Guatemala vs Nicaragua
These two are close enough that people routinely draw one when they mean the other. Take the challenge first — the flags are further down the page.
The challenge
Practice
Draw the flag of
What actually differs
- Both flags use the same colours — blue and white — so the difference is in the shades and the shape.
- Guatemala is three vertical bands with a central emblem; Nicaragua is three horizontal bands with an emblem.
- Guatemala flies at 5:8 and Nicaragua at 3:5, so side by side one looks longer than the other.
- Even the shared colours are mixed differently: blue (#4997D0 against #0067C6).
How to keep them straight
Guatemala: Lock in the order — blue then white — starting at the flagpole. Say it out loud once and you will still have it tomorrow.
Nicaragua: Lock in the order — blue then white — from the top down. Say it out loud once and you will still have it tomorrow.
The drawing scorer is built for exactly this: if you swap the colours of Guatemala it will tell you which two you flipped, rather than just handing you a low number.
Questions
What is the difference between the Guatemala and Nicaragua flags?
Both flags use the same colours — blue and white — so the difference is in the shades and the shape. Guatemala is three vertical bands with a central emblem; Nicaragua is three horizontal bands with an emblem. Guatemala flies at 5:8 and Nicaragua at 3:5, so side by side one looks longer than the other. Even the shared colours are mixed differently: blue (#4997D0 against #0067C6).
Which is which?
Lock in the order — blue then white — starting at the flagpole. Say it out loud once and you will still have it tomorrow. And for the other one: lock in the order — blue then white — from the top down. Say it out loud once and you will still have it tomorrow.
Are the Guatemala and Nicaragua flags exactly the same?
No. They use the same colour names, but the shades and the proportions differ: Guatemala is 5:8 and Nicaragua is 3:5.
