In the Canary Islands there is no official language, we speak Spanish. However, we do have everyday canary words as in each autonomous community. It is likely that some of them you have already heard, others we are sure will be the first time you read them. Just like we have canary words, we also have many canary expressions. But in this entry we are going to focus only on the words. What do you think of the idea of learning a little about canary lexicon before your trip?
Most used Canarian words
Next we are going to review a selection of 21 canary words explaining its meaning to you. We have chosen the most everyday ones, although you will see that we also include some rarer ones. Keep in mind that in the Canary Islands we also have different words to refer to the same thing between islands. We will tell you in the next few lines.
1. Guagua, a very common Canarian word
A bus is a bus in the Canary Islands. Perhaps it is one of the best-known words in the Canary Islands. Here we say "I'm going to take the bus." Even intercity transportation Las Palmas de Gran Canaria It is called “Municipal Buses”.
2. Cholas
The cholas are the flip flops or beach slippers. This Canarian word is used in all the Canary Islands. There is no other term in our vocabulary to describe this article. Put on your cholas, we're going to the beach!
3. Crop
A crop becomes a drink in Spanish. Can you give me a drink of water because I'm very thirsty?
4. Roscas or cotufas, different Canary words by province
The threads on Gran Canaria are popcorn. Here a distinction is made between islands or provinces, since in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, they are cotufas. How about? At the end of this article we leave you with a super fun video about different words that we use in the Canary Islands to refer to the same thing.
5. T-shirts or tennis shoes
In this Canarian word we also make a distinction by island. It is about the sneakers, which in Gran Canaria we call beach shoes and in Tenerife tennis.
6. Changed
When something is changed it means that it is distorted. That palm tree is a little warped!
7. Get straight
This Canarian word is also very common. Being enralado means something like being euphoric, very motivated and fun. In reality there is no equivalent word in Spanish. "Just seeing my friends makes me crazy."
8. Embostarse and jartarse, two synonymous Canary words
Getting stuck and getting stuck mean the same thing. He means eat until you can't eat anymore, until you are full and fed up.
9. Calufa
When we say how hot! we meanhow hot!
10. Jaya or jilorio
I have jaya or what jilorio means among the Canaries,I'm hungry! and how hungry!
11. Millo
In the Canary Islands we call millet corn. We add a millet pineapple to the stew here, not an ear of corn.
12. Dung
Dump is someone who is very fat. For example, what a stupid guy! In addition, we also refer to a very large poop with the word dung.
13. nerds
The nerds are toes in the Canary Islands. My new shoes hurt.
14. Phos
If you hear someone say phos, it is very canarian. We use this word when something smells bad. We say "fos, how bad it smells." Or just fos and you already understand that it stinks hehe.
15. Ños or chos
Boys or girls, it's a canary word used for many purposes. It can be synonymous with Phew! or even wow! For example, “boys! "How hot!" or "boys, what a great car!" And the same with chos, "chos, how quickly you arrived!"
16. Machango
The word machango is usually used to derogatorily call a person who does or says stupid things. It can also be a doll.
17. Maúro or magician, different Canarian words by province
A person magician (Tenerife) or maúra (Gran Canaria) is a country person. Don't be stupid and speak well!
18. Arretranco
An arretranco becomes a junk, usually old. You have a house full of things!
19. Tendrils
The tendrils are the pending earrings. Yes, that jewel that we put in our ears are earrings. You wear the earrings to match the choker!
20. Guachinche or bochinche, different Canary words by province
Finally, a bochinche or guachinche It is an establishment where you will be able to eat homemade canarian food. Furthermore, these are usually family businesses in garages or very large premises where the food is homemade, the wine is self-produced, the tablecloths are made of paper, the price is affordable and the bustle is very common. We invite you to discover the sites most similar to guachinches or bochinches that we have in Gran Canaria.
21. Chacho or chacha, the best Canarian word
We can easily say this word 10 times a day. It becomes the equivalent to "uncle" or even the word "jolines" in very informal language and to demand attention. For example, "chacho, send me the photo now." Or, for example, "chacha, I'm waiting for you, where are you?"
Canarian words Gran Canaria and Tenerife
Below we leave you with a fun video about the different words that we use in the Canary Islands to refer to the same thing. We invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss any more videos about Gran Canaria.
Episode of our Gran Canaria podcast: Canarian words
In this chapter you will be able listen to how we Canarians speak and pronounce each of the Canarian words that we have listed above. It is clear that if you are from the Canary Islands you will know them all, therefore, share it with your friends from the Peninsula or those who are learning Spanish in the Canary Islands! In the episode we didn't talk to you about the word chacho, but you must memorize it hehe.
Learn more Canarian words in Gran Canaria
Do you dare to visit a Canary Island? In our travel guides section you have everything you need to know to get to know Gran Canaria on your own.
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
what what
sponge cake, sponge cake
Enchochao, I don't know if it's only from the Canary Islands, this word is used when you are very interested in someone or something❗😉
Hello Sole! Thank you very much for your comment! Enchochao is a classic, I think it is Canarian yes 🙂
In Gran Canaria I always say bochinche to the beach bars at the parties... tin booths and so on. But I have never interpreted it as the guachinches of Tenerife.
I say Fos, when it makes me sick, even though I can't smell it.
also! hahaha
palanquin
Bad, street
Interesting
Sanchesque (skate or skateboard)
First time we read it hehe. Thanks for sharing it with us Evaristo 🙂
Millo, dung and strap (when referring to a pile) are Galician words. Millo means corn, dung is cow dung and a feije in Portuguese is a pile, feixe in Galician.
The Canary Islands had a lot of Portuguese influence in the past. We owe them many words and the use of the simple past perfect instead of the compound.
There has been a small slip, guachinche is used in Tenerife and bochinche in Gran Canaria
Chacho, not even I, being a Canarian, knew most of the words.
It seems that you are interested in internationalizing the island of Canary. Very good very good…
We think it has been quite international for decades hehe but we always have new visitors 🙂
I don't know if they say jilorio on the rest of the islands, but in Tenerife the most common phrase for when we are hungry, we say I have gazuza.
The truth is that I don't know either, it is clear that each island has its peculiarities hehehe in Gran Canaria we say jilorio and the younger ones say jaya! hehe a hug neighbors!