peruvian Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish lies in the indigenous languages that influenced them.

• Peruvian Spanish has a strong influence from Quechua, especially in vocabulary, intonation, and expressions related to daily life.
• Mexican Spanish is deeply influenced by Nahuatl, particularly in terms related to food, nature, and cultural concepts.

These influences are not “add-ons” — they are central to how Spanish is spoken in both countries.

📚 Comparative vocabulary: Quechua vs. Nahuatl influence

English	Peru 🇵🇪	Mexico 🇲🇽	Origin & explanation
Avocado	palta	aguacate	Palta comes from Quechua; aguacate from Nahuatl āhuacatl.
Popcorn	cancha	palomitas	Cancha (Quechua) refers to toasted corn; palomitas is a Spanish metaphor.
Chili pepper	ají	chile	Ají is Quechua; chile comes from Nahuatl chīlli.
Corn	choclo	elote	Choclo (Quechua); elote (Nahuatl elotl).
Sweet potato	camote	camote	From Nahuatl camotli; more frequent in Mexico but used in Peru.
Squash	zapallo	calabaza	Zapallo has Quechua roots; calabaza comes from Spanish/Arabic influence.
Turkey	pavo	guajolote	From Nahuatl cacahuatl; used in both, but Mexico preserves the indigenous pronunciation.
Cocoa	cacao	cacao	From Nahuatl cacahuatl; used in both, but Mexico preserves indigenous pronunciation.
Peanut	maní	cacahuate	Maní comes from Quechua; cacahuate from Nahuatl tlālcacahuatl.
Corn drink	chicha	atole	Chicha (Quechua) is central in Andean culture; atole comes from Nahuatl atolli.
Tamale	tamal	tamal	Nahuatl tamalli; culturally central in Mexico, now present also in Peru.
Grasshopper (food)	—	chapulín	Nahuatl chapōlin; no direct equivalent in Peruvian Spanish cuisine.
Small market	feria	tianguis	Tianguis comes from Nahuatl tianquiztli.
Backpack	mochila	morral	Morral comes from Nahuatl mōralli; mochila is Spanish/Arabic.
Child / kid	guagua	chamaco	Guagua is Quechua; chamaco has Nahuatl roots.

Many of these words coexist with standard Spanish terms, but their everyday use reflects:

• Indigenous worldviews
• Local food systems
• Cultural continuity

They are not “slang” or “incorrect Spanish” — they are evidence of living languages in contact.

Learning Spanish also means learning about the languages that shaped it.

At Llamacademy, Spanish is taught through culture, diversity, and real-life communication.

👉 Book your Spanish class here and start learning Spanish from a Peruvian perspective.