Just like any region of Britain or Ireland, the Canary Islands has its own words and phrases, many of which you won’t find in normal Spanish dictionaries. Some of them can give a vivid picture of the islands’ history. Here’s a few you may come across:

Chinijo: Only used on Lanzarote, this is a dialect word for a child. The islets and rocks off the north of Lanzarote are known as the Chinijo Archipelago as they look like the offspring of the main island. The word is seen and heard frequently, and often used in local schools and nurseries.

Guagua: Usually pronounced “wah-wah”, the Canarian word for bus is used in many Latin American countries, but most experts think it originated here, from the English word ‘wagon’. This is so much a part of normal language that it’s what you see written on bus stations. On mainland Spain they’re called autobuses.

Papa: The Canaries were the first place outside America where potatoes were cultivated, and the word papa derives from South America, but is widely used here. Potato cultivation is so important here that farmers have even developed Canarian versions of the names of famous British types of spud. Quineguas, for example, are King Edwards, and Arambana is the Arran Banner.

Sarantontón: This is the Lanzarote word for a ladybird. It’s a lovely word and even more useful now that the mainland Spanish word, mariquita, has taken on a new meaning, as an insulting term for flamboyant gay men.

Perinquén: The Eastern Canary Gecko is a fascinating and harmless little lizard that can often be seen crawling up walls or over ceilings. On the islands it’s known as the perinquén, a name which is thought to have its roots in the original Guanche languages.

Enyesque: A tasty morsel or titbit. The word sounds as if it could have Arabian roots, but is not found anywhere else in Spain. One of Arrecife’s best restaurants has used the name to signify its commitment to Canarian cuisine.

Queque: The word is taken from the English ‘cake’ and refers to a large doughnut-shaped cake filled with raisins and dusted with icing sugar. Other English words for food found here and all over Spain are ‘sandwich’ and ‘bistec’ (beef steak).

Mojo: Nothing to do with Austin Powers, this is the name for the tasty green and red sauces that accompany most Canarian main courses. The word derives from the Portuguese ‘molho’ and was probably brought by the numerous Portuguese settlers on the islands over the centuries.

Gofio: Toasted, ground maize was the staple diet of the islands for centuries, and you’ll still find racks of the stuff in any supermarket. The word dates back to the original Guanche inhabitants of the islands, who are believed to have come from Berber tribes in Morocco and Mauritania. The Guanche influence is also visible in the names of hundreds of places throughout the Canaries, as well as many local Christian names.