Two Cubans compare how things are said in Santiago de Cuba and Ciego de Ávila: "What is that, fatería?"

Two Cuban women compare everyday terms from Santiago de Cuba and Ciego de Ávila in a viral video, highlighting linguistic differences and awakening regional pride with humor and authenticity.


A video on social media is causing laughter and sparking regional pride among Cubans. Two young people, one from Santiago de Cuba and the other from Ciego de Ávila, engage in a playful comparison of how various everyday objects are named in their provinces... and they can't even agree on how to serve soup.

For one, the utensil is a “saucepan”; for the other, a “ladle”, because “saucepan” is used more when someone is ignoring you. What one calls “hoe”, the other knows as “sickle”. And the list goes on: scale vs. armchair, pen vs. key, clip vs. pin, and even fongo vs. plantain.

But the word that caused the most uproar was "fatería."

“What is that fatería? Look up the dictionary for me,” one of the many users joked, laughing.

The video sparked a flood of comments defending the speech of each region. “I’m from Cienfuegos and the girl from Ciego speaks correctly,” said one user. Another responded: “I’m from Ciego, but I had never heard that word fatería. What nonsense!”

Daimelys (@yusnielmedero), one of the stars of the video, summed up the essence of the clip with good humor:

"That is the goal, for everyone to defend their way of speaking. In the end, we are all Cubans."

And that's how it is. Because if you also say "presilla" or "horquilla," if you drink from the "pluma" or the "llave," or if you were left speechless by "fatería," this video is a gem of criollo humor. Differences aside, we all speak Cuban: with flavor, wit, and a strong sense of identity.

Frequently Asked Questions about Linguistic Differences in Cuba

Why do linguistic differences in Cuba generate so much interest on social media?

The linguistic differences in Cuba generate interest because they reflect the cultural and regional diversity within the island. These variations in vocabulary are a source of pride and humor, and they promote debates and entertaining conversations among Cubans and people from other nationalities.

What reaction did the video of the Cuban women on TikTok generate?

The video generated an avalanche of comments in defense of the speech of each region. Many users participated in the debate, sharing their own experiences and linguistic preferences, which demonstrates the interest and cultural connection that these differences foster.

How is the richness of Spanish reflected in comparative TikTok videos?

The videos on TikTok that compare terms between different countries and regions, like those of Cuban and Venezuelan women, reflect that Spanish is a rich and diverse language. Each country and region has developed its own vocabulary and expressions, which enrich the language and spark interest and curiosity among speakers.

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Izabela Pecherska

Editor at CiberCuba. Graduated in Journalism from the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, Spain. Editor at El Mundo and PlayGround.