Colombian Spanish voice overs: What you need to know

Colombian Spanish refers to a rich group of dialects, spoken across Colombia. This Spanish variety is the official language of Colombia. An impressive number of 46.3 million people are native Colombian Spanish speakers and another 93,000 speak it as a second language.

Colombian Spanish is a member of the West Romance language group and is one of the 14 Spanish Language variations in South America.

While the majority of Colombian Spanish is spoken in the homeland of Colombia, the Colombian diaspora keeps this Spanish variant alive in other countries as well. There are notable Colombian Spanish speaking communities in The United States, Venezuela, Chile, and Spain.

Language History

Just like with other South American Varieties, Spanish was brought to Colombia during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. First Spanish settlers reached Colombian ground in 1500. After founding several important cities, the Spanish conquistadors established their presence on the new ground.

The Spanish language took root in colonial Colombia for several reasons. The first and most important was the intense immigration from Spain. Second, the Europeans brought diseases such as smallpox, to which local inhabitants had no immunity, thus killing indigenous peoples and, by proxy, their languages.

Pre-colonial Colombia had hundreds of local and indigenous languages, a part of them are still in use to this day. Around 100 languages by 89,000 people are still spoken in Colombia alongside Colombian Spanish.

Colombian Spanish vs. Other Spanish Varieties

Colombian variant of Spanish shares many similarities with other South American Spanish varieties. The common features of these dialects are the pronunciation of ‘x’ phoneme as ‘h’, the usage of the formal ‘usted’ in informal situations, as well as pronouncing ‘c’ and ‘z’ as ‘s’. 

However, Colombian Spanish has many unique qualities. One of the most noticeable phonological phenomena is vowel shifts.

While most Spanish dialects have 5 vowels, the Colombian Spanish vowel system has been altered by vowel reductions and vowel breaking and, therefore, might have many more vowels. The result? Colombian Spanish is considered the most phonologically unique Spanish variety.

Another unique Colombian Spanish feature is the form of diminutives. Instead of using the more common -ito and -ita diminutives to show affection (Juan – Juanito), Colombians use -ico and -ica instead (for example, a cat would be ‘gato’, a little kitty would bee ‘gatico’).

Accents and Voice Over Tips

Because of its vast territory and the number of speakers, Colombian Spanish has many regional varieties and dialects. Various linguists categorize Colombian dialects differently. However, most commonly, the regional varieties are grouped into 7 dialect areas: Paisa, Rolo (Bogotan), Cundiboyacense, Caribbean, Valluno, Pastuso, and Llanero.

The standard language that’s used in official matters, education, and media is based on the Bogotan dialect — a variety spoken in the capital city Bogotá. It’s considered to be a prestigious dialect of the educated.

When it comes to spoken Colombian Spanish, keep in mind that slang is incredibly often used in informal speech. If the format of the recording allows, use slang and local idioms to add Colombian authenticity to your speech. Also, make sure the dialect and accent you’re using are suitable for your target audience. Since Colombian Spanish has plenty of regional varieties, make sure you choose the right one.