Puerto rican in spanish: puerto rican – English-Spanish Dictionary

Puerto Rican Spanish: What Makes It Unique, Plus 14 Colorful Phrases

By Anna Maria
Last updated:

February 22, 2023

There’s the Spanish you learn from textbooks—and then there’s Puerto Rican Spanish, which talks fast, shortens some words and skips over letters.

Add the unique slang and vocabulary that shows up often in conversations, and you’ve got a fascinating whole new world of Spanish to absorb.

This guide will introduce you to Puerto Rican Spanish, from its sounds and characteristics to phrases that’ll help you blend in with the locals.

Contents

• A Brief Look at How Puerto Rican Spanish Evolved
• Key Characteristics of Puerto Rican Spanish
• Common Puerto Rican Spanish Phrases
• • 1. A fuego
  • 2. Chacho
  • 3. La piña está agria
  • 4. Mijo/a
  • 5. ¡No me molestes!
  • 6. Mira
  • 7. ¡Wepa!
  • 8. Nítido
  • 9. Chavos
  • 10. ¡Se lució el chayote!
  • 11. ¡Coño!
  • 12. Voy a caballo y vengo a pie.
  • 13. Guagua
  • 14. Irse pa’ la isla
• How to Practice Puerto Rican Spanish

Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)

A Brief Look at How Puerto Rican Spanish Evolved

This most-populated U.S. territory (acquired from Spain in 1898) is rich in culture and especially language. Español puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Spanish) has evolved as a result of the island’s history.

After Spaniards colonized the island, Spanish words and phrases melded with those of the native Taíno people already living there.

Puerto Ricans refer to themselves as boricuas. Working as both a noun and adjective, boricua simply means “Puerto Rican” and is more widely used than puertorriqueño, which has the same meaning. The word is derived from the name the native Taínos called the island—Borinquén.

Key Characteristics of Puerto Rican Spanish

With so many Spanish-speaking countries around, each country is going to have its own unique phrases and mannerisms—and Puerto Rican Spanish is no different. For example, it can take some getting used to for a lot of Spanish learners because some consonants are softened or removed!

Here’s what you should know about Puerto Rican Spanish:

• R sometimes turns into L if it’s before a consonant and not at the start of a word:

cierto → cielto

cuerpo → cuelpo

• In some areas, RR isn’t rolled and is instead pronounced like H: 

arriba → ahiba

correcto → cohecto

• S is often silent or pronounced as H if it’s at the end of the word or if it’s right before a consonant (but not at the start of the word):

gracias → graciah

listo → lihto

• D becomes silent if it’s between vowels:

rápido → rapi’o

demasiado → demasia’o

• D at the end of a word is also removed a lot:

ciudad → ciuda

realidad → realida

• Common words often get shortened in casual speech:

para → pa

estas → ta

You can listen to the sounds of Puerto Rico by watching this video from Speak Spanish Faster, which quickly shows you how different the dialect is from European Spanish and other Latin American varieties:

Some of the characteristics listed above appear in other Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Aside from the sounds of the language, you’ll also need to get to know some popular slang to start speaking Puerto Rican Spanish!

Common Puerto Rican Spanish Phrases

1.

A fuego

This phrase literally means “on fire,” but everyone—from toddlers to the elderly—uses the expression to say something is really pleasing or that someone is very attractive.

Ese hombre? ¡A fuego! (That guy? He’s on fire!)

2.

Chacho

An abbreviated version of muchacho (boy or young man) that means “Oh, boy!” If something is startling, surprising or just somehow unexpected, you’ll hear “¡Chacho!”

It’s also an expression that bridges thoughts, sort of like a stalling tactic. Asking a pregunta (question) that isn’t easily answered? Expect “Chacho” as the reply is mulled over.

3.

La piña está agria

“The pineapple is sour”—one of my favorite phrases because it’s just so totally boricua. It’s a Puerto Rican way to say “times are tough.”

This expression is widely used by shopkeepers, waitresses and even hotel clerks to indicate business could be better.

In a cab, headed from your hotel to El Morro? Chatting with the driver, laying down Spanish like a boss as he negotiates the narrow streets? Well, if you inquire about the tourist trade or even life in general, you may hear a sigh, then a muttered, “La piña está agria…”

And if you think that’s his way of saying you could be generous with the tip, you’re right!

4.

Mijo/a

These are slangy contractions for mi hijo or mi hija (my son or my daughter).

However, it’s actually a way of indicating relationship status among acquaintances.

Sound a tad confusing? It’s really not that complicated. Puerto Ricans are friendly and hospitable so it’s not unheard of for a casual acquaintance to bestow this implied closeness.

It’s kind of like pulling you into la familia (the family). So if someone refers to you as mijo or mija, feel complimented.

However, note that sometimes shopkeepers will “adopt” buyers with this little compliment to sell merchandise. Hold up a pretty scarf and ask, “¿Cuánto cuesta este?” (How much does this cost?) The reply could very well be, “Mija, para ti, es muy barato.” (Mija, for you, it’s very cheap.)

5.

¡No me molestes!

This is a phrase you don’t want to hear too often! When there’s an altercation brewing, locals say “¡No me molestes!” which means “Don’t make me angry!”

Pay attention to this one. It could be your warning to clear out of the area! Time to check out a different club, perhaps?

6.

Mira

This word literally means “look” but is used to say “hey” if you want to get someone’s attention.

It’s often paired with Mami—which in this case doesn’t mean mother. Mami is used as an all-purpose way of getting a woman’s attention.

If you’re an attractive female who catches some guy’s eye, don’t be surprised to hear, “Mira, Mami… ¿Quieres bailar?” (Hey, Mami… want to dance?)

7.

¡Wepa!

Another of my favorite Puerto Rican expressions, this is definitely a slang term that has no literal anchor.

Loose translations would be “Yay!” “ Great job!” or “Congrats!”

The two syllables can be drawn out so the tiny word seems bigger. It’s just a fun, all-around happy phrase.

Feel free to use it a lot. Everyone else does!

8.

Nítido

This just means “cool.” So if you like something, “Está nítido“ (It’s cool) works fine.

9.

Chavos

This is a slang expression for cash. If you’re going to grab some tostones (fried plantains) and cerveza (beer), put some chavos in your pocket.

This word actually comes from the colonial old Spanish—ochavo—a contraction that means “one eighth.” It’s a reference to the “pieces of eight” carried by the Spanish settlers.

10.

¡Se lució el chayote!

This may be the funniest translation on the street, although it’s a bit of a head-scratcher.

It’s a huge leap from una verdura (a vegetable) to bad behavior, but that’s the gist of it.

Chayote is a squash, so this is a way to say someone is acting/appearing like a chayote—but it means they’re being a jerk. I suppose there are worse things to be than a garden squash but in Puerto Rico, this is a mild insult.

Someone showing off just for the heck of it might earn this remark. It’s not a nice thing to say, but definitely not that awful—just a disparaging comment that has a million applications.

Did a loudmouth cut the line at a popular dance club? Expect to hear a chorus of “¡Se lució el chayote!“

11.

¡Coño!

This expression is widespread in Spanish-speaking countries globally, and it’s used quite freely in Puerto Rico, too.

Basically, it means, “Damn it!”

If you stumble on one of the beautiful cobblestone streets, ¡Coño! is the expression to use.

When the waitress reports the kitchen is out of mofongo, ¡Coño! applies here, too.

You’ll hear it everywhere, so it’s best to know what it means! Who knows? Maybe you’ll use it a few times, too.

Just be careful when using this word outside Puerto Rico, as it has a much more vulgar meaning in other Spanish-speaking countries!

12.

Voy a caballo y vengo a pie.

“I go in on a horse and return on foot.” Colorful, don’t you think?

This expression can be heard frequently in gaming areas of the many casinos in San Juan, meaning that someone lost all their money. It can also apply to almost any venture where someone doesn’t profit.

So if you’re going gambling, make sure you don’t lose all your chavos (money) and return without your caballo (horse)!

13.

Guagua

Guagua is a slang term for the many buses that run through San Juan, Old San Juan and the surrounding communities. They’re convenient because there are a lot of blocks to cover and the temperatures can be high, but don’t count on the guaguas to run on schedule. They arrive when they arrive, without apology or explanation.

14.

Irse pa’ la isla

To go to the country—to see the island beyond San Juan.

This is a very useful addition to your Spanish vocabulary if you plan to go exploring the quaint towns and beautiful playas (beaches) outside the city limits.

How to Practice Puerto Rican Spanish

Puerto Rican Spanish can be romantic, soft and lilting, with nuances that deepen meanings beyond the ordinary. It’s a musical experience all its own, the result of the outside influences that mixed so sweetly with the indigenous language.

In short, this enchanted island doesn’t speak Spanish the way the rest of the globe does. Visiting gives travelers a chance to enjoy a distinctive language experience.

One way to practice listening to Puerto Rican Spanish is through interviews, vlogs and other online videos. For example, here’s an interview with Ozuna, a famous Puerto Rican singer:

Another famous Puerto Rican singer would be Pedro Capo. Notice how he says graciah instead of gracias:

You can also search for some authentic Puerto Rican videos with interactive subtitles and other learner-friendly tools on the FluentU program:

Puerto Rican music videos in particular might be helpful. You can also take a quiz after each clip to see how much of the language you understood.

Familiarize yourself with the sounds of Puerto Rico while learning the handy phrases above, and you’ll be able to connect with locals as you enjoy the warm winds and sandy beaches of the island!

¡Wepa! (Great job!)

Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)

« Mexican Slang: 50 Spanish Words and Expressions to Sound Like a Local

9 Ways to Say Sorry in Spanish That Aren’t Just “Lo Siento” »

English Only? For Mainland Puerto Ricans, The Answer Is Often ‘Yes’ : Code Switch : NPR

Shereen Marisol Meraji/NPR

Shereen Marisol Meraji/NPR

Javier Fossas asked me, “Do you speak Spanish?”

It’s complicated. I do, but I’m really insecure about my Spanish.

I grew up in California in a Puerto Rican family where English was the dominant language. Adults used Spanish mostly to share secrets or express frustration. So I hate the Spanish question.

But it turns out my penchant for English isn’t unique for a mainland Puerto Rican, according to a survey of American Latinos by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. Given a choice between answering a gamut of questions about their lives in Spanish or in English, 78 percent of the Puerto Rican respondents chose English, significantly more than any other Latino group. According to the poll, only 20 percent of Puerto Ricans speak Spanish at home, less than half the percentage for respondents overall. (The poll didn’t include respondents in Puerto Rico, only Puerto Rican respondents living on the U.S. mainland.)

I have to admit, the finding helped me exhale. So I’m not the only one. But it also made me wonder why it was so. So I went to New York City, which is still home to the largest Puerto Rican population in the U.S., and asked around.

Puerto Ricans Are Americans

Javier Fossas was the first person I turned to for answers. We met at his favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, Sofritos in Manhattan. He ordered the pernil (roast pork) and I ordered bistec encebollado (steak with onions) and we talked about Spanish, in English.

Fossas, who was raised in Puerto Rico, is in his 20s and works for a private equity firm in Manhattan. He told me that in Puerto Rico, his family spoke Spanish at home, period. But he says he watched American TV shows, was taught English in school, and his father had a subscription to an English-language newspaper. So English was a big part of his life, too.

Both English and Spanish are the official languages in Puerto Rico because it’s a U.S. territory. Puerto Ricans living on the island have a complicated relationship with the United States. They’re proud to be Puerto Rican but also proud to be American citizens. They want to be acknowledged as Puerto Rican and American, equally, and language plays its role. Everyone is taught English in school there, but Spanish still reigns supreme, something Fossas is proud of.

“Spanish is a great language and a beautiful language and something that should be taught,” he said. And that’s when he asked the dreaded question: “Do you speak Spanish?”

Do You Speak Spanish?

This time, I’ll let Marissa Irizarry answer the question. “OK, I don’t speak Spanish, but I understand it fully,” she says.

I met Irizarry in a Puerto Rican music and folklore class at Brooklyn College — a long train ride away from that restaurant in Manhattan. She’s a Puerto Rican and Latino Studies major. She sat in the front row of the class, raising her hand often with the right answers to questions about Puerto Rican music and history. Irizarry grew up in Brooklyn.

“I was raised in a home with a father who was back and forth between Puerto Rico and New York City, so he was able to find ways to hold on to the culture and I kind of did too,” she says.

With one big exception — Spanish.

Irizarry’s professor, Antonio Nadal, serenades her class with an old Puerto Rican bolero called “La Despedida.” “La Despedida,” he says, writing the title up on the blackboard. “Translation?” he asks the class.

A shaky voice from the back nervously offers up the answer: “Farewell?”

The Farewell

Many Puerto Ricans said farewell to the island in the late ’40s and early ’50s, escaping poverty. Nadal, who teaches in Brooklyn College’s Puerto Rican and Latino Studies department, says that’s also why so many Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. speak English at home.

“We’ve been here a long time,” he says. “Length of residence does count.”

He adds that the New York public schools were unprepared for the wave of Puerto Rican youth — like him — who came in the late ’40s and early ’50s. He says kids were dumped in remedial classes, “in the dingiest places in the building. And they picked up that they were inferior to English-speaking kids, right? And many Puerto Rican kids went through that. “

That feeling of inferiority was a slap in the face to Puerto Ricans, who, after all, are American citizens, says Nadal. So to be treated like any other American, he theorizes, Puerto Ricans focused on English — often at the expense of Spanish.

Twenty-seven-year-old Gisely Colon Lopez is another one of Nadal’s students. She came to the Bronx from Puerto Rico when she was 4. That’s when her family stopped speaking Spanish at home. “My mother was trying to learn English on her own,” Colon Lopez says. “She just wanted to hear English. ‘Just speak to me in English, so I can learn it while you’re learning it.’ The mentality is, if you’re speaking English, you’re better.”

Times Have Changed

As the Latino population continues to grow here in the U.S., being bilingual is now seen as an asset, especially when it comes to job options. And Puerto Ricans in New York like Colon Lopez and Irizarry are struggling to catch up. Colon Lopez says she told her parents: That’s it, my turn, Spanish from now on.

“The other day we were driving in the car with my dad and I was talking to them in Spanish. I was like, ‘Please correct me as often as possible,’ and every other second they were correcting things for me,” she says, laughing.

But classmate Irizarry isn’t as upbeat. “I’m 20 years into it and I have low self-esteem about it, that I’m ever going to learn it,” she says. Irizarry is disappointed her parents didn’t enforce Spanish when she was young and could soak up the language with ease. She says her mother reminds her that it’s never too late to learn. “She’ll joke and go, ‘Let’s start now! I’ll only talk with you in Spanish!’ And I’ll go, ‘Too late!’ “

Now, there’s another record wave of Puerto Ricans coming to the U.S. mainland escaping economic distress on the island. They’re coming here at a time when politicians and business leaders are waking up to the economic and political power of Latinos and the power of Spanish. Maybe retaining and teaching their native tongue will become more of a priority for Puerto Ricans living on the mainland and their kids won’t dread answering the question, “Do you speak Spanish?”

The best podcasts in Spanish about culture and history

This collection contains not only popular, but also useful podcasts, listening to which can be easily combined with routine tasks. This time we will get acquainted with podcasts in Spanish that will introduce us to the history of Spanish-speaking countries and the latest music from Latin America, as well as find out what inspires famous musicians and writers and better understand art and cinema.

This is one of the longest running and most popular podcasts in the Spanish speaking world. It started in 2011 when a few friends decided to tell stories about Latin America. One of the radio directors they told about their idea was convinced that “Mexicans want to hear stories from Mexico, and Puerto Ricans want to hear stories from Puerto Rico.” Fortunately, he was wrong, and Radio Ambulante won the hearts of fans in many countries with their journalistic approach to finding materials and topics for releases about how “Latin America sounds”. Now they are also broadcast on radio in the USA, and the number of episodes is several hundred. You can learn from them about how “The ex-president of Peru tried to return to the country” or “About the movie dubbing industry in Mexico”.

Alex Fidalgo from Galicia hosts one of the most popular podcasts in Spain. Not only people from the media come to visit him, but also surgeons or drug lords. Although listeners are even more attracted by Alex’s manner of dialogue. Asking curious questions and revealing the guests from a new perspective, he tells real stories of real people through which you can get to know the life of the Spaniards better. His podcasts sound like an ordinary, honest and open conversation between two friends in a cafe: he does not cut, does not edit recordings, and does not plan interviews. We suggest you start your acquaintance with the podcast by listening to a three-hour (!) conversation with the well-known Dani Rovira, as Alex calls him “the king of comedy”.

Alan Queipo and José Fajardo, journalists from Argentina and Colombia, review the latest music from Latin America every two weeks. ​¿Que onda? – in each program they ask a question, one way or another related to the music industry. The authors promise to surprise and tell not only about reggaeton or cumbia, but also about techno or flamenco, to introduce listeners to new names of artists and musical styles. For example, they devoted a podcast to such Colombian style as champeta, as well as house-ton, lat house of the future.

This podcast will appeal to those who want to finally understand the history of Spain. ​Juan Jesús Pleguezuelos, university professor who hosts the blog “El profesor inquieto”, decided to keep up with new technologies and make a podcast for history exam takers. It was “Historia de España para selectividad” that became the most popular of all his podcasts, and Juan manages to maintain as many as 10 podcasts on various topics. For example, he also talks about art history, philosophy or literature ​all as part of a course, so Juan tries to present the material in an accessible and understandable way for all history lovers.

“Tachame el Nobel” is a podcast that grew out of a radio show. Pedro Mairal, a well-known Argentine writer, invites artists from Latin America to visit him: he has actors, writers, artists and musicians. Pedro tries to find out from everyone how they create, how their ideas and inspiration come to them. One of his star guests, Julieta Venegas, a Mexican singer, told the host about the creation of her show “La enamorada”

If you like movies, try listening to a podcast also made famous by radio. The name of the podcast has been known to Spaniards for more than 30 years: it all started as a program on SER radio in 1989 year. Over time, the authors also began to publish articles in the media, appear on television and, since 2004, blog on the Internet. The show, now a blog and podcast, was considered the go-to source for film news for many Spaniards. In 257 episodes, the hosts talk about the best examples of world and Spanish cinema.

Art podcasts are quite rare. On the one hand, it’s hard to hear about what you can’t see. On the other hand, you can let your imagination run wild. In each episode, this podcast host Juan Megías talks about one painting. He is often joined by historians and other experts who supplement the story with a description of the era, its cultural and social characteristics. Sometimes they even act out skits: all based on reliable sources.

Author: Kunilova Irina

Spanish dialects – Priority School

There are many variations and dialects of different languages. For example, there is English of North America, Australia and Great Britain. And this is not the most striking example. For example, the picture of Spanish dialects is even more diverse.

The people of Spain speak the four official languages ​​and several dialects spoken by the inhabitants of the individual provinces. The ability to understand Spanish in different regions of the country and beyond is the most important step towards learning the language. From the article you can find out what variants of the Spanish language are, what dialects are used in Spanish-speaking countries.

Castilian

Castilian is the main official language and is named after the Kingdom of Castile from where it originated. It is based on classical Latin. Domestically, this language is called “castellano”, and for the whole world – “español”. This linguistic tool was widely used in the northern and central provinces of Spain. Castilian Spanish is the most common linguistic format. This language is spoken by 40 million citizens of the country. At the same time, their speech is different, since in the border regions there are variants of the Spanish language “castellano”: aragonés, mursiano, and also the Rioja, Cantabrian and Madrid dialects, churro.

Catalan

The Spanish language of the inhabitants of the historical autonomy of Catalonia, the province of Valencia and the Balearic Islands is called “catala”. In these territories, it, as well as in Spain as a whole, is an officially recognized tool of communication. And Catalan speech can be heard in the Principality of Andorra, in Italian Sardinia, in the southern provinces of France.

Catala is spoken, written and read by 10 million people. It has a variation – the Valencian dialect, which differs in vocabulary, morphology, and phonetics. But it was not recognized as a self-sufficient dialect. But Mallorquin – another “catala” dialect, which the population of the Balearic Islands communicates with, is recognized as an independent Catalan dialect.

Galician

Spanish “galego” is spoken in the province of Galicia, in the northwestern region bordering Portugal. This language serves as a tool for communication of 3 million inhabitants of Spain. There are dialects of the Spanish language “galego”: western (used in Rias Bahas), eastern (Galicia) and central.

Basque

Spanish euskara – Basque – is the native language of almost a million Spaniards. It is spoken in Navarre, Gipuzkoa and Biscay. It is an isolated language that has nothing to do with Castilian, however it is recognized as the country’s fourth official linguistic instrument.

Spanish outside of Spain

In different parts of the world, basic Spanish (Castilian) has been modernized into dozens of national variants. Dialects and dialects differ in lexical base, phonetics and pronunciation. This is explained by the fact that the language was formed on the basis of existing local languages, for example, in America – Indian, in Africa – African tribes. The influence of colonial Spain on the colonies gradually decreased, the states experienced a transformation, the assertion of their own statehood. These processes are reflected in the language. Migrants from different regions, coming to the country, made their own linguistic contribution – there were differences in pronunciation. Therefore, it is not difficult to distinguish a Mexican from an Argentine by speech, and both of them from a Spaniard from Madrid.

Spanish Mexican

This variation of Spanish is used as a communication tool in California. Historically, the morphology was influenced by the languages ​​of the indigenous tribes: Ute, Aztec, Maya. This influence was so strong that “Mexicanisms” appeared – words that did not exist in classical public Spanish. For example: “tomate”, which translates as “tomato” and comes from “xitōmatl”. Or “chocolate”, translated as “chocolate” and derived from “xocolātl”.

Argentinean Spanish

Argentina speaks a specific language form. This Latin American Spanish is called “español rioplatense”. The name is related to the territorial factor. In particular, the river Río de la Plata passes here. From her, the Rioplat Spanish dialect got its name. Due to the resettlement of the indigenous inhabitants of Southern Italy during the next wave of migration to South America, the dialect was significantly transformed under the influence of the dialect of the Neapolitans. One of the features of the Argentine dialect is “voseo”, the meaning of which is that the form “vos” is used as the traditional personal pronoun “tú” (you). This affects the rules for conjugation of verbs. They become easier. For example:

• “you feel” in the traditional version “tú sientes” and in the Rioplat version “vos sentís”;
• “you can” in Castilian “tú puedes” and in Argentinian “vos podés”;
• “do you want” in the classical form sounds like “tú quieres”, and in Latin American “vos querés”.

“Voseo” simplified the imperative mood. The final letter “r” is removed from the infinitive. The final vowel is stressed. “Drink” in the classic Spanish version sounds like “beber”, and in Argentine “bebé”. Other verbs are used in the same way: hacer – hacé (do).

Argentine Spanish, Spanish in Ecuador and Peru

Argentinean is not the only Latin American Spanish. In the north of the South American continent, there are several dialects that are common in Peru, Ecuador. For those who know Castilian Spanish, as a rule, there are no difficulties in speech recognition. And all because although the dialects of the Spanish language have their own characteristics, Latin Americans speak more slowly than the Spaniards. And in Spanish-speaking South America, it is not customary to abbreviate words. Of course, one cannot ignore the large number of loanwords that came from the indigenous languages ​​of Quechua and Aymara. But it is not difficult to understand the meaning of what was said from the context. Guatemalan Spanish is similar to Mexican Spanish, and Panamanian has many parallels with Castilian.

Many Latin American Spanish words are missing from Castilian, and vice versa. For example: the traditional Spanish “car – coche” in Latin America sounds like “carro”, “glasses – gafas” in Peru and Ecuador are pronounced as “anteojos”, “potatoes – patata” in Colombia sounds like “papa”. And there are many such examples.

Spanish in the Caribbean

But in Cuba, in Puerto Rico, in the Dominican Republic, on the contrary, Spanish, called “Caribbean”, is spoken very quickly. So fast that even tourists from Spain find it difficult to understand Caribbean speech. Moreover, due to the high speed of pronunciation, the sound [d] at the end of the words is “swallowed”. For example, “mitad” (half) sounds like “mita” (queue). The letter “s” disappears if it is at the beginning or at the end of a word. Cubans “swallow” it in the middle of words. For example, the phrase “estoy aquí en la estación” sounds like “ehtoy aquí en la ehtació”.

In Puerto Rican Spanish, morphological changes are associated with the influence of English speech. For example, one can cite the fact that the semantic emphasis is placed on the final sound [r], which emphasizes the American influence. And before the consonant letter “r” is read as a sound [l]. Puerto Ricans don’t say “Puerto Rico” by saying [puelto rico].

Spanish in Chile

The Chilean dialect of Spanish is no less interesting. Its phonetic feature is that the combination “ch”, which in Spain is traditionally read as [h], in Chile will sound like [ʃ]. For example, the locals do not say “Chile”, but pronounce [Shi-lé].

In words where the combination “vowel + do or da” is at the end, the sound [d] is omitted. Examples include the words “fundido” and “fracasado”, which in Chile would be pronounced as [fundío] and [fracasáo]. Reduced, thrown out other sounds and syllables. Because of this, Chileans are difficult to understand for those who have studied the Castilian variant.

Spanish in Africa

Africa has its own varieties of Spanish. Spanish dialects are spoken in Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. Although Morocco was a colony of France, proximity to Spain played a role.

Equatorial Guinea is located in Central Africa and was a colony of Spain until the middle of the 20th century. A poor state, where about 700 thousand blacks live, is the only one in Africa, this linguistic tool is official, along with French. The inhabitants of Equatorial Guinea call their language “Equato-Guinean”. Guinean Spanish is not Castilian Spanish. The Guinean dialect is built on a mix of different languages, including the Fang and Bubi tribes. As a result, a language modification appeared, which is a Spanish base, generously supplemented with a mixture of words and sounds of local tribes, English, German. In general, it is similar to the Castilian language, more precisely, it is recognizable.

Which dialect of Spanish to learn?

From the above examples, it becomes clear that even before the start of mastering linguistic literacy, it is important to decide whether to learn Latin American Spanish, Equato-Guinean, Argentinean, Mexican or Classical Spanish.

The dialects of the Spanish language are so numerous and varied that there is no universal textbook. Each variant of the Spanish language hides numerous subtleties and distinctive features in its combinations, sentences. Dialects differ from each other in intonation, pronunciation, word meanings and expressions. Therefore, when signing up for courses at a language school, it is important to clarify which dialect or even Spanish is being taught.

Learning Spanish Dialects

The Spanish language, more precisely its variants and dialects, is used in many areas of activity: in business, in research and study, during travel and personal communication.