Canarian Spanish Phrasebook

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

Basic forms of politeness that make every encounter easier:

Cultural note: In the Canary Islands, acquaintances greet each other with two cheek kisses (starting on the right) — even men to women and women to each other. Men greet each other with a handshake. As a tourist, you'll usually be greeted with a handshake; if someone offers their cheek, just go along with it.

The most important expressions for gastronomy:

Ordering Canarian Specialties

• „Papas arrugadas con mojo, por favor" — Wrinkled potatoes with sauce, please
• „¿Tienen pescado fresco?" — Do you have fresh fish?
• „¿Cuál es el pescado del día?" — What is the fish of the day?
• „Un cortado, por favor" — A small coffee with a little milk (Canarian favorite order)
• „Barraquito, por favor" — The Canarian specialty coffee with Licor 43, condensed milk, frothed milk, cinnamon, and lemon peel — an experience!

Useful phrases for the market, shop, and supermarket:

At the Market

• „Un kilo de papas, por favor" — A kilo of potatoes, please
• „Medio kilo de queso" — Half a kilo of cheese
• „¿Es de aquí?" — Is this from here? (to identify local products)
• „¿Tiene mojo casero?" — Do you have homemade Mojo?

Useful expressions for navigation, transport, and orientation:

On the Bus (Guagua)

• „¿Va a [destination]?" — Does this bus go to...?
• „¿Dónde tengo que bajar?" — Where do I have to get off?
• „Avise, por favor" — Please let me know (when I have to get off)
• „¿Cuánto es el billete a...?" — How much is the ticket to...?

Phrases you hopefully never need — but should know:

Expressions that make your stay more pleasant:

Canarian Idioms

• „¡Ño!" — Expression of astonishment (Canarian equivalent to "Wow!" or "Man!")
• „¿Qué onda?" — "What's up?" (informal, especially among young people — Latin American influence)
• „Estoy agüita" — "I'm sad/depressed" (purely Canarian expression)
• „Irse de parrandas" — "Go partying" (from Parranda — the spontaneous street music session)
• „Más fresco que un perenquén" — "Bolder than a gecko" (about someone who is cheeky)
• „Enchumbarse" — "To get soaking wet" — particularly relevant when hiking through the trade wind clouds on the north side