Are there cases when I can mute last s?

Question

Just listening Manu Chao's marvelous song, "Me Quedo Contigo" The question is - sometimes (not only in this song) it's sounds like last S in some words (ideas, ellas, siglos, ojos, labios etc.) is muted.

Is it a dialect or something? How widely this pronunciation is accepted?

I notice this often when people say "Buenas noches" and it sounds like "Buena noches." — Flimzy, Apr 26 '12 at 03:07

score 7 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 26 '12 at 03:08

7

It's dialectal, but very widespread. In many parts of Southern Spain and South America it's common to omit the last "s". It's never correct in standard Spanish.

edited Apr 26 '12 at 03:08

Flimzy

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answered Apr 25 '12 at 19:24

Javier Rodriguez Laguna

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Oh, I see. Once again it turns out that reality is more complicated than it described in tutorials ) thank you! – shabunc Apr 25 '12 at 19:30
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In Mexico is not common to do it. – Alfredo Osorio Apr 25 '12 at 20:20
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It is common in Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic. Also, this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_dialects_and_varieties#Debuccalization_of_coda_.2Fs.2F – Garrigus Carraig Apr 26 '12 at 00:11
I also heard this a lot in Venezuela. – Rachel May 02 '12 at 03:46
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When they drop the -s, this changes the preceding vowel, “opening” it up a bit. – tchrist May 14 '12 at 04:01

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 26 '12 at 13:38

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Caribbean countries barely pronounce the ending S at all, Colombians, Cubans, Puerto Ricans.

Manu Chao is quite a case. Since he (or mano negra / Former band) sings in French, Spanish, Portuguese, English and even in a dialect used between France, Spain and Portugal, which I can't remember the name.

Grammatically speaking, when you write it THE S MUST GO, there are no exceptions.

edited Apr 26 '12 at 13:38

Flimzy

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answered Apr 26 '12 at 00:15

Idea W

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Are there cases when I can mute last s?

2 Answers2