Speaking Spanish

The language of the Canary Islands is Spanish (castellano) but their accent is more like the Spanish spoken in Latin America – Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico – and not like the Spanish spoken on mainland Spain. They have not just the accent but also a lot of words, which are a living proof of the many links established through emigration between the islands and the Latin American nations.

The last 's' in a word is not usually pronounced and the 'z' is not pronounced 'th' as it is on the Spanish mainland, but as a 's'. A 'c' before 'i' or 'e' is pronounced 's'. Words are often curtailed and are sometimes run together in a sentence, making the individual words difficult to understand.

Many Guanche words have remained, particularly in place names. These often begin with the letters 'gua', pronounced 'wah'.


Local dialects are heard on some islands and in the countryside. It is perhaps better to the visitor to avoid trying to learn the local dialect and to stick to mainland Spanish, although English, and most western European languages, are widely understood.


Outside the main towns and resort areas, it's a good idea to take along a small dictionary or phrase book.


Anyway, opposite are some expressions and words that could help you: