Is it true that people in Panama speak Spanish really fast compared to other countries like Uruguay and Spain?

Question

I am going to Panama this summer. I have never been to a Spanish speaking country, and I do not speak Spanish that well myself. Somebody told me people in Panama speak Spanish really fast. I have had a Madridian and a Uruguayan professor, and that wasn't so bad, but I don't want it to get that much worse. Please answer only if you know.

Answer 1

It all depends.  I'm a fast speaker, but that doesn't mean that everyone in Panama is.  Don't shy away from visiting Panama because of that.

Answer 2

Our main problem is that we dropped letters, for example, instead of saying "esta bien" we say "ta bien".  Also we say "voy pa lla" instead of "voy para alla".

Just ask people to speak slower for you.

Don't be afraid, we are very nice people.  Don't miss the beaches!!

Answer 3

Ding, ding, ding....Fushia is the winner again!  Spanish for the newby can be very challenging especially if you have learned your Spanish in a clinical setting.  ie CD, DVD, audio tapes.  Panamanians not only drop letters they slur their words.  AND funniest of all the city people of Panama sometimes have a hard time understanding the country people of Panama because they talk so fast.  Then lets not forget the differences in word accents between the country folk and the city folk (ie....in the city: bo RO jo, in the country: bo ro JO) but it all good here because the people are used to tourist and will take time to help you understand with a little effort.

For other types of information on Panama see http://www.panamaexpertos.com/

Answer 4

No, Panamanians from Panama City (especially the more educated) speak much like those on tv shows you see on Univision tv or any other Spanish tv channel.  Those from the countryside, like everywhere else in North, South or Central America, will have more of an accent.

Go to any major city in Central or South America and the Spanish is similar (like English in the US)... go to the countryside and the language changes quickly with different accents.