In order to illustrate this point, we will focus on some basic and general vocabulary, in an attempt to offer a few examples of concepts expressed differently depending on the country or region, in both Spain and throughout Latin America. 

The word ‘bus’ is a clear example of the linguistic diversity found across the Spanish-speaking world.

Bus, examples:
Guagua: Cuba, Puerto Rico
Autobús: España (short distance)
Autocar: España and Bolivia (long distance) 
Colectivo: Argentina, Peru, and Colombia (short distance), Chile (shared taxi)

Micro: Bolivia and Chile (short distance), Argentina (long distance)
Bus: Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay (short distance)
Camión: Mexico (short distance)
Camioneta: Guatemala

Ómnibus: Paraguay, Uruguay

There are also other words to identify different kinds of buses and public transport in Latin America, such as buseta, flota and chiva (Colombia), góndola (Bolivia),  combi (Argentina), and pesero (Mexico) depending on the region, function, and the number of passengers.

Another interesting word we can use as an example of various translations is “pacifier”. While the most common translation is chupete, there are other translations for the word, like chupo and chupón in countries like Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Mexico and Puerto Rico -also mamila in Ecuador. 

“Pen” also has different translations in Spanish. While bolígrafo (for ballpoint pen) is widely understood, other words are used to identify it. 

Pen, examples:
Boli: España
Pluma: Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Argentina (fountain pen) 
Lapicero: Colombia (less common than esfero), Peru
Esfero: Colombia and Ecuador

A curious fact is that the word birome, originally used in Argentina and then extended to Uruguay and Paraguay, is a blend of Biro and Me, referring to the Hungarian inventors of the modern pen and both immigrants to Argentina, Ladislao José Biro and Juan Jorge Meyne.

A word with a wide variety of translations is “kite”, which is known most broadly as cometa, but also has many regional variations.

Kite, examples:
Papalote: Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica
Volantín: Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia and some parts of Spain
Cachirulo: Some parts of Spain
Cometa: Spain
Barrilete: Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Uruguay
Volador: Bolivia, Venezuela

A simple word like “glasses”, generally understood as anteojos, also has many variations across Latin America and Spain:

Glasses, examples:
Lentes: Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Venezuela (among others)
Gafas: Colombia, Spain
Espejuelos: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico

A blanket, known as a manta in Spain, is also identified in multiple other ways. 

Blanket, examples:
Cobija: Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá, Venezuela, Mexico
Frisa: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
Manta: Peru, Spain
Frazada: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Dominican Republic

Last but not least is the Spanish word for “beer”. The translation of the term as cerveza is widely understood. However, there are common slang, colloquial, and regional words used in everyday conversations.

Beer, examples:
Chela: Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, Honduras, Venezuela, and Colombia.
Birra: Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Birria: Honduras.
Pola: Colombia.

Also, other terms can be used, such as biela or pilsen (Chile), agria or amarga (Colombia), curda (Venezuela), among others.

These few terms that we mention as examples simply aim to spark our curiosity about the different ways in which people manage to externalize the intangible — values, emotions, thoughts, identities — translating the imperceptible into comprehensible forms through language.

Some of these words may already be falling out of use the very moment they reach the reader, or perhaps that has already happened. Language is in constant change because it serves as a means of expression for human beings who are themselves constantly changing. And that makes it something profoundly fascinating for those who have a deep appreciation of languages.

Sources:

The Diccionario de Americanismos of the Asociación de Academias de la Lengua  Española is a great resource for variations in the Spanish language; we also consulted www.speakinglatino.com for some of the words shown here, which has interesting compilations of regional words.