España·~2 millones
Canary Islands
El puente atlántico. El español canario suena más a Caribe que a Madrid — por eso fue.
Pronunciation
Seseo (no /θ/ distinction — 'casa' and 'caza' identical). Aspirated final 's' similar to Andalusian. The pace is intermediate — slower than Andalusian, faster than Castilian. The 'j' is softer (closer to English 'h').
Grammar and register
Crucially: NO vosotros. 'Ustedes' for both formal and informal plural — same as Latin American Spanish. This is unique within Spain. Diminutives often go in '-ito'.
Distinctive words
bus (NOT car like in Andes)
“Cojo la guagua hasta el centro.”
potatoes (NEVER 'patatas')
“Papas arrugadas con mojo picón.”
Canarian sauce (red or green)
“Esto sabe mejor con mojo.”
a bit / a small amount
“Échame un fisco más de café.”
Context
The Canaries were the last Spanish stop for ships headed to the Americas — Columbus refueled at La Gomera in 1492. The dialect crossed the Atlantic with the conquistadors and their crews, which is why Canarian Spanish and Cuban Spanish often sound startlingly similar. The local government has its own identity disputes with Madrid.