Flag of Cuba
Spanish in different countries always sounds different…
I had a question in a language forum about some of the nuances of Cuban Spanish, and I came up with a few ideas. This list is not definitive, but it is a good start.
Cuba, a country of the West Indies, is the largest single island of the archipelago, and one of the more influential states of the Caribbean region. President McKinley signed a joint Congressional resolution demanding Spanish withdrawal and authorizing the President to use military force to help Cuba gain independence on April 20, 1898.
Map of Cuba
This is only my opinion, but I think Cuban Spanish is an eclectic combination of several things;
- It is fast..Faster than Mexican Spanish, but not as fast as the Dominican Republic speakers.
- It comes from the chest like Castilian Spanish, not nasal like Mexico.
- It has the rhythm of coastal Colombian Spanish like a laid back poem.
- With that laid back feel in mind from a distance, you might think you are listening to Brazilian Portuguese.
- Some words get cut off or shorten like in Southern Spain…”Besos Cha”..( Chau) “Encatau” (Encantado).
My favorite Netflix for studying Cuban Spanish is “Four Seasons in Havana”;
Some other resources you might like to look at:
Havana Nights: The Cuban Spanish Lessons You Need for Authentic Island Fun