One of the most iconic words in Cuban slang, "asere"—along with its variant "acere"—is expected to be included in the new edition of the Spanish Language Dictionary (DLE) by late 2026. This was revealed by Cuban journalist and linguistic advocate Cristian Martínez González.
Martínez, who leads the Buen Idioma project, shared this announcement during an appearance on the television show Buenos Días, in a segment dedicated to Spanish language usage. A clip of this segment was later posted on Facebook.
"Asere is among the words planned for inclusion in the 24th edition of the Spanish Language Dictionary, or the Dictionary of the Academies of the Language, by late 2026," Martínez explained.
Anticipated Inclusion in the 24th Edition
The timeline aligns with the schedule announced by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) and the Association of Spanish Language Academies (ASALE), which plan to release the 24th edition of the DLE in 2026.
While the academic institutions have been preparing for this new edition, Martínez provided an early insight into the specific inclusion of "asere."
The "Asere" vs. "Acere" Debate
Martínez also addressed a longstanding debate among Cubans: whether to write it as "asere" or "acere." He stated that both spellings are correct, though the "s" version is more commonly used and thus preferred.
This view aligns with a 2023 recommendation from Buen Idioma, which noted that while both "asere" and "acere" are valid, the former is more prevalent, according to the Corpus of 21st Century Spanish.
The Dictionary of Americanisms by ASALE defines "acere" as "close friend, inseparable companion," also recognizing "asere" as a Cuban variant.
Understanding the Contextual Use
Martínez emphasized that "asere" is chiefly a Cuban colloquialism, and its acceptance does not imply appropriateness in all communicative contexts.
He dismissed the notion that it should be automatically considered vulgar or restricted to specific social groups. The Dictionary of Americanisms classifies it as a popular term that can also appear amongst educated speakers.
"It's a word that has spread throughout Cuban Spanish and there's no reason to censor it," Martínez asserted, recalling that the term was stigmatized for years and still sparks debate among some speakers.
The phrase gained international recognition in 2023 when "Team Asere" became the nickname for the Cuban national team during the World Baseball Classic, bringing this quintessential Cuban expression to the global sports stage.
Founded in 2020, Buen Idioma is committed to promoting the proper use of Spanish in Cuban media, answering linguistic queries, and disseminating orthographic and grammatical recommendations.
Martínez González, a Journalism graduate from the University of Havana, also serves as a university professor and editor-proofreader.
Understanding "Asere" and Its Significance
What does "asere" mean in Cuban Spanish?
In Cuban Spanish, "asere" is a colloquial term that means "friend" or "buddy," commonly used to address close companions.
When will "asere" be added to the Spanish Language Dictionary?
"Asere" is expected to be included in the 24th edition of the Spanish Language Dictionary, set to be published by late 2026.
Is "acere" also a correct spelling?
Yes, "acere" is a valid spelling, though "asere" is more frequently used and recommended.