The Canarian accent is regarded as one of the most pleasing and melodious in Spain, possessing a gentle intonation reminiscent of Caribbean Spanish. However, within the archipelago, there exist significant variations in speech, particularly between Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
This subject has once again become viral owing to a video by Dog Dog, the popular Canarian content creator who, with his trademark humour, has highlighted these distinctions in a clip that has swept through social media. Comments have poured in, with locals from both islands debating who speaks “better.”
Expressions that separate the islands
The terminology and expressions utilised on each island can vary considerably. For instance:
- In Gran Canaria, one might commonly say “Where are you?“, whereas in Tenerife, it is more common to say “where are you?“.
- The inhabitants of Gran Canaria typically refer to children as “Chiquillos“, while those in Tenerife know them as “kids“.
- In Tenerife, an old car is termed a “perolo“, in contrast to Gran Canaria, where it is known as a “Cacharrito“.
Differences in pronunciation
Apart from vocabulary, there are also subtle distinctions in intonation and pronunciation. Some of the most prominent differences include:
- Tenerife speakers tend to pronounce the ch sound more forcefully, whereas Gran Canaria has a softer delivery.
- In Tenerife, it is common to hear the aspiration of the final S in words such as “child’“, rather than “children“.
- In Gran Canaria, the intonation may be more level, while in Tenerife, it is generally more melodic.
A linguistic rivalry?
Although the inhabitants of Gran Canaria and Tenerife share numerous traits in their manner of speaking, minor discrepancies in vocabulary, pronunciation, and intonation create distinct linguistic identities for each island.
Have you seen Dog Dog’s video? Are there any other words or expressions you know that set them apart?
