Canarian Spanish — What's Different?
If you learned Spanish in school, you'll be surprised in the Canary Islands: The Español canario differs significantly from Castilian standard Spanish. For mainland Spaniards, it sounds "like South Americans" — and indeed, it has many similarities with the Spanish in Venezuela and Cuba (where hundreds of thousands of Canarians emigrated).
The Main Differences
- Seseo: The "c" before "e" and "i" and the "z" are not pronounced like "th" (as in Madrid) but as a normal "s". "Cerveza" thus doesn't sound like "therwetha" but "serwesa". Easier for Germans to understand!
- Aspirated "s": The "s" at the end of a syllable is swallowed or reduced to a breath. "Las Palmas" sounds like "Lah Palmah". "Vamos" becomes "Vamoh"
- Swallowed "d": The "d" between vowels often disappears. "Pescado" (fish) becomes "pescao", "helado" (ice cream) becomes "helao"
- Ustedes instead of Vosotros: Canarians use "ustedes" for "you all" instead of "vosotros" (as in Spain), like in Latin America. Grammatically simpler for learners
- Gofio in the vocabulary: Many words and expressions exist only in the Canary Islands — remnants of the Guanche vocabulary and Latin American influences
Typical Canarian Words
- Guagua (gwah-gwah) — Bus (in Spain: autobús). The most important Canarian word!
- Papa — Potato (in Spain: patata). From Quechua, imported via Latin America
- Mojo (mo-cho) — the famous sauce
- Chinijo — little child
- Perenquén — Gecko (the small lizards that sit on every house wall)
- Gofio — roasted flour (no Spanish equivalent)
- Fotingo — old, rickety car
- Baifo — young goat
💡 Tipp
Canarian Spanish is easier for German ears to understand than Castilian — the "Seseo" (no lisp) and the slower melody help. Dare to speak Spanish — Canarians appreciate every attempt and are patient conversational partners.
