Different Words
I recently had a conversation with a Cuban and she said the she likes "medias". She told me that that mean Socks in Cuba. if the word calcetines was used would she have understood. And if other countries use different words for something will they know what Im talking about if I use a different word but with the same meaning
3 Answers
From the Real Academia de la Lengua
(De media [calza]).
f. Prenda de punto, seda, nailon, etc., que cubre el pie y la pierna hasta la rodilla o más arriba.
f. Am. calcetín.
Media can refer both to a sock or a pair of stockings. But in Latin America calcetín is used exclusively to mean sock and never stocking.
It is also simular in the US. For example in some places "pop" and in others "soda" and still others "cola".
Also "pop" in one place is "lolly pop" in another and also "ice pop".
It is just something keep in mind that not everyone in every place talks the same. And when you don't understand ask and learn a new word. Also the expression on someones face usually indicates if they understood or not.
Many places use more than one word for something. In Costa Rica "medias" is the word I hear most but "calcetines" is also used and would be understood. It is more likely that you will hear new words than someone that has spoken Spanish all their life.
Because I travel in several different Spanish speaking countries, I notice different words for different items. In the cities they usually know what I am talking about even if I use a word from another Spanish-speaking country (like the many words used for a drinking straw). However, I noticed in some rural areas (and even in the city) they may not recognize what I am saying unless I use their local word. That's when you use descriptions of what you are talking about and then begin using 'their' word.
