Language is at the heart of Cuban culture, and the Spanish you hear on the island has a flavour all its own. If you are planning a trip, or dreaming of learning Spanish where it is spoken with such warmth and rhythm, it helps to know what makes Cuban Spanish distinctive, and which other languages you might come across.
Languages Spoken in Cuba
The Official Language of Cuba
The official language is Spanish, spoken by virtually the whole population of around 11 million. That is no surprise, as Spanish is the official or national language of about twenty countries, most of them in the Americas (Brazil, where the language is Portuguese, is the big exception). What makes Cuba interesting linguistically is less which language is spoken than how it is spoken, and the handful of other languages that have taken root alongside it.
What makes Cuban Spanish distinctive
Cuban Spanish is a variety of Caribbean Spanish, shaped over centuries by the island's history. Several things give it its character:
- Taíno words - everyday vocabulary inherited from the island's indigenous Taíno people, such as canoa (canoe), hamaca (hammock), tabaco (tobacco) and carey (hawksbill turtle).
- An Andalusian and Canary Islands accent - Cuban Spanish is closest to the Spanish of Andalusia and, especially, the Canary Islands, thanks to heavy Canarian migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. A shared word gives it away: in both Tenerife and Cuba, a bus is a guagua.
- Seseo - as across Latin America, the c before e or i and the letter z are pronounced as an /s/, not as the "th" sound of central and northern Spain, so cielo and zapato begin with an "s" sound.
- The dropped "s" - the most recognisable feature of Cuban speech is that an s at the end of a syllable is softened to a light "h" or dropped altogether, so las casas sounds like "lah casah". Final consonants are generally relaxed, which gives the accent its fast, flowing feel.
- Diminutives in -ico - where other varieties add -ito/-ita, Cuban Spanish often uses -ico/-ica, particularly after a t, as in un momentico or un ratico.
The Peculiarities of Cuban Spanish
Cuban Spanish is the variant of the Spanish language spoken in Cuba and belongs to the Western Iberian language group. It is a subdialect of Caribbean Spanish, which has been enriched and modified by the language of the Taíno Indians who lived on the island before Spanish conquest. Even today, there are words that date back to the Taíno language, such as "canoa" (canoe), "hamaca" (hammock), "tabaco" (tobacco), and "carey" (hawksbill turtle).
Due to its origins, Cuban Spanish is much more similar in pronunciation and vocabulary to the Spanish spoken in Andalusia and even more so to that of the Canary Islands. This is because many Canarian immigrants arrived on the island in the 19th and 20th centuries, bringing with them new accents and words: Even today, for example, in both Tenerife and Cuba, a "guagua" is a bus. Even within the island itself, differences in intonation and vocabulary are noticeable depending on whether you are in the east or the west. The biggest difference between Castilian Spanish and Cuban Spanish, however, lies in pronunciation. Practice seseo: all the "c" sounds, which in Spanish should sound like an English "th," are simply pronounced as an "s."
Another peculiarity of Cuban Spanish is the formation of diminutives, which is done by adding the endings -ico and -ica, whereas in standard Spanish -ito and -ita are used. There are also many expressions and words typical of the island, as we will see shortly, known as "Cubanisms."
So, it's fair to say that the language spoken in Cuba is Spanish, but it has some unique characteristics. A native of Madrid might be able to communicate and understand a Cuban living on the island, but they will undoubtedly notice numerous differences and may even encounter some difficulties. However, knowing Peninsular Spanish is more than enough to live, work, or simply communicate during a vacation in Cuba. And with us at Sprachcaffe, you can acquire and solidify this language skills directly through a study abroad program in Havana, the extraordinary capital of Cuba! This way, you can experience the differences between Spanish and Cuban Spanish firsthand and put them into practice in real-world situations.
Haitian Creole
Haitian Creole is a language native to Haiti that originated as a simplification of French, which it closely resembles in some aspects. Currently, 300,000 people speak Haitian Creole in Cuba, primarily for historical reasons: During the Haitian Revolution in the early 18th century, increasing numbers of Haitians arrived, mainly working as laborers on sugar plantations, and the language gradually took root in the country.
Today, Haitian Creole is also spoken fluently by many Cubans who are not from Haiti, and a radio program has even been created in Havana that is exclusively in Haitian Creole to demonstrate this fact.
Other Languages in Cuba
Several other languages are spoken in the Republic of Cuba, but they are not recognized as official. Below are three relatively widespread languages in Cuba. They are spoken by only a few people in the country. However, they are worth exploring. In doing so, you will learn something about Cuba's fascinating history.
1. Galician
It is the variant of Spanish spoken in the region of Galicia, much closer to Portuguese than to classical Spanish. In Cuba, Galician is spoken mainly by Galician emigrants who have found a new home on the island and reside primarily in the larger cities.
2. Lucumi
It is a small language widely spoken on the island, heavily influenced by Yoruba, spoken primarily in West Africa. It can be described as a mixture of Spanish and several Bantu languages. Lucumí is considered a liturgical language, meaning it is used as a second language only by followers of Santería, a religion originating in Cuba, which also has its roots in Yoruba religion.
3. Corsica
Another language spoken in Cuba is Corsican, brought to the island by Italian immigrants. The language originates from the French-Italian regions of Corsica and Sardinia and shares the same linguistic root as Tuscan. Corsican is heard quite frequently in Cuba.
There's also a small percentage of locals who speak French and Italian, and it's also possible, though rare, to meet people who speak Russian and German. English, on the other hand, is less widely spoken in Cuba. If you come to the island as a tourist, you'll probably get by in the more touristy areas, but in general, Cubans don't speak English and prefer to be spoken to in Spanish.
Some Cuban Words with Explanations
| Cuban | Explanation |
| Asere, ¿qué bolá? (Hey, what's up?) | It can be translated as "friend, how are you?" and is a very common expression in Cuba. |
| Hacer la botella (Make the bottle) | This expression refers to the request to hitchhike. |
| Aguanta un mes (It lasts for a month.) | It simply means "don't rush" or "wait a minute". |
| Tu maletín (Your briefcase) | It means "your business". |
| Cómprate un piano (Buy yourself a piano) | Request to change the topic |
| Tírame un cabo (Throw me a hand) | It's an expression used to ask for help. |
| Tu cuarto de hora pasó (Your 15 minutes of fame have passed) | It means "time is passing you by." |
Cuban Spanish: The Differences with the Spanish of Spain
As we have already pointed out, there are many differences between Cuban and standard Spanish. Just think of the word 'vale', which in the Iberian Peninsula simply means 'good, nice, good': in Cuba it has a completely different meaning and sounds more like 'enough already!' You will never hear 'vosotros' used to refer to the second person plural, because it doesn't exist in Cuba: instead, only 'ustedes' is used, which in standard Spanish is the most polite form of address used with adults.
In Spanish, we say 'coche' to refer to a car. In Cuba, we say 'carro,' which is exactly the Portuguese translation of the same term. A curious fact? The word 'carro' also exists in Spanish, but it means 'horse-drawn carriage.' And do you know how we translate this word into Cuban Spanish? That's right: 'coche.' So pay attention to the word 'papaya,' which in Spanish is the simple fruit we all know, but in Cuban Spanish means female genitalia.
In short, there are small but important differences that can be misleading for someone encountering Cuban Spanish for the first time, but nothing that hinders comprehension in any way. Besides these differences, Cuban Spanish has its own vocabulary, but also unique expressions that are only heard in Cuba. Some examples of Cubanisms:
Summary
Cuba's language is Spanish, but Cuban Spanish has a character all its own: Taíno words, a Canarian-flavoured accent, seseo, a famously dropped syllable-final "s", -ico diminutives and a rich stock of cubanismos. Alongside it you will find Haitian Creole and, in smaller communities, Lucumí, Galician and Corsican. Standard Spanish will serve you everywhere on the island, and the best way to pick up the Cuban flavour is to learn it there, on a Spanish course with SPRACHCAFFE
FAQ
Spanish is the official language, spoken by virtually the whole population of around 11 million. It is the language of government, education, media and daily life.
Its warm rhythm and relaxed pronunciation: speakers often soften the "s" at the end of syllables, speak quickly, and use a rich vocabulary shaped by Caribbean and African influences.
Spanish dominates overwhelmingly. Some Haitian Creole is spoken by descendants of migrants, and English is used in tourism, but neither is widespread beyond those settings.
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