Lengua vs. Idioma

Question

So I looked through the Q&A's but the responses didn't satisfy me. Can these terms be used interchangeably?

nice pic - Rey_Mysterio, Feb 8, 2012

Thanks! - SunnyGeek, Feb 8, 2012

Love your avatar, too!! ;)) - territurtle, Feb 9, 2012

Thank you! - SunnyGeek, Feb 9, 2012

Answer 1

Idioma is the most commonly used word that I have seen when talking of languages

I believe that in practice they mean the same thing = language, but are they are used in slightly different ways. Lit: Idioma = language lengua = tongue

One of the few ocassions that I have seen lengua used is when speaking of a person's native language: lengua materna = mother tongue

I have just consulted my Oxford Spanish Dictionary which gives different words for language according to the context/use:

1 language (Speech, means of communication) lenguaje

ex adquisición del lenguaje = language aquisition

2 (style terminology) lenguaje ex Scientific language: Lenguaje científico

bad language = malas palabras

3 (particular tongue) idioma m lengua f

She's fluent in five languages = Habla cinco idiomas con fluidez

So it seems that all 3 words are used/ can be used to mean language but in a different way according to the context. I am not sure whether it can be said that they are truly ie: completely interchangeble. What is more important is to learn/know how to use them correctly as the natives do

I hope this helps

Way to post, Paul!! I think this should go into the FAQ as the definitive answer. - territurtle, Feb 9, 2012

Thanks Terri :) I am not a native though so I am not 100% sure of my explanations - FELIZ77, Feb 9, 2012

Answer 2

Yes, they are synonymous

Hey, Ace (or Max?), great to have you with us! I hope to see a lot more of you in the coming months!! :-> - territurtle, Feb 9, 2012

Answer 3

They may be interchangeable, but it is rare to hear someone use lengua when talking about a language. In the billions of 'language learning' conversations I've had with native Spanish speakers, I have never heard lengua used, but always idioma. Have you ever eaten tacos de idioma? Hmm, must not be completely interchangeable.....

Yes, I am exaggerating about the "billions" :~) - Jack-OBrien, Feb 8, 2012

In my mere millions of conversations of with natives, I frecuently hear lengua when used with the word , nativa. It is used more as dialect, albeit incorrectly. Maybe the people I know are weird??? I like ur answer tho... - Pinolero, Feb 8, 2012

Answer 4

Nunca vi un hombre mordedura su idioma.

lol :D - territurtle, Feb 9, 2012

Haha. So lengua would go better here. - SunnyGeek, Feb 9, 2012

Would it be vi "a" un hombre? - rabbitwho, Feb 9, 2012

Answer 5

Just to add to your confusion...there's also lenguaje, which looks a lot like language.

Answer 6

Yes ,they are synonymous,as Acermax responded. I prefer " idioma " for "language "and " lengua " for "tongue" for no other reason than that is how I learned it.

Answer 7

same thing

Answer 8

Hello, SunnyGeek,

Right now I have the same question as you did. Besides the above answers, I also found a thread. If you are still interested in this question, you may click the following link and pay attention to what Truebiz88 said(Answer #12):

idioma / lengua / lenguaje

Answer 9

I would say, from my little bit of exposure to Spanish (mostly American movies and cartoons dubbed over), idioma seems to be the most common way. In a cuban-american comedy show, I saw a grandfather (who couldn't speak any English on the show) indicate that he was disappointed in his grandson because the grandson didn't really know "su propio idioma." (The grandchildren were born and raised in the US and their Spanish was mixed with healthy amounts of Spanglish, much to the disappointment of the parents and grandparents).

In one movie I saw an elderly lady say, "¡Qué lenguaje!" for "Such language!" in response to overhearing someone do some really mild cussing.