Can you get by with standard Spanish in Spain where the Castilian form is generally used?

Absolutely. Even around Barcelona, where Catalan is the language, you will be understood and have no problems. Buena suerte.

I agree with Al. You'll have no problem. I majored in Spanish Literature and when I was living in Portugal, I would drive to Spain (primarily Sevilla) and I very much understood. The main thing I noticed was the strong "th" sound in lieu of the crisp "s" sounds you're probably used to. Sometimes one of my friend would "jest" me about it, but that's about it.

I guess there are not many Spanish people reading this forum. Castilian Spanish IS standard Spanish! <BR>

Spanish, in all its various deviating forms and accents, is generally understandable everywhere to all speakers. I would suggest that English is less so when you consider the weight of some accents in the U.K. and southern U.S. However, I would disagree that Castillian Spanish is standard these days. It is surely the purest form and beautiful to listen to but outside Spain, the closest form spoken would probably be Colombia. Even the Argentinian form, that they themselves call Castilian, is not that similar. The Castilian accent/pronounciation/form is now by far the minority (A shame I would note). Saludos

I'm assuming the original poster is from the US, and here Castilian is *not* "standard" Spanish. Yes, it makes sense for Europeans to learn Castilian, but not so for Americans. We learn the Spanish spoken in Mexico, Central America, and much of South America, and usually the emphasis is on the Mexican standard. The reasons for this should be obvious. Aside from the "th" vs. "s" sounds and regional vocabulary differences (not unlike American vs. British English, etc. of course), there are some differences in construction. For instance, most Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas do not use the vosotros form at all. Remember, most people who post here are North American, not European.

Hyalker, <BR> <BR>Many forms of Spanish I will agree are mutually understandable. But Caribbean Spanish my Spanish-speaking friends from Central America and South America tell me is an exception with a lot of sounds dropped.

Will the original poster please let us know what they meant by "Standard" Spanish - just to cool the argument a little. <BR> <BR>Usually, when people say "Espanol" they mean "Castellano". So if you menat "Castillian as opposed to Catalan or Gallego", then yes, "Castillian is standard Spanish". But in that case you shouldn't have said "Castillian Spanish" just "Castillian", because Gallego and Catalan aren't a "type of Spanish", they are different languages. <BR> <BR>But if by "Castillian Spanish" you meant "Espanol (or Castellano) precisely it is spoken in Castillia" - then it must be admitted that only a minority of Spanish speak like that. <BR> <BR>Or had you made a mistake (easily done) and meant to say "Catalan" NOT Castillian ? <BR> <BR>Anyway - everyone in Spain speaks Castellano, and they will have no trouble with any version of it (ie a Mexican-influenced Castillian as spoken by most US people. The biggest difference is actually speking "Castillian Castillian" to someone who is a "Mexican Castillian" speaker. Latin American Spanish uses a lot of common words from European Spanish as swear words, or just rude words (eg "Coger" means "Catch" in Spain, but is rather ruder in Mexican). So when I speak Spanish to Mexicans, they giggle a lot ! <BR> <BR>However, if you are going to Galicia, or Catalunya or Euskadi, then a little study of Gallego, Catala, or Euskera will pay dividends. The locals don't EXPECT non-Spaniards to speak their language (in fact, they are pretty amazed when an American or Brit speaks any Castellano !) but they will be gratified by your politeness if you can say a few words, even just Hello, Please and Thank You in the local language. (If you can learn Basque, thaen you are VERY clever indeed.) <BR> <BR>I once learned the Euskara word for beer - with the result that I never seemed to have to buy any. I would use it once and then I was a insantly a guest ("When we come to England, YOU pay, but here, WE pay"). <BR> <BR>Chris <BR>Sheffield

Correction, in CAPITALS : <BR> <BR>" But if by "Castillian Spanish" you meant "Espanol (or Castellano) precisely it is spoken in Castillia" - then it must be admitted that only a minority of Spanish SPEAKERS speak like that. " <BR> <BR>Oops

Just my 2 cents ... <BR> <BR>The vast majority of language schools for foreigners around the world aim to teach the language in its "purest" form. So, the German taught is "hoch Deutsch"(Hamburg?), the Italian is Rome's one, and Spanish is Castillian. one big exception is English, where there's a clear cut separation between U.S. and U.K. English. Another one may be Portuguese ... <BR> <BR>My wife, in her elementary and high schools, learned how her mother country language (Paraguay) is spoken in Castille (and practiced it recently . I wouldn't be surprised if that wouldn't also be the case in other Spanish speaking countries. <BR> <BR>I take it that Sjoerd was referring to Castillian as the standard Spanish taught to foreigners and not standard in the sense it's spoken by most in Spain nowadays. The same holds true with German and Italian: Hoch Deutsch and Roman Italian is not how the majority of people in Germany/Italy speak. <BR> <BR>Spanish in its "purest" form should be understood in ANY Spanish speaking country. In the converse sense, though, things may be not that easy ... <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>