Spanish language in Cuba

[stogieluver]

I'm thinking of buying a Spanish language course. On my trip to Cuba, one of our group of Americans spoke Spanish, but he said the Cuban version of the language was a little different from what he knew of the language. He could communicate, but some variations of the language caused some miscommunication.

Can anyone tell me what these differences are and if there is a particular course I would need to take to communicate best in Cuba.

After visiting this island in 2012, I'm so enthralled that I'm fantasizing with the idea of one day trying to participate in the capitalization of the island. It probably will never come to fruition, but Spanish is a language I think would be useful these days anyway.

[Rushman]

I speak Spanish and my wife is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico. She has been to Cuba 100's of times and I have been a few with no issues. Sure there are subtle differences but if you have even a decent command of Spanish you will do very well. Far more similarities than differences.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=19.390069,-81.404631

[Hiroshiro]

Central America to South America to Spain very Different. Central America/Mexican to Caribbean Countries should be pretty close.

[CUBANO]

Take me I can translate for you. I know all the Cuban slang. LOL

[stogieluver]

Deal, but you buy the cigars and rum.

Take me I can translate for you. I know all the Cuban slang. LOL

[madandana]

I speak Spanish and my wife is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico. She has been to Cuba 100's of times and I have been a few with no issues. Sure there are subtle differences but if you have even a decent command of Spanish you will do very well. Far more similarities than differences.

Hey Rush,

Did you know spanish prior to meeting your wife or did she help you along?

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=19.390069,-81.404631

[CUBANO]

Deal, but you buy the cigars and rum.

It would be my pleasure. Tuesday we are having a Cuban pig roast with cigars and Havana Club to celebrate the New Year.

[Cmontoya79]

Only difference are colloquialisms/slang. The Castilian Spanish taught through most if the world will work. If your interests in Cuba are in business, then I'm sure you can find a business course to help you.

[stogieluver]

Thanks for all the good advice.

[TiminBC]

I have been taking Spanish for over a year (not that you would know :}) You want to learn Latin American Spanish. Each country in Central and South America has its own idioms as does English around the world.

A book would be helpful for grammar but I would suggest a local class so your pronunciation is good.

Here is a free online course which is old but will help with your listening. Memorizing verbs and nouns is one thing. Reading and speaking another but you must also rain you ear to listen.

http://learner.org/s...inos/watch/ep1/

However you decide to learn it find a method that is fun or you will likely give up. Learning a language is supposed to have great benefit to keeping your brain fit and sharp into our later years.

Finally the words for food and clothing can be very different in each country so it is worth a little research on these items.

[puromaniac]

Stogieluver, I put together a cheat sheet of common Spanish phrases for my fishing (hence, my avatar) and other trips and am happy to share if you send me an e-mail. Doesn't replace a good language course or book but it helps. Contact info in my profile.

[stogieluver]

Email sent. Thanks, Puro!

Stogieluver, I put together a cheat sheet of common Spanish phrases for my fishing (hence, my avatar) and other trips and am happy to share if you send me an e-mail. Doesn't replace a good language course or book but it helps. Contact info in my profile.

[stogieluver]

Thanks, Tim!

I have been taking Spanish for over a year (not that you would know :}) You want to learn Latin American Spanish. Each country in Central and South America has its own idioms as does English around the world.

A book would be helpful for grammar but I would suggest a local class so your pronunciation is good.

Here is a free online course which is old but will help with your listening. Memorizing verbs and nouns is one thing. Reading and speaking another but you must also rain you ear to listen.

http://learner.org/s...inos/watch/ep1/

However you decide to learn it find a method that is fun or you will likely give up. Learning a language is supposed to have great benefit to keeping your brain fit and sharp into our later years.

Finally the words for food and clothing can be very different in each country so it is worth a little research on these items.

[SCgarman]

You might be able to look into a Spanish teaching course at one of your local community colleges in your area. Maybe take an evening shift class a couple of days a week. I took Spanish class as an elective in high school back in the early 80's. Glad I did as I live in the Washington DC suburbs of Virginia where there is a large Latino population that cannot speak English. Once you learn basic Spanish words and how to pronounce them, you can basically go to any country that is Spanish speaking and be able to communicate with the natives regardless of the fact some words may be a little different from place to place. Let us know what you decide to do.

[stogieluver]

Anyone know anything about the Rosetta Stone courses?

[Faire]

Native spanish speaker here.

The differences between all the spanish speaking countries are the accent, the slang and the speed they speak... But we all can understand each other because its the same language. The problem is all the accents change A LOT from country to country and there are countries with very strong accent and a lot of slang like Cuba, Puerto Rico or where I live, Chile. Most foreigners here tell me that despite all their spanish courses they took in school, they didnt understand anything when they first came. They had to learn "chilean" only with time talking to locals. You as american can even speak spanish in Peru (they speak slower, clearer and with very few slang) and then come to Chile and you wont understand anything. Unfortunately there's no such things as chilean or cuban courses... Because you know, slang born and dies in the street.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Hiroshiro]

Peru = Vamos al Eki! Doko esta el toire? (Love Peruvian half Spanish half Japanese) ::lets go to the train station:: ::where is the bathroom::

[CUBANO]

Peru = Vamos al Eki! Doko esta el toire? (Love Peruvian half Spanish half Japanese) ::lets go to the train station:: ::where is the bathroom::

Just like Spanglish.

[Hiroshiro]

Spanglenese? Japanish?

[CUBANO]

Spanglenese? Japanish?

Bien hecho, comico, Hiro. Cuidate hermano.

[Ken Gargett]

for what it is worth, my spanish mates tell me that the cuban spanish is much more akin to old spanish. they also say that to them, it sounds very beautiful, more so than normal spanish. but i don't think you'll have many problems there is you can speak spanish spanish.

[oliverdst]

Stogie, if I were you I would focus on what you want to do after learning spanish: talk to native speakers while travelling, use it in business, need just to speak or write as well?

If you just want to comunicate maybe a private teacher would be better. If you need it at work maybe a regular course.

[Nino]

I'm thinking of buying a Spanish language course. On my trip to Cuba, one of our group of Americans spoke Spanish, but he said the Cuban version of the language was a little different from what he knew of the language. He could communicate, but some variations of the language caused some miscommunication.

Can anyone tell me what these differences are and if there is a particular course I would need to take to communicate best in Cuba.

Being Spanish myself and speaking Castilian Spanish, my experience is that you'll find very good spoken Spanish in Cuba with an attractive and not too heavy accent or variation, unless you find yourself in Habana Vieja where slang rules or speak with people from Oriente where there is a heavier accent.

The majority of Cubans speak formal and correct Spanish and the differences are minimal.

Speaking normal ( Castilian ) Spanish will certainly give you a better understanding and get you closer to the people.

There is no "Cuban" language class to take, but learning specific Cuban expressions will come with time spent there.

I understand Cuban Spanish much better than, say, the Spanish spoken in Buenos Aires - there you certainly need local Spanish classes .... :-) but in Cuba you will find Spanish to be quite understandable - it comes basically from southern Spain and the Canary Islands where the Spanish spoken is softer and easier than the stiff Castilian spoken in central and northern Spain.

I leave you with 2 links to Cuban Spanish and the subtle differences :

http://www.oncubamag...ablal´espanol/

http://hereishavana....an-translation/

Suerte !

Nino

[stogieluver]

I'm appreciating all the good comments and advice.