Canarian is the everyday language of the people of the Canary Islands. Also called: the "Canarian dialect" or "habla canaria", this Canarian Castilian is based on the Spanish dialect, with some notes of Portuguese. Nevertheless, the Spanish language remains the official dialect. You'll find it in education, administration, commerce, tourism, and beyond.

The inhabitants of the Canaries speak Spanish, and more specifically Castilian. Spain's Spanish is the official language, used in all administrative matters. For instance, road signs and transport schedules are written in Spanish.

Other local specificities coexist alongside Spanish: notably Canarian (or canario), the language of the Canary Islands' people, which has borrowed heavily from Eastern Andalusian but has also drawn from English, Guanche, Hispanic-American Spanish, and Portuguese.

Canarian Castilian

Owing to its history, the Canary Islands adopted the language of Andalusia during a period of significant immigration. Over the centuries, as colonists from Spain and Portugal made the islands their territory, these three languages intertwined to create this melodious Spanish. However, Castilian has also been influenced by English, Guanche, and Hispanic-Portuguese. Furthermore, travelers may perhaps hear El Silbo, a whistled language.

Spanish in the Canaries

This language is used by at least 90% of the Canarian population. Here are some useful expressions:

• Hello / Good evening: "Hola / Buenas tardes"
• How are you?: "¿Cómo estás?"
• Very well, thank you, and you?: "Muy bien, gracias, ¿y tú?"
• Do you speak English/French?: "¿Hablas inglés/francés?"
• I understand / I don't understand: "Entiendo / No entiendo"
• Sorry: "Perdóname"
• Goodbye: "Adiós"
• Thank you (very much)!: "¡Muchas gracias!"
• Excuse me / Please!: "¡Perdóneme/por favor!"
• I am English-speaking: "Soy anglohablante"
• No thank you: "No, gracias"
• Yes / No: "Sí / No"
• You're welcome / My pleasure: "De nada / Te lo ruego"

Foreign languages

Other languages are also spoken on the islands, notably English and German. Due to neighboring countries, Arabic and Guanche dialects are sometimes spoken by locals, especially by the older generation.