CubanSpanish

Cuban Spanish is the variety of the Spanish language spoken in Cuba and by Cuban communities abroad. It belongs to the Caribbean branch of Spanish and shares features with other Caribbean varieties such as those spoken in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Its development reflects Spanish colonial roots, substantial influence from West African languages, and extensive contact with English in urban areas.

Phonology and pronunciation commonly observed in Cuban Spanish include seseo (c and z pronounced as s) and yeísmo (ll and y pronounced the same). In many speakers, syllable-final s is aspirated or dropped in informal speech. The j and g sounds in certain positions are frequently realized as a glottal or weaker fricative, often heard as [h] or [x], a characteristic also found in other Caribbean varieties.

Lexicon and usage in Cuba feature a number of Afro-Cuban and English loanwords and calques. Distinctive Cuban terms such as asere (friend) and guagua (bus) are widely used. The language also exhibits regional slang and expressions that reflect daily life, music, and urban culture.

Grammar and pronouns follow general Latin American practice, with ustedes used for both formal and informal plural you. The vosotros form is rarely used in modern Cuba. Informal speech may include contraction forms such as ta, a shortened form of está, heard in phrases like ta bueno.

Regional variation exists within the island: Western Cuba often preserves older pronunciations and lexical choices, while the Eastern region shows its own distinctive intonation patterns. The Cuban diaspora, especially in the United States, frequently blends Cuban Spanish with American English, producing code-switching and a broader bilingual vocabulary.