Puerto Rico—known as Borikén by its Indigenous Taíno people—is more than beaches, music, and stunning landscapes. The Island’s contributions to global culture span music, cuisine, sports, and even everyday words used around the world. From the streets of San Juan to the mountains of Adjuntas, Puerto Rican contributions to the world continue to influence global culture in powerful and unexpected ways.
Whether you’re visiting or just curious about Puerto Rican culture, here are some things you might be surprised to learn were invented—or deeply shaped—in Borikén.
Whopper Jr.: A Puerto Rican Fast-Food First
Invented in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the Whopper Jr. was created in 1963 by Burger King’s first manager on the Island, Luis Arenas Pérez. When the molds for the full-sized Whopper buns didn’t arrive on time, he improvised with smaller buns from a local bakery—and a new menu item was born. Today, the Whopper Jr. is a staple at Burger King locations worldwide and one of the more widespread Puerto Rican inventions.
The 3-Point Shot: A Puerto Rican Innovation
Before the NBA adopted it, Puerto Rican sports director Eddie Ríos Mellado introduced the three-point line in a 1962 youth league in Guaynabo. Designed to give smaller players a scoring chance, this innovative idea changed basketball forever.
The Tripleta: A Street Food Staple
This iconic Puerto Rican sandwich layers three meats—typically pork shoulder, ham, and grilled steak—on sweet pan sobao bread, then tops it off with potato sticks and a savory ketchup-mayo sauce. The tripleta emerged from the Island’s cocina criolla and is a must-try in food trucks from Bayamón to Ponce.
Reggaetón: Born in San Juan’s Underground
Puerto Rico is the birthplace of reggaetón, a global music phenomenon that blends Latin, Caribbean, and hip-hop influences. The genre took shape in the late 1980s and early 1990s in San Juan, led by pioneers like Vico C, DJ Playero, and Daddy Yankee, who coined the term reggaetón in 1994. Today, artists like Bad Bunny carry the sound of Puerto Rico to international stages.
Salsa Music: A Puerto Rican Force
While salsa emerged in New York City during the 1960s, Puerto Rican artists and influences were essential to its evolution and are widely regarded as a Puerto Rican invention. From Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón to El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, the Island helped shape salsa dura into a musical powerhouse. Salsa rhythms still fill the plazas of San Juan, Mayagüez, and beyond.
Everyday Words with Boricua Origins
Puerto Rican Spanish is full of words with Indigenous, African, and colonial roots. Here are some with deep cultural significance:
- Wepa – A celebratory cheer used in music, dance, and daily life.
- Huracán – From the Taíno word for the storm deity, later adopted into Spanish and English.
- Hamaca – The original Taíno word for hammock, now used globally.
- Barbacoa – A Taíno term describing a method of cooking meat over a fire, now known as “barbecue.”
- Canoa – The Taíno word for canoe.
- Tabaco – Likely derived from Taíno language, describing both the plant and the smoking method.
- Guayaba – A fruit native to the Caribbean; the word comes from the Taíno term guayabo.
- China – A uniquely Puerto Rican word for orange, stemming from historical imports from Asia.
- Mahón – Used in Puerto Rico to refer to denim jeans, derived from the port city of Mahón in Spain.
- Pitorro – Puerto Rico’s potent, artisanal rum that is traditionally buried underground to age.
Each of these words reveals Puerto Rico’s linguistic and cultural legacy. Whether you're sipping jugo de china in Caguas or listening to le-lo-lai during a parranda in Naranjito, you’re experiencing a language deeply rooted in Borikén.
Why It Matters: Sustainability and Cultural Pride
Recognizing Puerto Rico’s contributions to the world isn’t just a cultural exercise—it’s a call to travel more responsibly. Every time you savor a tripleta in Aguadilla, dance to salsa in Guayama, or relax in a hamaca overlooking the El Yunque rainforest, you’re not just vacationing—you’re connecting with an Island that has shaped the world.
