Why does straw in Mexico means “popote” but in Argentina “pitillo”?
6 answers from our tutors
it’s the different dialects. but in colombia it’s also pitillo, so that’s the more commonly used word
You will find that with many words. In Uruguay we call it “pajita” for example. Each country has slight differences and the name of something can mean a totally different thing in another country.
Mexican Spanish has some words from nahuatl and indigenous language, popote es one of those. Actually, some nahuatl words have invaded other languages that's the case of avocado or chocolate.
Hello Danna. Spanish is a diverse language. There are more than 20 countries worldwide that acknowledge it as their official language. As a result, there are multiple versions of Spanish. For instance, in my native country the word "guagua" means "bus". However, that same word means baby in Chile. There are many other words and expressions that could have a different meaning depending on each Hispanic country. I have had the chance to talk to people from many Hispanic countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. In case you have further doubts, I could help you out.
- Teacher Daniela HidalgoSpanish Tutor - 12 years experience as a Teacher
Hi Danna well it's because every country has some words used in their own cultural appropriation, let me show other ways to say it in different countries: bombilla (Chile), paja, pajita (Argentina), pitillo (Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela), popote (México), sorbete (Ecuador), calimete (Rep.Dominicana), carrizo(Panamá). Hope this helps you
The difference in the terms for "straw" between Mexico ("popote") and Argentina ("pitillo") is due to regional variations in language and vocabulary. Spanish, like many languages, can have different words or expressions for the same thing in different countries or regions. These regional variations can be influenced by historical, cultural, or linguistic factors. You will also notice more differences. In Argentina, the common expression for "my leg hurts" is "me duele la gamba", while in other Spanish-speaking countries, the expression used for this is "me duele la pierna".
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