Spanish Accent Test

Our model achieves over 89% accuracy on native speakers, evaluated on a corpus of more than 50,000 voice samples. For non-native speakers accuracy remains high, though it may vary depending on proficiency level. The more natural and fluent the audio, the better the results.

The system currently identifies 13 regional varieties: Mexican, Argentine (Rioplatense), Colombian, Venezuelan, Chilean, Peruvian, Cuban, Castilian, Andalusian, Canarian, Catalan-accented, Basque-accented, and Galician-accented Spanish. We continue to expand the model with new varieties.

Yes, with consistent practice and phonetic guidance. The personalised feedback you receive after the test pinpoints exactly which phonetic features to work on — /s/ aspiration, /r/ pronunciation, intonation, and more. Many users report noticeable improvement within a few weeks of targeted practice.

Yes. The basic test — recording, accent identification, and match percentage — is completely free and requires no signup. The full phonetic report with analysis history, pronunciation exercises, and progress tracking is available on the Pro plan.

Absolutely. The test is especially useful for Spanish learners, as it identifies which regional variety influences your pronunciation most and which features of your native language filter through into your Spanish. It is a valuable tool for both language teachers and independent learners.

There is no truly neutral accent — every speaker has one. So-called "neutral Spanish" is an artificial standard created for broadcast media, inspired primarily by educated Mexican Spanish. What varies is the familiarity with which listeners perceive a given accent, not the phonetic neutrality of the speaker.

Linguists identify over 20 distinct regional varieties of Spanish across the 21 countries where it is spoken natively. The main groupings are Peninsular Spanish (Castilian, Andalusian, Canarian, and contact varieties such as Catalan, Basque, and Galician-accented Spanish) and Latin American Spanish (Mexican, Caribbean, Andean, Rioplatense, and Chilean, among others). Our test currently identifies 13 of the most widely spoken varieties. While linguists sometimes use the term dialect to describe these varieties, our test focuses specifically on the phonetic accent — how your Spanish sounds, not just the words you use.

The main differences between Spanish accents lie in four areas: consonants (whether /s/ is clear, aspirated or dropped; whether /θ/ is distinguished from /s/), vowels (how open or reduced they are), intonation (rising, falling or circumflex melody patterns), and vocabulary and grammar (voseo vs. tuteo, regional slang). For example, Castilian Spanish distinguishes /θ/ and /s/, while all Latin American accents merge them — one of the most recognisable differences between European and American Spanish.

For most learners, Mexican Spanish and Colombian (Bogotá) Spanish are considered the easiest to understand. Both feature clear /s/ sounds, well-defined vowels, and a moderate speaking pace. This is why both accents dominate Spanish-language media and dubbing. By contrast, Chilean and Caribbean accents — with their high speed, aspirated consonants and reduced syllables — are often rated as the hardest for non-native speakers to follow.

By number of speakers, the Mexican accent is the most common Spanish accent in the world — Mexico alone has over 130 million Spanish speakers, more than any other country. It is also the most globally recognised accent thanks to Mexico's dominance in Spanish-language television, film and music. In terms of geographic spread, however, Latin American Spanish as a whole accounts for roughly 90% of all native Spanish speakers worldwide.