Cuban Language and Slang

Understanding Cuban Spanish

It’s Still Spanish!

Your knowledge of standard Spanish is a fantastic starting point. Cubans are generally patient and appreciative of any effort to speak their language, and you will find that you can communicate effectively with what you already know.

Key Differences

• Speed: Cubans often speak very quickly. It may take a day or two for your ear to adjust to the pace.
• Dropped Consonants: The ‘s’ at the end of words is often dropped or aspirated, sounding like a soft ‘h’. For instance, ‘gracias’ might sound more like ‘gracia’ or ‘graciah’.
• Influence: The language is richly colored by its history, with noticeable African and Taino linguistic influences woven into its vocabulary and cadence.
• Formality: The use of ‘tú’ (informal you) is far more common than ‘usted’ (formal you), even when speaking with strangers or elders. It reflects a generally informal and familiar culture.

Essential Phrases with a Cuban Twist

Greetings & Goodbyes

• Hola – Hello
• Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches – Good morning / afternoon / evening
• Adiós – Goodbye
• Chao or Chao pescao – Bye (The latter is a playful, very Cuban way to say goodbye, literally “goodbye, fish”)
• ¿Qué bolá? – What’s up? This is the quintessential Cuban greeting you will hear everywhere among friends.

Politeness

• Por favor – Please
• Gracias – Thank you
• De nada – You’re welcome
• Permiso or Con permiso – Excuse me (used when passing someone or needing to get through a crowd)
• Disculpe – Excuse me (used to get someone’s attention)

Basic Questions

• ¿Cómo estás? – How are you?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?
• ¿Dónde está el baño? – Where is the bathroom?
• ¿Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?

Key Cuban Slang (Cubanismos)

These words are the key to sounding less like a tourist and understanding the texture of everyday conversation. We advise listening to how locals use these terms first and using them sparingly until you are comfortable with their context and nuance.

People & Socializing

• Asere / Acere – Friend, dude, buddy. This is an extremely common term of endearment between friends, particularly men.
• Yuma – A foreigner, particularly from the US or Europe. It is not necessarily derogatory but simply a descriptor for someone not from Cuba.
• Pinga – A very versatile and strong curse word. You should avoid using this word, but it is important to be aware of it as you will hear it often. Depending on the context and tone, it can mean anything from terrible (“de pinga”) to amazing. A similarly strong but slightly different alternative for ‘amazing’ is ‘del carajo’.
• Jamón – Literally ‘ham’, but used to describe a person who is overly affectionate or clingy in a social setting.
• Jeva or jevita – Girlfriend, or more casually, an attractive woman.
• Gao or Gabeto – House, home.

Food, Drink & Money

• Frutabomba – Papaya. This is a critical tip: the word ‘papaya’ is slang for a female body part in Cuba. To order the fruit, you must always ask for ‘frutabomba’.
• Guagua – Bus. This term is common throughout the Caribbean, not just in Cuba.
• Máquina or Almendrón – The classic 1950s American cars that function as collective taxis. ‘Almendrón’ refers to their large, almond-like shape.
• Chavos or Baro – Money, cash.
• Fulano / Mengano – What’s-his-name / So-and-so.

Everyday Situations & Expressions

• ¡Dale! – A multi-purpose word meaning Go for it!, Let’s go!, or Hurry up! Its meaning is all about context.
• No es fácil – “It’s not easy.” This is a common refrain that acknowledges daily struggles, often said with a resilient shrug and a smile.
• Resolver – To solve, figure out, or acquire something that is hard to get. The concept of ‘resolver’ is a fundamental aspect of navigating daily life in Cuba.
• Está bueno ya – “That’s enough.” A firm but common way to tell someone to stop talking or doing something.
• Candela – Literally ‘candle’ or ‘flame’, this word is used to describe a difficult, intense, or problematic situation. You might hear someone exclaim, “¡Hay candela!” to mean “There’s a big problem!”

Pronunciation and Intonation Tips

The ‘S’ Sound

As mentioned, the dropped ‘s’ at the end of syllables and words is a hallmark of Cuban Spanish. Listening for this will help you better understand the local accent.

• Example: The phrase ‘los tomates’ might sound more like ‘loh tomateh’.

The ‘LL’ and ‘Y’ Sounds

These are typically pronounced with a soft ‘j’ sound, similar to the ‘j’ in ‘jet’. For example, the word ‘calle’ (street) sounds like ‘cai-jeh’.

The ‘R’ Sound

Spanish has both a soft ‘r’ and a rolled ‘rr’. While the rolled ‘rr’ is distinctive, do not worry about perfecting it; your meaning will still be clear even with a standard English ‘r’ sound.

Cadence and Rhythm

Cuban Spanish has a characteristic musicality, with an up-