Time indications in Colombian Spanish
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When visiting Colombia or living there, you will have to adapt to the
Colombian conception op time, which — mildly speaking — is quite
different from what you may be used to. Understanding the specifics of
the vocabulary is a must.
A Spanish dictionary, which will pretty much help you from Mexico to Argentina will only confuse you in Colombia.
What in Spanish all over the world means “now”, in Colombia means “later”. What in Spanish means “right now” also means later. The only way to get things done “now” is by asking them done “already!”.
It’s basically like everything has already verbally been delayed, has moved a frame in time. The only way to say “right now” and to make sure you actually do mean right at that moment is by pronouncing it really strictly, maybe even repeating it.
It takes a while to get used to, especially if you’re already used to the Spanish you learned in an other country and tend to think Spanish is Spanish. Well, it’s not.
Colombia, in many fundamental ways, is Colombia. To help you out timewise, please use the little time-dictionary on the right.
