One of the most beautiful ways to travel is to really get to know the destination and its people. Even, why not, their way of speaking.
And we love the Canary Islands’ way of speaking. Surely you know the Canarian accent. Melodious and sweet, it is one of the ways of talking that Spaniards like the most, but they also have their own words.
Let’s start with a bit of history. Where does this vocabulary come from?
It originated in the rich history of the Canary Islands. Its vocabulary is unique due to the historical influence of different languages in the region. Although Spanish is the official language, there are also words and expressions used in colloquial speech that come from Galician, English and Arabic.
Galician had a great influence on the islands due to the emigration of Galicians to the Canary Islands in the 19th century. Some common words in Canarian speech that come from Galician are for example guagua (bus), guagua-taxi (cab), empadronar and chiringuito.
English also had a significant impact on the Canary vocabulary due to the presence of Englishmen in the islands during the colonial period. Some words adopted from Shakespeare’s language are “parking” (estacionamiento), “basket” (baloncesto) and “weekend” (fin de semana), although these Anglicisms are also used in the national territory.
Arabic has also left its mark in the Canary vocabulary due to the presence of Arabs in the islands during the Spanish conquest. One of the most common words in Canarian speech is “aljibe” (well).
The same happens with some expressions. If walking around the Canary Islands someone calls you Cangrejo (crab) they are telling you that you are a shy person or that you speak little, while if they invite you for cotufas at the cinema they are offering you popcorn.
If you have a certain tendency to gossip they will call you a novelero and tell you to stop gossiping while to describe the weather they will tell you that it is calufa (very hot), solajero (an intense, burning sun) or Viruje (cold).
At mealtime and if they have a full stomach you will hear that they are embostados while if there is a party they will invite you to a tenderete.
If you are interested in learning these words and using them during your trip as a local here are some more:
-Ñoño: toe
-Choso: House
-Pisco/Fisco: little quantity
-Millo: corn
-Queque: sponge cake
-Enchumbado: soaked in water.
And now that you know how to defend yourself speaking like a real canarian, we suggest several must-visits during your trip to this paradise of nature!
Take note!
Garajonay National Park: a natural park with a great variety of endemic flora and fauna, as well as trails to walk and admire the views.
Maspalomas: coastal town with a large beach and sand dunes, as well as a variety of stores, restaurants and bars.
Roque Nublo: a large granite monolith with breathtaking views of the island.
Vegueta: the historic district of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with a variety of colonial buildings and lively squares.
Cueva del Viento: an impressive volcanic cave with a variety of geological formations and a guided tour.
Tejeda: a picturesque mountain village with panoramic views of the island and a variety of hiking trails.
Playa de las Canteras: a large urban beach with a variety of water activities and a great promenade.
Playa de Mogán: a beach with a quiet atmosphere and a beautiful fishing port.
Cristo de Tallante: a statue of Christ located in the Natural Park of Tamadaba, it is one of the highest points of the island with spectacular views.
And now that you know everything that awaits you in the Canary Islands, it remains to talk about accommodation. To recharge your batteries, there is nothing better than choosing one of the hotels that BlueBay Hotels has in the Islands: BlueBay Beach Club, BlueBay Lanzarote and Bellevue Aquarius. Fully equipped apartments with BlueBay seal.
