Benicio Del Toro Adds Unexpected Flair to SNL‘s Spanish Language Sketch
Benicio Del Toro delivered a delightful surprise during Saturday Night Live this weekend,joining host Bad Bunny and comedian Marcello Hernandez in a hilarious sketch that playfully poked fun at the often-baffling rules of the Spanish language.The unexpected cameo quickly became a highlight of the show, leaving audiences thoroughly entertained.
The sketch transported viewers to medieval Spain, where bad Bunny and Hernandez took on the roles of instructors attempting to explain the logic – or lack thereof – behind spanish grammar to a group of perplexed scholars. Their explanations were wonderfully absurd, highlighting the quirks that make the language so unique.
Hernandez offered a prime exmaple,stating that the ocean is considered masculine “because it is fun,but sometimes,for no reason,it kill you.” This perfectly captured the arbitrary nature of gendered nouns in Spanish.
Kenan Thompson chimed in with a simplified rule: “a girl word is a girl thing.” Tho, Bad Bunny quickly corrected him, pointing out that even seemingly feminine words like “dress” (vestido) are actually masculine in Spanish.
Further illustrating the point, Bad Bunny explained that the word for “Bible” is feminine “because it’s lovely.” Hernandez added another layer, noting that the Bible often prohibits things, reinforcing the idea that it’s a guiding, and therefore feminine, force.
The sketch took a darkly comedic turn when Mikey Day, portraying a Barcelona delegate with an exaggerated pronunciation, suggested skipping the lesson. His suggestion was met with swift, off-camera consequences – a beheading – underscoring the seriousness with which these linguistic rules were apparently held.
Hernandez then introduced his cousin, who promised to share “a few more rules that you’ll only need to remember for school but will be totally useless in real life.” This set the stage for Del Toro’s entrance.
Del Toro, fresh from promoting his latest film, stepped onto the stage and immediately commanded attention. He began by explaining the nuances of formal and informal address in Spanish, differentiating between tú and usted – the two ways to say “you.”
He then playfully demonstrated the famously challenging Spanish rolled “r,” or trill, exaggerating the sound with a drawn-out “errrrre.” This resonated with anyone who has ever attempted to master this tricky pronunciation.
The sketch brilliantly highlighted the frequently enough illogical, yet charming, aspects of the Spanish language. It’s a topic many learners can relate to, and the comedic timing of Bad Bunny, Hernandez, and Del Toro made it a truly memorable SNL moment.
If you missed it, be sure to watch the sketch – it’s a fun and insightful look at the beautiful complexities of Spanish.
