Dominican Spanish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dominican Spanish |
|
|---|---|
| Dominican Spanish | |
| Native to |  Dominican Republic Puerto Rico Bahamas Haiti Spain United States Jamaica Curacao Netherlands Antilles U.S. Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Venezuela |
| Native speakers | 13.5 million (2006) |
| Language family |
Indo-European
|
| Dialects | |
Dominican Spanish is the way the Spanish language is spoken in the Dominican Republic. It's also used by Dominicans living in other countries around the world. This unique way of speaking Spanish has a rich history, blending influences from different cultures.
Contents
Where Dominican Spanish Comes From
Dominican Spanish mainly comes from dialects spoken in the Canary Islands and Andalusia, which are regions in southern Spain. However, it also has some interesting influences from West African languages. The original language of the island, Arawak, didn't leave many words behind. Mostly, it gave us names for certain foods and places.
African Language Influences
When people from West Africa came to the Dominican Republic, they brought their languages with them. These languages, like Igbo and Kikongo, mixed with Spanish. This created some unique ways of saying things in Dominican Spanish.
For example, sometimes the word order is different from standard Spanish:
- Dominican Spanish: "Como tu ta?" (How you are?)
- Standard Spanish: "¿Cómo estás tú?" (How are you?)
You can also find words that come from African languages:
Many experts believe that the Kikongo language had a big impact on how Dominican Spanish sounds and is put together.
Special Dominican Words
Dominican Spanish has many words and phrases that you might not hear in other Spanish-speaking countries. Some of these words also have African roots. Here are a few examples:
- Chalina: This means "tie" (like a necktie).
- Mai: This is a short, friendly way to say "mother."
- Pai: This is a short, friendly way to say "father."
- Soga: This means "any type of rope."
- Bembe: This is a word for "lips."
- Matatan: This means "the man" or "the true man," often used to describe someone important or skilled.
- Kikonde: This means "to hide."
Languages Similar to Dominican Spanish
There are other languages and dialects that share similarities with Dominican Spanish.
Palenquero is a special language spoken in a small town on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It's a mix of Spanish and African languages, with some influences from Portuguese.
The way people speak Spanish in eastern Cuba is very similar to Dominican Spanish. Because of these similarities in language and culture, some Cubans even call the eastern part of their island "another Dominican Republic."
See also
In Spanish: Español dominicano para niños
