“When we arrived in Nicaragua we were surprised to hear…or should I say not hear…the pronunciation of the letter”S”.  For instant “Buenos dias” is pronounced by a Nicaraguan as “Bueno dia” & the commonly said “Gracias” is spoken as “Gracia”. This can be a little confusing for someone struggling to learn Spanish in this foreign land.  In Spanish when talking to someone in the informal “you” the words typically end in “S”, dropping this letter sound means there is no difference than if you were talking about s/he.

Our son’s name includes one important “S”, Titus. Without it, his name sounds more like Tutu.  Since our maid is Nicaraguan, in the last couple months we have gotten very used to the sound of his name without the “S” sound.  Juanita is in our home most of the day, 6 days a week and while she is there I always refer to Titus as “Titu”. Even our daughter Azalea more often calls him Titu (or as I spell it T2) than Titus. It is easier to introduce him to locals as Titu. If I try to introduce his name as normally spoken, the local will typically vocally trip all over the word, but if I say “Titu” then they easily repeat it and continue cooing to him in Spanish.

Living here, I’m now conflicted.  Do I continue to pronounce the “S” to practice proper Spanish as I learn or do I drop it to sound more like a local.  Perhaps I continue to pronounce it since I have heard that the schools are now making a push to teach the kids to enunciate with the “S”…