Working with Language Variants

What Are Language Variants?

Language variants are regional or cultural versions of the same language. Examples include American vs British English, Brazilian vs European Portuguese, or Canadian vs French French.

English Variants

en - General English
en-us - American English
en-gb - British English
en-au - Australian English

French Variants

fr - General French
fr-fr - French French
fr-ca - Canadian French
fr-be - Belgian French

Spanish Variants

es - General Spanish
es-es - European Spanish
es-mx - Mexican Spanish
es-ar - Argentinian Spanish

Setting Up Language Variants

To master regional differences, activate multiple variants of the same language simultaneously. Flashician will help you learn the distinctions between them.

Example: Mastering American vs British English

Step 1: Add Language Pairs

en → your-language
en-us → your-language
en-gb → your-language

Step 2: Create Variant-Specific Vocabulary

apartment (en-us) → flat
flat (en-gb) → apartment
elevator (en-us) → lift
lift (en-gb) → elevator

Effective Variant Learning Strategy

✅ Best Practices

Activate all variants: Learn differences simultaneously
Use specific entries: Create separate cards for variant-specific words
Cross-reference: Include variant in the meaning
Be consistent: Always specify the variant when it matters

💡 Pro Tips

Start with one variant, add others gradually
Focus on words that actually differ between variants
Use variant codes in vocabulary meanings when helpful
Deactivate variants temporarily to focus on specific regions

Advanced Technique

Create "comparison cards" that explicitly teach differences: "apartment (US)" → "flat (UK)" and "flat (UK)" → "apartment (US)". This helps you master both directions of the regional difference.