Cuban explains why she doesn't say 'asere' and sparks debate on TikTok.

"Am I Cuban or not? because I don't say 'asere'," the young Cuban Malia Llovet said at the beginning of a video shared on TikTok while reflecting on why she doesn't use that word that is so common for many born on the island.

After an existential reflection on her own identity and in response to a comment from a user online, she shared her perspective on why she does not use 'asere', who she considers uses it more, and which term she usually employs to colloquially refer to a large or indeterminate group of people or interlocutors.

"Sir, I was walking and I just had an existential thought. Not all Cubans say 'asere'. It's an identity crisis. Am I Cuban or not? because I don’t say 'asere', sir. Look, 'asere' for those who don’t know the word, who aren’t familiar with Cuban terms or aren’t Cuban, 'asere' is like a word used to refer to another person. It can be a greeting, 'asere qué volá', 'asere qué vamos a hacer', you say it to a friend or someone, to another person. Now I just realized why I don’t use 'asere'," she said before providing a bit more context and moving on to her case.

"When I was growing up, it wasn't well seen. It wasn't said by house girls like me. Maybe that's why I don't say 'asere' either. So, just let them know that there are Cubans who don't say 'asere' and what we say is 'caballero'," she concluded.

Users' reactions came quickly, generating a lively debate in the comments: "I don't use it either and I don't eat ripe plantains"; "I also say 'caballero' and my female colleagues tell me we are not compañeros, we are women"; "I never use 'asere'"; "I never said 'asere' in Cuba, I always said 'caballero' because my grandmother never let me say 'asere'", some said.

"I use both because I'm from the center of Cuba."; "I don't say either of the two, I'm out of the teams."; "Gentleman is nicer."; "I don't say it either," others opined.

The controversy over the use of 'asere' and 'caballero' sparked an interesting debate about Cuban identity and the differences both within the island and among Cubans who have moved to other countries.

What do you think? Do you use 'asere' or 'caballero'? Leave your opinion in the comments and join the conversation.