In the Canary Islands we speak different from the Spanish mainland. We are often confused with Cubans or Venezuelans and although we have cultural ties with Latin America, our dialect is the result of the mixture of the different peoples who have inhabited the islands.

So, if you know some Spanish and don't understand anything, don't blame yourself. You just have to get used to the musicality of our speech. The canarian words you will hear most often are: guagua (bus), papas (potatoes), millo (corn), cholas (flip-flops) or expressions such as: chacho, ños, fos, chos...

Since the conquest, the Canary Islands have been a place of cultural confluence. Guanches and Castilians lived together for centuries while European ships called at the ports of the islands on their way to the Indies. That is why many of our words in our dialect have English or Portuguese origins. 

Since that time, many Canary Islanders emigrated to America, founding cities such as Montevideo (Uruguay) or San Antonio (Texas). Most of them went to Cuba and Venezuela (the eighth island) and it is not difficult to find Canarian families with relatives in these places.

We should not forget that the geographical situation and the origin of the first settlers of the Canary Islands is Africa and our links with the continent exist. For some years now, the Canary Islands have served as a lifeline for many immigrants who arrive on small boats to the islands seeking a safer future.