Roxanne Vargas, affectionately known as "Roxy," a Cuban-American host on NBC6 South Florida, recently brought some light-hearted excitement to social media by celebrating the inclusion of "asere"—a quintessential word in Cuban slang—in the Spanish Dictionary by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE).
In a lively thirty-second video shared online, Vargas began with an enthusiastic "¡Asere!" and eagerly shared the news: "Did you hear? It's one of the most popular words in Cuban speech. And guess what? It's now part of the Spanish Dictionary."
The journalist addressed a long-standing spelling debate among Cubans: should it be written with a "c" or an "s"? Experts agree that both forms are acceptable, but "asere" with an "s" is recommended due to its more frequent use in everyday language.
To demonstrate how the word is used in a sentence, Vargas turned to her colleague and exclaimed, "¡Eh, mi asere!" She ended the clip with a smile, asking, "Did I say it right?"
The nod was directed at Muñiz, a Puerto Rican journalist and host at NBC6, turning the moment into a small celebration of the Caribbean diversity that defines South Florida.
Having spent over two decades with NBC6 and winning four Emmy Awards, Vargas was raised in a Cuban family in Miami, which explains her enthusiastic embrace of this linguistic milestone.
The inclusion of "asere" and "cocotaxi" in the dictionary's new edition was announced on October 31 in Madrid, as the RAE and the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (ASALE) unveiled the 24th edition of the DLE. This edition is the first to be conceived originally in digital format and comes twelve years after the previous one.
During the event, the Cuban Academy of Language specifically chose "asere" as Cuba's representative word, marking the end of a lengthy recognition process. Although the term was already included in the ASALE's Dictionary of Americanisms, its entry into the general DLE signifies a higher level of acknowledgment, as the DLE serves as the global reference for the Spanish language.
The debate over its correct spelling has its own history. In February 2021, the RAE featured "acere" with a "c" as the Cubanism of the day on its social media, sparking criticism from Cubans who argued that the common form was with an "s." The new dictionary edition has definitively settled this controversy.
NBC6 South Florida, the local NBC affiliate in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area, serves one of the largest markets of Cubans and Cuban-Americans outside the Island, making hosts like Vargas natural voices to celebrate such cultural recognitions.
Paz Battaner, director of the 24th edition of the DLE, encapsulated the essence of each update: "Dictionary authors can only aspire to explain the meaning and usage of words at a given moment, but they cannot predict the future. Therefore, works that capture the lexicon of languages must evolve if they are to remain useful."
FAQs on Cuban Slang and the RAE Dictionary
What does "asere" mean in Cuban slang?
In Cuban slang, "asere" is a colloquial term used to refer to a friend or buddy, similar to "dude" or "mate" in English.
Why was the inclusion of "asere" in the RAE Dictionary significant?
The inclusion of "asere" in the RAE Dictionary is significant because it represents formal recognition of a widely used Cuban term, highlighting its cultural importance and linguistic validity.
How did the spelling debate of "asere" get resolved?
The spelling debate was resolved with the new dictionary edition, which recommends "asere" with an "s" as it is more commonly used in everyday speech.