Of all the many countries in the world where Spanish is spoken as the main language, Colombia is considered to be the place where you will hear the clearest spoken version of the language. What people are really referring to is the standard dialect which is spoken in the capital, Bogotá, and on the country’s TV. It’s renowned for being so clear because the accent is quite neutral, making it easy for anyone with a reasonable grasp of Spanish to understand.
To put this into a context that English speakers can easily relate to, you might compare it to the English of the BBC. Although regional accents have become more of a feature in recent years on UK screens, the speakers are still clearly intelligible to anyone who speaks the language, unlike some of the very broad accents which are to be found up and down the country and which natives from other areas, let alone foreigners, can struggle to understand at times.
However, Colombia also has a variety of different dialects – something that you will quickly appreciate if you travel beyond the capital. Regional accents can differ just as much as those in the UK do, and the use of idiomatic language which is contrary to the Spanish meaning can be confusing. For example, in the Medellín area “¿Qué más?” is prevalent as a way of saying “How are you?” that is quite different to the literal translation of “What else?”
If you’re interested in finding out more, you could search online for Colombian video clips and see if you can appreciate the famed clarity of their speech. If you want to learn Spanish or improve your existing skills, check out our services.