For instance, cerrado becomes cerrao but when speaking about a feminine object, it then becomes cerra. It also occurs in feminine words that would ordinarily drop the letter D. Therefore, para nada becomes pa’ na’ and para que becomes pa’ que. The letter Z functions exactly like the S. Pescar is Pehcal (don’t forget to make that R an L!) and mezclar is mehclal. Again, almost non-existent and sounds like an H. The letter “S”įrankly, I don’t even know why we include this one in our alphabet. However, if there is another D in the same word, it is still pronounced. The letter “D”Īlmost non-existent in word endings. Instead the guttural R is used, which sounds identical to the R in French. In certain regions, the R is never rolled. Puerto Rico would be pronounced Puelto Rico. However, this is not the case if the R is at the beginning of a word. More often than not, the R is pronounced as an L. We’re constantly made fun of for this one. I just wanted to make that clear to avoid getting bulldozed by a fellow compatriot: “ OYE PERO YO NO HABLO ASI!!!!! “ However, these are the most recognizable characteristics of the Puerto Rican dialect. These language tendencies will not apply to everyone. It’s important to mention that accents always vary by region. Lets explore this dialect further and get you sounding like a true Boricua. Locals will be tremendously impressed if you manage to include some Puerto Rican slang into your Spanish. The dialect is a mix of the Taíno, Spanish and English language with African pronunciations, making it truly distinctive. Today, Puerto Ricans refer to themselves as Boricuas in order to illustrate recognition of their Taíno heritage. This was due to its abundance of natural resources in addition to having generous amounts of gold nuggets in its rivers. When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, it was renamed to Puerto Rico, meaning “rich port”. Puerto Rico was originally named Borikén, a Taíno word translated as “land of the brave people.” The Taínos are an indigenous people who have lived on the island since prior to Spain’s colonization. Additionally, there are certain words that are more or less the same in other countries but drastically different in Puerto Rico. We speak insanely fast and use slang in every other sentence. Some time ago, I met a woman from Argentina who said to me: “When Puerto Ricans speak Spanish, they sound like they’re rapping a Reggaeton song during the entire conversation.” She’s not wrong. Latinos usually agree that the Spanish from Puerto Rico is one of the most challenging dialects to understand.

And as a Spanish learner, this is the perfect place to arrive, listen to the local language and say to yourself: WHAT THE HELL DID SHE JUST SAY? In every woman, you will find your abuela, your mami, your hermana and titi. The warmth is palpable in the way the island embraces you the moment you set foot onto it. An island where, even when it’s raining, the sun still radiates through the smiles of its local people. The quintessential getaway for any person seeking an enchanting paradise to escape from their day-to-day routine.

Brave in spanish feminine