Canarian Spanish

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State flag of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, Spain. Esp: Canarias, España

Map of the Canary Islands

The Canarian dialect (Spanish: dialecto canario or habla canaria) is a Spanish dialect spoken in the Canary Islands by the Canarian people, and in the southeastern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana in the southern United States, by Isleño communities that emigrated to the Americas as early as the 18th century. The dialect is extremely similar to Caribbean Spanish. Mainly due to Canary emigration to the Caribbean in earlier times and their way of speech almost single-handedly formed the base of Caribbean Spanish.

The incorporation of the Canary Islands into the crown of Castile began with Enrique III and ended with the Catholic Monarchs. The expeditions for their conquest started off, mainly, from ports of Andalusia and is the reason why between the colonists and conquerors, the Andalusians predominated in the Canaries. Also there was an important colonizing contingent coming from Portugal in the early conquest of the Canaries, along with the Andalusians and the Castilians of Peninsula Spain. In the north of La Palma, Portuguese existed alongside of Spanish in the earlier history of the Canaries, but died off, and some was absorbed by Spanish of the Canaries. The population that inhabited the islands before the conquest, the Guanches, spoke a series of Berber dialects, using some inquiries to the insular term, amazigh, to make reference to these dialects of language. After the conquest, a cultural process took place rapidly and intensely, with the native language disappearing almost completely in the archipelago, surviving solely are some names of plants and animals, terms related to the cattle ranch, and numerous places in the islands as well as the islands themselves.

Due to their geographic situation, the Canary Islands have received much outside influence, which has changed its culture as much as its dialect. It is important to remember the Canarian influence in the development of the Spanish spoken in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, due to the thousands of Canarians that emigrated to those islands during the colonial period. In the State of Louisiana, in the United States, there is a large community of descendants of Canary island immigrants which is concentrated in a community east of New Orleans, called St. Bernard Parish, who continue maintaining the Canarian vernacular dialect of the Spanish language.

1 Uses and pronunciation
- 1.1 Pronunciation of dialect
2 The Isleños
- 2.1 Phonology in addition to the Phonology of the Canary Islands
- 2.2 Words coming from Isleño Louisiana
3 Characteristic vocabulary
4 See also
5 Sources for further studies

[edit] Uses and pronunciation

[edit] Pronunciation of dialect

Indefinite past. The indefinite past instead of the composed present perfect is used generally. Example: "I visited Juan" instead of "I have visited Juan" Ex. in Spanish: "yo visité a Juan" instead of "yo he visitado a Juan".
Ustedes. Canarians use this pronoun for 2nd person plural. Thus, instead of saying "vosotros estáis" say "ustedes están"(same as Latin America). Only in parts of the islands of Hierro, La Palma and Gomera "Vosotros estáis" is used. Also in Gomera and some parts of La Palma, "ustedes vos vais" is used. Also archaic forms like "váivos" are used in some parts.
Diminutive. "Ito" exists as an exaggerated use of the diminutive "-". Example: "We will make a comidita" and if it is an even smaller amount, it is a "'comiditita", just as "chiquitito" can be "chiquititito".
Shortened Diminutive. In some diminutives, syllables are suppressed. Example: "Cochito" instead of "cochecito" for small car, or "florita" instead of florecita.
Seseo. The most distinct characteristic is the seseo that consists of pronouncing the sounds of "c" and "z" like "s", like parts of Andalucia and Latin America. example: "Sesilia," instead of "Cecilia" with the "th" sound of many parts of Spain.

Location of the Canary Islands in relation to the rest of Spain.

Special Pronunciation of the "s." The "s" is pronounced like "h" at the end of each word or before consonant such as "Lah mohcah" instead of "Las moscas" for "the flies". These three characteristics are common in Andalusia, the area of the Caribbean, the Colombian Caribbean Coast and Venezuela. The pronunciation of the "S" before vowel also is different from northern peninsular Spain, and similar to the Latin American and Andalusian.
Pronunciation of "ch in some parts." The pronunciation of "ch" in some parts of the Canaries is different from the pronunciation in the rest of Spain. The peninsula speakers perceive it like a "y".
Pronunciation of the "h". the pronunciation of the "h", resembling itself a of the Spanish "j" or the English "h". For example: "hediondo" is pronounced with "h" sound or the Spanish "j" to sound like "jediondo", "jinojo" instead of "hinojo" or "jarto" instead of "harto".
Union of the "final s" with the following vowel. Such as, "lósojoh", for "the eyes", instead of "los ojos".
Different forms to conjugate verbs, example: "enderechar", instead of "enderezar."
Disappearance of the "de" which means "of" in certain expressions. Example: "casa Marta" (or ca`Marta) instead of "casa de Marta", "gofio millo" instead of "gofio de millo", "carne cochino" instead of "carne de cochino", "finca platanós", etc.
Personal pronoun. Canarians do not use the personal pronoun, except for exceptions. Example: "fui a comprar," for "I went to buy", instead of "yo fui a comprar" for "I went to buy". "Venimos de una juerga (or fiesta)" rather than "nosotros venimos de una fiesta" for "we come from a celebration", also, "llegaron anoche" for "arrived last night," instead of "ellos llegaron anoche" for "they arrived last night."
Pronunciation of word final /s/ before a vowel. Because the Canarian people pronounce the /s/ like an English /h/ or Spanish /j/, when the /h/ sound comes before a word beginning with a vowel, the word sounds like it begins with an /h/. Example: instead of "vamos en la casa", it would sound like "vamo jen la casa" or "vamo hen la casa" for English speakers (but, as houses don't move, you won't get far in a house).

[edit] The Isleños

The Isleños are the descendants of Canary Islanders in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The Isleño community is a large community in the southeast region of Louisiana. The Isleños speak Canarian Spanish with a few words borrowed from other cultures. The Isleños still have ties with the Canary Islands to this day.

[edit] Phonology in addition to the Phonology of the Canary Islands

The phonology of the Isleños can be linked diachronically to the Spanish dialects of the Canary Islands, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and ultimately to Andalusía in Spain. For example, the aspiration of syllable-final /s/—[ehpañól] for "español" meaning "Spanish", and [lohihléñoh] for "los isleños" meaning "the islanders". This is a salient characteristic of the Canary Islands and the Caribbean and can also be found in Andalusian Spanish. The assimilation of /r/ to the [l] of the following enclitic pronoun. Examples are [matá(l)lo] sounding like [matálo] for "matarlo" Meaning "to kill him/it", [yevá(l)la] sounding like [yevála] for "llevarla" meaning "to carry her/it". This is a telling feature of certain Canarian and Caribbean dialects which can be traced to Andalusian dialects, although this phonological process is not as widespread in Isleño speech as the Caribbean. Isleño phonology has other phonetic variations which link it to the Canary Islands and Caribbean dialects: syllable-final /r/ becoming [h], as in [pwéhta] for "puerta" Meaning "door", or deletion of /r/ in infinitives to let the pitch accent signal its function, as in [dormí] for "dormir" meaning "to sleep" and [morí] for "morir" meaning "to die"; intervocalic and word-final /d/ deletion, as in [enka∂enáo] for "encadenado" meaning "padlocked" and [uhté] for "usted" meaning "you".

There are several interesting phonetic details of Isleño speech that can be compared to the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. Firstly, initial /b v/ are realized as [w] or [gw] in certain words, such as [wéno] or [gwéno] for bueno, meaning "good". Secondly, intervocalic /d/ is deleted, as in [tóo] for "todo" Meaning "all". Thirdly, word-final infinitival /r/ is deleted, in words like [kusiná] for cocinar meaning "to cook".

The phonetic features of Isleño show their ancestry to Canarian Spanish, Caribbean Spanish, and Andalusian speech.

The four Isleño settlements in Louisiana, St. Bernard being the largest of the four

[edit] Words coming from Isleño Louisiana

agrafate caulking iron. <— Fr. agrafe "hook" + Sp. calafate "caulker"
bate baseball bat. <— Eng. "bat"
borro coffee grounds. <— Sp. borra "sediment"
brosa de frubir scrub brush. <— Sp. broza "paint brush" + La. Fr. froubir "to scrub"
bucana smokehouse. smoke from smokehouse. <— Tupí. bucán "wooden lattice for smoking meat"
caballito diablo black grasshopper with red spots. <— Sp. caballito del diablo "dragon fly"
cascarilla la put talc. <— Sp. cascarilla "powdered eggshell" + Fr. poudre "powder"
cayuco pirogue. small wooden boat. <— Taino.
congó water moccasin. <— La. Fr. congo
chaque blackbird. <— La. Fr. choc
dogrí canvasback duck. <— La. Fr. deau gris
fasina levee. <— Sp. hacina "pile, heap"
gofio toasted cornmeal. <— C.I. gofio
guirre buzzard. <— Port. guirri "vulture"
guisajo cockleberry bush. <— Nahuatl. huistli "thorn" + achtli "seed"
habitante farmer. <— D.R. habitante "tobacco planter" <— Sp. habitante "inhabitant"
huancunú hackberry tree. <— La. Fr. bois inconnu "unknown tree"
jaiba crab; morrocoy; terrapin <— Carib
jaito skill. <— C.I. jeito <— Port. jeito "skill"
lasca slice of meat. <— And. lasca "slice" <— Sp. lasca "stone chip"
mangle palmetto. <— Sp. mangle "mangrove tree"
ocena dozen. <— C.I. usena "dozen"
papa potato. <— Quechua.
patasá sunfish, perch. <— La. Fr. patassa
pití child. <— Fr. petit "small"
raposo raccoon. <— Sp. raposo "fox"
sobrecoat overcoat. <— Sp. sobre "over" + Eng. "coat"
sopín powdered soap flakes. <— Eng. "soap" + Sp. "-in small"
tapún roof. <— Port. tapume "enclosure"
troja barn. <— D.R. troja "granary" <— O.Sp. troj "granary"
trolear to troll or trawl. <— Eng. "trawl" or "troll"
zenzen baldpate duck. <— La. Fr. zenzen

[edit] Characteristic vocabulary

The Canarian vocabulary also displays several influences:

[edit] Archaisms coming from the Castilian of the time of the conquest

Apopar. To flatter.
Balde. Earthenware bowl or bucket.
Besos. Lips. Etm. > Castilian "Bezos" in medieval
Curioso. Careful.
Drago. (Of lat. draco, dragoon). A Canarian tree from the family of the Liliáceas, that reaches twelve to fourteen meters of height, with small flowers, of greenish white color, a yellowish berry for fruit. Drago de Icod of Wines is famous, although in the Orotava a colossal dragon tree existed long ago. Also it is a fable shrub. It is in the legend that when Atlas was dying in Ladón, the dragon tree protected the entrance from the Garden of the Hespérides, the blood that flowed from him fell to the Earth. From each one of the drops a dragon tree grew that way, allowing the millenarian dragon was alive through its multiple children. Guanches believed them to be magic and used their red and abundant sap in their culture. On the other hand, the Romans acquired it and sold it for high prices as a cosmetic base.
Recova. Market.
Antier. Before yesterday.

[edit] Words coming from the Portuguese or Galician-Portuguese

Abanar. To say good bye with the hand or to fan
Aguaviva. Medusa.
Aldoriña. Wanderer (of the Portuguese andorinha, "swallow")
Alongarse. To show himself/herself much or a lot.
Bago. the grain of a grape.
Balayo. type of straw basket.
Cacho. a cluster.
Cambado. Twist.
Cangallo. Skinny.
Cañoto. Left-handed person.
Coruja. owl.
Cumplido. Extended.
De relance. By chance.
Emborcar. To overturn a container draining its content.
Empenado. That he is not right.
Enchumbado or Enchumbao or Enchumbao. Somebody that is soaking wet.
Engaso. Cluster of grapes without bagos.
Engodo. Bait that is thrown to the sea to attract the fish until the place of the fishing such as chum.
Engoruñado or engruñao. Bent, shrunk.
Entullo. trash. Of the Portuguese *entulho. Also it is heard say ontullo.
Escachar. To squash.
Escanillo. Drawer of a sowing machine.
Escarmenar. To smoothen hair.
Escarranchar(se) or espatarrar(se). To open your legs.
Fañoso. Nasal speech, or someone that speaks nasally.
Fechadura. Something that this badly done
Fechar. To close.
Fechillo. Bolt.
Ferruje or ferruja. Rust, oxide.
Fonil (from Galician-Portuguese funil, a "funnel", from Latin infundibulum)
Fogalera. Bonfire.
Funchar. To sink, to touch very insistently.
Garuja. Drizzle. Etm. > Caruja in medieval Portuguese.
Gaveta. Drawer (of a closet). Also the glove compartment of a car (of the Portuguese drawer)
Gomo. Bud, gore of orange or lemon (of the Portuguese gomo of laranja, limão).
Jeito. movement that causes pain.
Liga. a shoe lace.
Liña. a clothes line.
Magua. Grief, pain.
Manejar. To lead.
Maneje. Steering wheel.
Margullar. To dive
Mas Nada. Nothing else. Nothing comes from the Portuguese "Mais"
Más Nunca. never again. comes from the Portuguese "Mais".
Millo. Corn. Millo is used instead of maíz (of the Portuguese milho).
Mesturar. To mix (from Galician-Portuguese misturar).
Mojo. Typical sauce of the Canary Islands, Latin American "mojos" derive from the Canarian mojos. comes from the Portuguese "Molho" (sauce).
Novelo. Ball of yarn.
Payo. Belly.
Peje. Fish.
Rapadura. Typical candy from island La Palma, Canary Islands. Comes from the name "scraping", perhaps originated in Azores and taken to the Canary Islands (Toscano Mateus, 1953, 398)
Rebotallo. Leftover.
Rente Evenness, to be even or to level something out.
Rolo. Cylindrical body. Cylinder or something cylinder shaped.
Sorribar. To plow the ground.
Tontura. Annoying.
Trancar. To close with key or bolt. (of the Portuguese trancar).
Verga. Wire.
Vergoña instead of verguenza (from Portuguese vergonha, "shame")
Viña Grapevine. or vineyard it comes from the name of the plant (the grapevine). This use comes from the Portuguese vinha.

[edit] Words of Andalusian origin

Afrecho. Bran. Cereal.
Aulaga. Plant.
Candela. Fire.
Cigarrón. Grasshopper.

[edit] Words of origin Guanche

A. Definite article of guanches, equivalent to "The".
Acot. Nine.
Acot-acotago. Ninety and nine.
Acot-amiago. Thirty and nine.
Acot-arbago. Forty and nine.
Acot-cansago. Fifty and nine.
Acot-linago. Twenty-nine.
Acot-marago. Nineteen.
Acot-satago. Seventy and nine.
Acot-setago. Eighty and nine.
Acot-sumago. Sixty and nine.
Achipenque or achipenco. Person or thing of little value.
Agamame. Portion of flour.
Arrorró. lullaby. Also the official anthem of the Canary Islands, Used to describe a song or Lullaby in the Canary Islands, diverse parts of Castile and Andalusia and several countries of Latin America. A' Ro (or arraw) means young (new born) from there, also translated to native born little boy.
Baifo. Goat.
Esmira. Crust.
Gánigo. Cup, bowl.
Gofio. Vegetable or cereal flour. Toasted. One certain grain used or it can be of mixed grains. It has been the basic food of the indigenous Canarians called the Guanches.
Goro. Corral.
Gorón. Circular stone wall, especially to protect to the trees from wind and animals.
Guanil. Wild goat.
Guirgo. hide and go seek.
Guirre. African vulture or Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus. Familia:Falconidae).
Jaira. Tame goat. Also used as an expression to describe a crazy person.
Jalar. To throw
Rebereque. Stories or histories (p. ej. "Déjate of rebereques" )
Sirinoque. A Canarian dance. It is executed to the beat of the drum in pairs making short jumps.
Tafeña. a type of toasted cereal.
Tafor. Goat's milk.
Tamaragua. This word belongs to the Guanche language and means "good morning".
Tagasaste. Plant.
Tagoror. This word belongs to the Guanche language and means "meeting place".
Tajaraste. A collective dance in Gomera and Tenerife to the beat of a drum.
Tonique/Tenique. A large stone, or boulder
Totufo. Swelling. ("tolete" can be used also like an insult, meaning "idiot").

The Canarian toponymy is full of words of native origin from past times that have been made into Spanish words, by the Spanish settlers who lived in the Canary Islands and also ones that mixed with the native Guanche population (for example: Tacoronte, Adeje, Arona, Pay, Guayadeque, Tuineje, etc).

In addition many names exist in the Canaries that come from the Guanche language (Gara, Acerina, Beneharo, Jonay, Tanausú, Chaxiraxi, Ayoze, Yaiza, etc).

[edit] Native Guanche words coming from Gomera

Aculan. butter.
Aguamame. Type of teething ring made from the root of the majada fern. The native mothers soaked these roots with butter, fresh cheese and gofio (native toasted cereal) and gave it their new borns.
Aemon or ahemon. Water.
Alcorac. God.

[edit] Guanche words coming from Gran Canaria

Acoran or achoran. God.
Achicaxna. The villain.
Achjucanac. Sublime God.
Achjuragan. God, great gentleman.
Magec. Sun.
Magio. Spirit of the sun, son of the sun.
Alcorac. God.

[edit] Guanche words coming from El Hierro

Acof. Stream, river.
Aculan. Butter.
Aguamame. Type of teething ring made from the root of the majada fern. The native mothers *soaked these roots with butter, fresh cheese and gofio (Native toasted cereal) and gave it their new borns.
Aemon or ahemon. Water.
Alcorac. God.
Guásamo, guársamo. Cavity conducted in the branches or the trunk of the trees to gather and to store the water that the leaves distill.

[edit] Guanche words coming from La Palma

Abora. God.
Acerjo or ajerjo. Valley, place of waters.
Adago. Milk.
Adey. Underneath, down.
Adijirja. Stream, torrent, spurt.
Ahemen. Water.

[edit] Guanche words coming from Lanzarote

Aemon or ahemon. Water.

[edit] Guanche words coming from Tenerife

Abugaret. Cave, grotto, depth.
Acichey. Peas.
Acoran or achoran. God.
Achaman. God sun, supreme God.
Achguayaxerax. The spirit of the sky, the spirit who everything sustains, the powerful one.
Achic. Son.
Achicaxna. The villain.
Achiciquiso. The nobleman, the horseman.
Achimencey. Hidalgo, people of the king.
Achjucanac. Sublimate, sublime God.
Achmayex. The mother.
Achuhurahan. The great one (God, great gentleman), has the same meaning and pronunciación of "achjuragan".
Aemon or ahemon. Water.
Aguere. Lagoon.
Afaro. Grain.
Ahico. Dress, nightgown of skin.
Ahof. Milk (ajof is pronounced).
Ahoren or ajoren. Gofio of barley or liquid food done with gofio, milk and water, used by the natives.
Aja or axa. Goat.
Magec. Sun.
Magio. Spirit of the sun, son of the sun.

[edit] Words coming from Latin America

aguaitar. To come near.
Atorrar(se). or Vagar. To lie down, usually is used for the patients, just as the term "enguirrao".
Bacilón or Vacilón. A big party or a big goof off. Hanging out, chillin'. it also means a noisy racket
Batata. Idiot or clumsy person.
Bembas. Fleshy lips.. Comes from African Influence. (Bemba)Central Africa Bantu People.
Bochinche. or Guachinche tavern.
Cachetada. Slap, blow in the face.
Carretear. To leave to celebrations.
Curado. Drunkard.
Embullo. Animation.
encachasado. Dirty.
Enchular(se). For one to fix.
Escorroso. Noise, racket.
Espejuelos. Glasses.
Fajar(se). For one to fight. This word may have origins in the Canary Islands or Cuba; uncertain.
Guagua. A Bus. This word may have origins in the Canary Islands or Cuba; uncertain.
Guineo. Singsong song.
Machango. Doll, or a person badly dressed, or clown; joker. Normally it is used in contemptuous tone to talk about the way one behaves like a little kid.
Machetear. To collect money.
Mani, Manices. Peanut, peanuts.
Monifato. Niñato Person without experience.
Papa. Potato.. Indigineous AmeriIndian for potato. Potato(Papa) is native to the americas.
Parrandear or Salir de juerga. To leave a dance, party or celebration.
Pendejo. bad word. Means "coward". In colloquial vocabulary it is used to talk about the masculine or feminine intimate (pubic) hair.
Pibe. Adolescent boy.
Pibón/a or pibonazo. It is used to talk about a good-looking boy or girl with a nice body.
Rascado or rascao. Victim.
Roto. Ordinary.
Singuango. Stupid, silly. (The exact word is Zanguango, not zinguango)
Tenis or playeras. Sport slippers.
Tonga. A lot of something, A large portion.
Traba. [1] Hair pin. [2] Clothes pin.
Vaquita. To collect. To collect or to reunite money between a group of people to buy something.

[edit] Words coming from the English

Autodate. Expired. Out of dates.
Beberijo. Refreshment (from brew or brewery).
Bisne. Business.
Boliche. Marble. Comes from bowling, from marble bowling balls.
Boncho. Celebration (of a bunch of people).
Cambuyonero. Person who buys and sells items of doubtful origin.
Canchanchán. A good for nothing person, an idiot, or a person who is a disaster.
Concretera. Concrete mixer (of the English concrete Makes specific /kónkrit/).
Creyón. Pencil of color (of English crayon /'kreion/ color pencil).
Chanse. To give the opportunity (of English chance /tSa:ns/ possibility, opportunity).
Flaite. It means of bad class, habitual delinquent.
Flash. Perfumed refreshing drink in a plastic container that read FLASH (from the English flash /flaeS/ *lightning, sparkle).
Flís. Spray, insecticide in spray, or aerosol (of English the fleas /fli:s/ (fleas)). Due to lice in the Canary Islands, an insecticide in spray or aerosol called thus was used.
Fisco. A piece, piece. (of piece of /pí:sof/- - > /fí:so/- - > /fí:sco/). Ex. Piece of cheese.
Fonil. Funnel (of English funnel /'fónl/ or the funil Portuguese). Re-introduced and reused in the Canary *Islands due to the shaken wine commerce of malvasía with England (centuries XVI to the XVIII), although *according to the Real Spanish Academy (IT ABRADES) it comes from the Aragonese "fonil", funnel.
Fos!. A bad scent (of English faugh /fo:/ exclamation of loathing or disgust)
Fule. Expression meaning something not seeming right or an act of deceit (from English fool US /fu:les/ (to deceive us)). ex.: don't fool U.S.! (not to deceive to us, when doing businesses with the English). And from there, it has derived the expressions like: This is fule (bunch of bull) ; This smells fule (smells fishy to me); ...
Guachinche. One of the best places to enjoy good homemade food. These establishments have their origin in agriculturists and cattle dealers determining dates of the year to directly sell their products (especially when it came from Malvasía) to the English buyer and later to the local consumer. It also probably has its origin in the English expression "Ím watching!" /aim wachingye/ meaning, "I observing him" (indicating that the possible English buyer was prepared negotiate so the actions were closely watched). Any premises or garage was perfect to sell wine, to serve meats cooking over hot coals or to serve other plates from traditional Canarian kitchens. Although still exist, many people have turned their failing businesses into taverns or restaurants. Guachinches are the ideal place to enjoy typical fare of Tenerife and to request "Pina de millo", and peaches or apricots, and to end off with, a "Cafe cortado"(Coffee cut with milk), or "leche y leche" (meaning milk and milk, but is coffee cut with milk and condensed milk). There are many Guachinches north of the island in Tenerife but the majority is located between Icod of Vinos and Tacoronte-Acentejo.
Guagua. Bus, (Origin Cuba or Canary Islands). Sound of the horns used by the wagons or buses.
Guanajo. Idiot, stupid. Taino word for turkey. Taino were the native inhabitants of cuba,Puerto Rico, etc. Turkey is native to the americas. Was introduced to the Canary Islands via New World (Cuba,etc)
Guanijei. Glass or full glass of liquor, generally whiskey (John Haig whiskey). One John Haig!/wán dónjei/ (a John Haig). Levánta tu guanijei!
Monimoni or pelas. Money.
Naife or Nife. Knife (of English knife /naif/ knife)
Piche. Asphalt, (of pitch /pich/ (to send, to throw), from asphalt workers pitching asphalt at someone who made them mad; asphalt: Pitch! Pitch).
Pulover. Sport Jersey or sweater (of the English pullover /pulova/ jersey).
Queque. Sponge cake. (of cake /kéik/ pie).
Sevená. Soda pop. (of English the 7 Up /sevenáp/ above the seven)
Suéter. Jersey type sweater shirt (of the English sweater /'swete/ jersey).
Tenis. Sport slippers (of English tennis shoe slippers to practice tennis).
Tifar. To rob (of English thief /Zí:f/ thief,).
Trinque. Drink (of drink /drink/ to drink). Échate páca trinke!

[edit] Very frequent phrases and words between the canaries

[edit] General uso

Abollado. To be very full (full stomach)
Afilador. Pencil sharpener.
Alberejado. very active, to be up and can't sleep.
Alegar. To speak much. To criticize.
Añurgar(se) or Enyugar(se). To choke.
Arique. cord.
Arrojar(se). To vomit.
Arveja. Pea.
Asadero. Barbecue.
Badana. Extracted dry skin of the platanera and with multiple uses in: basketwork, crafts, agriculture, cooperage, etc.
Balde. Bucket (of water).
Barraquito. Cafe with condensed milk, liquer, cinnamon and rind of lemon.
Belingo. Celebration.
Bobomierda. The word says everything to it.
Boliche. Marble.
Bogar. To row.
Bolla. Milk bread. Also, to be round in shape; obese.
Boquinazo. Kiss in the mouth.
Bostión. A person who eats too much.
Ca´. slang for house.
Cachimba. Smoking pipe
Cacho or Cachito. Piece of something.
Calufa. Incredible heat
Cambado. Twist.
Canarión. A native of the island of Gran Canaria.
Chácara. Canarian music instrument made of wood.
Chola. Sandal, canvas shoe. Beach footwear.
Caja del Gofio. Stomach, belly.
Canelo. Of brown color, the color of the cinnamon. Object of ridicules, it also talks about a timid person (nerd). Ej: "Carlos is a cinnamon-coloured one"
Cañita. a drink.
Cinta Siva. Sticky tape.
Cho/a. Mr. or Ms. (says the folksong: "Échese pácá, Cha Maria,/échese pácá, Cho Jose"). It comes from the completions of muchCHA and muchCHO.
Chafalmeja. Chaflameja (Contemptuous). A person who does something badly.
Chascar. To eat.
Chicharrero. A native of the capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Chichón. A very disturbing child.
Chivichanga, chibichanga Penis
Cholas. Slippers or slippers (to go to the beach, the bed, etc.)
Chorba, chorbo. Handsome boy or pretty girl.
Chozo. House
Chupón. A person who kisses ones neck and leaves a mark, such as a passion mark or hickey.
Colorao. Red
Coneja, repipi. Very pretentious girl.
Cometiar. To look around.
Cotufa. Pop corn.
Damasco. Apricot.
Desinquieto. Nervous. "This boy is a desinquieto".
Derriba. to raise something up.
Echarse el Alpisto. To eat.
Escachao Abollado. Not to have something. Not to have money, broke. "I am escachao"
Emboliado. High from the effects of marijuana.
Empenado. Twist.
Empalicar(se). To talk to someone for a long time.
Encarnao. Red.
Enchumbado. Wet, soaking wet. "Chacho, I am enchumbado" (wet from the rain).
Enfolinado. Running, accelerated, fast.
Enyugar(se). To choke on food.
Fonil. Funnel.
Fos. Expression of bad scent
Fósforo(s). A Match. Pack of matches.
Fuma. Custom to smoke tobacco.
Giribilla. Nervous, in trouble.
Godo. Contemptuous form, which is given to the Spanish peninsula that arrives in the islands with superiority feelings, despising the customs, the accent, etc. This does not describe all the peninsula Spanish, only the ones that do not respect the Canaries, nor to their customs.
Golisnear, Golifiar or Goler. To look around, Also it is heard say Gulifiar. It comes from the verb TO SMELL. Like sniffing around, snooping almost.
Gomo. Bud of an orange or lemon (of the Portuguese gomo of laranja, limão).
Guachinche. One of the best places where to enjoy good homemade food, they call these guachinches. These establishments have their origin in agriculturists and

cattle dealers determining dates of the year to directly sell their products (especially when it came from malvasía) to the English buyer and later to the local consumer. Probably it has its origin in the English expression Ím watching! /aim wachingye/ meaning, "I observing him" (indicating that the possible English buyer was prepared negotiate so the actions were closely watched). Any premises or garage was perfect to sell wine, to serve meats cooking over hot coals or to serve other plates from traditional Canarian kitchens. Although still they continue to last, many people turn their failing business into taverns or restaurants. Guachinches are the ideal place to enjoy typical fare of Tenerife and to request "Pina de millo", and peaches or apricots, and to end off with, a "Cafe cortado"(Coffee cut with milk), or "leche y leche" (meaning milk and milk, but is coffee cut with milk and condensed milk). There are many Guachinches north of the Island in Tenerife but the majority is located between Icod of Vinos and Tacoronte-Acentejo.

Guanche. The word guanche, of Guam-chinec, means "person of Tenerife". The pre-Hispanic settlers of the island lived in caves, were monotheists, mummified their dead, they did not know navigation and during the summer they shepherded in the Gorges of the Teide. They called the volcano Echeide and they thought that in its trails the Guayota demon lived. Its society was hierarchic and was articulated from the mencey, the king chosen by a noble advice. But still its origin is not known exactly, being able to be related to the Berber tribe of the Zanata. There are remains of guanches in Tenerife archaeological finds, but, the spirit of the Guanche lives on as daily Guanche language words, foods such as gofio and especially in stories of legend.
Guagua. Bus, omnibus for the urban service.
Guata. Cotton. Of the French "ouate", and this possibly of the Arab "wadd'a", means cotton lamina.
Guanajo/a. (Contemptuous) Pendejo/a (cowardly person). To become guanajo: to become the idiot.
Guineo. Slowness. Something that is repeated and tired.
Hablar. To be leaving with somebody, to flirt
Hondilla. Bowl.
Jable. Material of volcanic, whitish origin, with which the culture lands are covered in some zones of the islands to maintain the Earth's humidity. Also white sand extension in Fuerteventura.
Jalar. To throw something.
Jaya. To be hungry
Jeringar(se). To get annoyed.
Jediondo. Hediondo, pig.
Jilorio. To be hungry.
Jugo. Juice.
Lasca. Piece that is cut from something. "Échame pácá una lasca de jamón and another one of cheese".
Liga. Cord.
Llevarse a una tia. To bind.
Machango. Clownlike person.
Mago. In Tenerife, farmer.
Magua. Pain. Grief.
Manosiar. to intimidate.
Margullar. To dive.
Maúro. In Gran Canaria, it means farmer.
Merendero. Zone qualified for the rest and the relaxation or leisure in forest places like national parks, where you can take your picnic.
Mesturar. To mix.
Mojo. The popular flavorful sauce(s) of the Canary Islands. Canarian mojos accompanied Canarian emigrants to the Caribbean and South America, where it spread all over Latin America.
Note/a. Uncle or aunt.
Ñoños. Toes.
Orear. To ventilate, to let something air out. "I am going to orear the clothes".
Par. Two or more (generally more) of something (p. ej: a pair of days - > It can even describe one week ago).
Papa. Potato.
Pá. Abbreviation of "for." By ej.: Me voy pá Lanzarote. I'm going to Lanzarote.
Pácá. Abbreviation of "for here". Ex.: Me vengo pácá.
Pál. Abbreviation of "for" meaning "to the" in English. Ej.: Este fin de semana me voy pa'l sur-This weekend i'm going to the (p'al used in place of "to the") south.
Pállá. Abbreviation for "para alla" meaning "over there." Ex.: I'm going to Lanzarote, me voy pa'llá.
Páquí. Abbreviation for "para aqui" meaning "over here." Ex.: Me vengo pa'qui. short for para aqui.
Partigazo. Slide, fall to the ground.
Pantuflas. House slippers.
Pelete. Cold. "Que pelete" (how cold).
Pellizcón. Strong tiny amount.
Peninsular. Spaniards who lives outside the islands, or in the Peninsula or Balearic.
Perreta. Annoyance, generally, produced in the children.
Piba/e. Adolescent. Also my is used in the sense of affective relation "pibe; my fiancè ".
Pimienta picona. Type of pepper that is used to make the the Canarian hot sauce called Mojo picón. The pepper is quite popular due to its intense spice.
Pijito. Thorn, nail or sharp projection of small size.
Platanera. Banana tree, or the place where the banana is cultivated.
Playeras. Slippers for the beach.
Potaje. A stew done with meat, vegetables, other ingredients. Ex. guiso or guisado
Regoler. To look around.
Roscas. Pop corn.
Sancochar. To cook in water.
Sancocho. Typical dish of the Canary Islands made up of bacalao fish or fresh fish, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, accompanied with a pellet of gofio or bananas.
Seguir. To advance.
Seña. Señora
Sopladera. Globe.
Sorullo. Stupid, confused (speech of Tenerife).
Tino. common sense. "He does not have tino", "Borracho fino no pierde el tino" (popular saying, it means for the drunk not to lose his sense).
Tenderete. Celebration (used mainly in reference to meetings where there is food and typical Canarian folKlore).
Timple. Small canarian guitar.
Tolete. (1) clumsy, (tonto) (2)Idiot, garbage (like in Cuba and R. Sunday According to IT ABRADES it) "you are a tolete" (you are an idiot). "What piece tolete!
Tormo. Head.
Trincar. To take, to take hold. "to see if I pick up the fat person" (lottery). "Like trinque, you will see you..."
Volador. Fireworks rocket.
Vidriosa. Glass marble or bowling alley.
Villero. Native of the town Villa of Orotava (Tenerife).
Zahorra. Volcanic stone with many orifices produced by the shock of the magma from the air during the volcanic explosion. It is used in construction and decoration.

[edit] Name of diseases

Cagalera. Diarrea.
Corte de digestión. Abrupt change of temperature in the body in contact with the water.
Corriente de aire. Abrupt change of temperature in the body in contact with very cold air.
Desmayo. I sneeze or I yawn.
Desmayar(se). To yawn.
Estar escaldado. To have fever.
Estirar la pata. To die.
Finfli or flonfli. Rotten.
Jeito. A pulled muscle, or to pull a muscle.
Tener el pecho atormentado. To have a cold.
Tener fatiguita/jilorio/gazuza. To be hungry.

[edit] Animal names

Abade. Codfish.
Aldoriña. wanderer. Of the Portuguese aldorinha
Bucio. Caracol of the sea (conch), but not of the same species that the burgado one.
Burgado. Caracol of the sea (conch).
Baifo. Cabrito.
Cabozo. Fish of the marine, inferior coast to fifteen centimeters in length, of dark color by the whitish back and by the belly.
Choco. Species of small calamari.
Cigarrón. Grasshopper.
Fula. Small fish of bright colors.
Gueldes. Small fish.
Guirre. Guirhe. Vulture. African vulture or Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus. Familie: Falconidae).
Jaira. Goat.
Lisa. Type of small lizard and type of fish.
Vieja. Subspecies of the endemic dark-brown fish of the Canary Islands. With the grudges of pink color. Preferably used in Canary Spanish stews.

[edit] Common phrases

Al trancaso. To neglect.
Chacho/a. like saying your buddy. Expression to talk about a person. Ex.: Chacho, is calling to you!
Chas Vería. Action of astonishment.
Chiquito zaperoco. An expression used to talk about a great uproar.
Choni/Guiri. These terms are used to talk about foreigners in contemptuous tone. Choni also is used like idiot. The tourist are the foreigners.
Dejarse dormir. To remain sleping.
Déjate Estar. stay where you are.
Déjate ir!. go more slowly, please.
Don/Doña or Cho/Cha. It is used instead of Señor/Señora, when one treats a greater person (he is very typical when it is spoken with the fathers-in-law or an old one).
Echa por la sombrita. Goodbye, it is equivalent to have a good day.
Español Spanish of peninsula Spain, also referring to people or things from peninsula (usually it is used less than "peninsula").
Eso me dijo, Eso te digo. I say exactly to you what they said me to my.
Estar a mamarla. To be very far. comes from the such Ex: "the town is to 100 miles away". And they answer: "Chos, is to suck it up". (Estar a mamarla)
Godo Contemptuous form, which is given to the peninsula Spanish that arrives in the islands with superiority feelings, despising the customs, the accent, etc. This does not describe all the peninsula Spanish, only the ones that do not respect the Canaries, nor to their customs.
Ir al fuego, ir embalado. To go very fast.
Jartar(se) como un cochino. To have an abundance of food.
Jefe. The boss. It is equivalent to sir also used for middle-aged people. Nevertheless the feminine Female leader is not used .
Mandar(se) a mudar. To go away. "the owner treated me bad and I was sent away" (I left the work). El dueño me trató mal y me mandé a mudar (me marché del trabajo)
Mas nada. Nothing else.
Meter(se) To fall, to trip.
Muchá. Boy. Comes from MUCHácho.
Ni mas.... That large amount of... (Tenerife)
no me jeringues. You don't annoy to me.
Se dijo. So long.
Ño, Nosss, Yasss/yosss! or "chas/chos!. Interjection of surprise or astonishment.
Oh, que pasó?. Greeting, is equivalent to hello. Sometimes, the other responds Then?, like saying: I'm well and you?
Peninsular. Peninsula Spanish, or anyone or anything from the peninsula of Spain.
Poligonero/a. A person of low social cultural level and status (contemptuous)
Quedarse enroscado en el piso/la esquina. To receive a beating
Quedar largo. When one wears big baggy clothes. (Tenerife).
Quítate la papa de la boca. to vocalize.
Sale pa ya cristiano. Leave me be peacefully
Se me fue el baifo. To confuse, to forget something.
Suéltame Leave me alone; let go of me.
Tranca la puerta. To lock the door with a key.
Ya coño!. Astonishment.
Yo sé lo que me digo. "I understand".

[edit] Coffees

The Canary Islands are characterized to have a great variety of coffees; it is not strange to see more than ten different varieties of coffees, including white coffees in a restaurant or bar.

Leche y leche. Coffee with Condensed milk and natural milk.
Cortado natural/cortado normal. Natural white coffee.
Cafe con leche. Coffee cut with lots of milk.
Barraquito. Coffee cut with lots of milk served with the rind of a lemon, and sometimes liquer, and cinnamon.
Cortado con leche cacharro. Coffee cut with condensed milk.

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources for further studies

Navarro Carrasco, Ana Isabel (2003): El atlas de Canarias y el diccionario académico. Publicaciones Universidad de Alicante

Categories: Canarian people | Spanish variants