Day 421: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arriving in Argentina I have been faced with the most difficult shift in Spanish since Colombia. The biggest hurdle is that the pronounciation is different with yo becoming sho and LL moving from a Y sound to a SH sound.
I probably should be brushing up at a Spanish school but I am spending all my money on steak dinners and learning Argentine Spanish on the street. I have discovered slang is so complex here they have a name for it – lunfardo.
Everyday words completely change and I have been lucky to meet Michael‘s friend Chance early on. Chance is a tour guide here and I would be completely lost in the city without him. He knows everything about it, including what vocabulary I need to know right away.
Food
Who thought eating could be so difficult! In each country I have noticed small differences but not as much as in Argentina:
Bacon was tocina but now is pancetta.
Butter was mantequilla but now is manteca.
Avocado was aguacate but now is palta.
Peach was durazno but is now melocoton although apparently it is the same in Mexico.
Hotdog is no longer salchicha but pancho.
And I learned that fiambre means deli meats and are very popular here.
Talking to and about people
Che is possibly the most famous lunfardo expression which is often used to say hey you and seems to appear mostly as a question such as hey where are you going.
Chabon is a casual way to say guy or dude.
Joya literally means a gem but people used it to describe others who have done something nice.
Gaucho also used to describe a guy who has gone out of his way to be a gentleman, in my case Chance has been un gaucho during my time in Buenos Aires.
Chamuyero (chah-moo-SHARE-o) is a smooth talker or a a bullshitter. Not necessarily someone who wants to sell you something but this guy is talking you up to talk your pants off sometime in the future.
Talking about myself
Fiaca means tiredness or laziness. It’s when you feel like doing nothing and is most often used by people when they are at work the day after going out hard the night before.
A full means totally or absolutely.
Shopping
Mango is a peso. You could say something costs 70 mangos and if you are broke No tengo un mango that you don’t have a single mango.
Trucha literally means trout but is used to describe a bad/poor quality fake and believe me there are tons of them here.
Cheto/a is used to describe something snobby because it is exclusive or expensive.
Good vibes and sexy nights
Bueno onda is used all the time in Buenos Aires, everyone is talking about their onda. It’s how they describe people places and things, if you ask about a restaurant they may tell you the food was great but the onda was lacking.
Telo is not a slang word but one you should know. It is used to describe one of the many sex hotels you can rent by the hour. It is very common in this city as many young couples still live with their parents.
Forro is a condom.
Tapu is a slut and a very common example of the piglatin that Argentine’s use as it is normally puta.
According to Chance this is a good start, but I have a feeling this is just a fraction of what I need to know.
For more South American slang check out
Colombian Slang
Ecuadorian Slang
Peruvian Slang
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I'm Ayngelina and in my mid-thirties. I left an amazing job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to find inspiration in Latin America. I'm creating a new life choosing what I want instead of what other people think I should do.
That’s interesting how they use the Italian word pancetta for bacon. Although I guess there are a lot of similarities with the Spanish language.
Dean recently posted..How to travel through Tuscany
Most Portenos are from an Italian heritage and you see the influence in the language and the food.
There’s actually more similarities between the Argentinian and the Italian, than the Argentinian and the Spanish …people, habits and language.
crazy sexy fun traveler recently posted..9,601.56 € -12 MONTHS, 14 COUNTRIES, 21 FLIGHTS
I completely understand you. I mean, I am from Spain and I also have a hard time sometimes with other spanish-speaking countries slang
Adriana Perez Vieira recently posted..cielo de aves migratorias
Here are a couple more you will eventually run into:
morfar, lastrar: to eat
chorear: to steal
mango: Like 3 bucks; 3 mangos
trolo: gay
cheto: preppy
forro: is condom but it really means ‘prick’
Enjoy you’re stay…
Fabricio recently posted..fabriciovai- Ever since prince Willy got married Ive been thinking What does a queens husband do
Hey thanks so much, there’s so much to learn here!
I love these slang posts — so interesting to see the subtle (and not so subtle) differences as you make your way through each country…
Raymond recently posted..Travel Photo of the Week — The Head of Ramses II- Luxor Egypt
Pancetta es mágico? haha
How on Earth are you still posting during volcanic eruptions and cancelled flights? I really hope that you make it to Vancouver!!
Seattle Dredge recently posted..How to Make Friends while Traveling
Me too!
great language tips for travelling in Argentine. what is toilet in the slang?
Zablon Mukuba recently posted..Volunteer abroad work permit in Kenya
Toilet : is Baño or you can say, ñoBa that´s ultimate porteño slang!
Love it! Argentina has its own language, but many of the terms you list here are shared with Chile as well: palta, joya, a full, buena onda… but the accent can really throw you.
Once on an Aerolínea Argentina flight the attendant offered me “carne o pocho.” Carne is beef, of course, but I had never heard of pocho, so I thought I’d try that. She looked at me like I was an idiot. “Es pocho! Pocho!” (???) until my husband said “pollo” Duh…chicken!
Margaret recently posted..Chilean Olive Oil- a day on the job
That happens every day to me!
Some of these words I hope I never use!
Thanks for sharing the slang. Every country has it but I don’t think ours changes that much. From generation to generation it does but I am so not hip it doesn’t matter anyways.
Jeremy Branham recently posted..Changing lives around the world through volunteer travel
It seems like you’ve made a good enough start on the important food words. They’re the most important in any country, I reckon.
I’m very curious about how those final slang words came up in conversation, though!
The Dropout recently posted..Jurong Frog Farm – BYO Prince
Ahh that’s all thanks to Chance who seems to think I need to know these words
I’m loving the street art and graffiti! They almost make better pictures than the gorgeous buildings. And I also really need to start learning some Spanish before next year, but by the looks of it I still may end up in a muddle with all the changes in pronunciation and spellings.
Julia recently posted..Travel- I Love You Just The Way You Are
I started with the Spanish Survival Guide podcast, it’s great for the basics.
These are always among my favorite posts, great cultural insight. I think mango is my fave, mostly because it is also the best fruit on earth.
I would be in so much trouble if I went to Argentina! It’s hard enough learning another language, let alone all the slang. Thanks for sharing these!
Jeanette recently posted..Roasted Corn- Avocado and Black Bean Salsa
I love how regional slang can be, and how it gives an atmosphere to the location. Great photos, I love the street art!
So it’s probably bad that I have been in Buenos Aires longer than you, and I only know half of these
The Travel Chica recently posted..Learning to Cook in Buenos Aires
Languages change from the bottom up, and many new words enter our languages through the “slang” door. Still, not all new words are there to stay, and nothing is as old-fashioned as yesterday’s slang.
As for the blue variety of slang, there is a very groovy (there, I said it) article here:
http://nymag.com/print/?/arts/books/features/adam-mansbach-2011-6/index2.html
Love it, thanks so much Michael.
Amazing at how the slang is so different in the different countries of South America, and here I thought Spanish was Spanish.
Laurel recently posted..Things to Do in Winchester
Oh no it varies everywhere I go.
So many countries so many different things, language, food, clothing, and it makes it all interesting.
Thanks for sharing the photos and story about the differences and how you are trying to adapt
Eileen
Eileen Ludwig recently posted..Fort Lauderdale Beach Great American Beach Party
Ok I am getting internal error and or duplicate comment but nothing has submitted yet so I am adding this in the beginning to try and trick the server.
So many countries so many different things, language, food, clothing, and it makes it all interesting.
Thanks for sharing the photos and story about the differences and how you are trying to adapt
Eileen
Eileen Ludwig recently posted..Fort Lauderdale Beach Great American Beach Party
Fun list and helpful too. My Spanish is terrible and I find it frustrating how certain words have different meanings throughout Latin America. Love the ‘mango’ meaning…I’ll have to remember that one.
Red recently posted..Lazy Lion in a Tree- Zimbabwe
Good to know. I think I’ll leave Argentina for the end of my time in South America so I don’t confuse myself before I get better at speaking Spanish.
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler recently posted..Boat Ride from Hell – Chitwan- Nepal
Oh I hate that! Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out they go and change it on you.
I thought Che was a revolutionary and a gaucho was a cowboy! Shows how little I know.
fun and interesting post.
Debbie Beardsley recently posted..A Budapest Wine Adventure
Ernesto “Che” Guevara was a revolutionary — and he was from Argentina. He got his nickname from Cubans who remarked on his frequent use of the word “che”.
And the use of gaucho for gentlemanly and gallant is very much like the Spanish adjective caballero, or the English chivalrous — the idea of the horseman’s code of honor.
Love it! I wish I had found this guide 6 years ago haha.
Great info – and what we could have used in January. The change in the “ll”" sound really through us off.
Leigh recently posted..Notes from the Trail- Hiking the Camino de la Plata – Week 1
I’m Spanish and most of the expressions I have never heard before! Funny this lunfardo…
Sebastian recently posted..5 Regrets people have on their deathbed
I think you’ve covered the basics pretty well here. Love the word “onda” – think I’ll try to use that.
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..BART Art
My new favorite one is “vieja chota.” That’s what people called Cruella when I told them the story. Love the slang… but only when I know what the hell they are talking about.
The Travel Chica recently posted..Learning to Cook in Buenos Aires
Another great slang vocabulary post
robin recently posted..Playa
Love these slang posts! It’s just keeping track of where to use them
To this day I still use the ll “sh” and y “sho”. People get it tho. Thankfully.
Pete Heck recently posted..It’s the Little Things
Just reminds me how little Spanish I know! I wish I was better at languages, but some things to keep in mind for when I finally hit up Argentina.
Liz | Two Weeks to Travel recently posted..Expedition1000 – Mississippi River Paddle
For sure you’ve experienced how different spanish can be in different countries. Even I sometimes have a hard time understanding some words from other spanish speaking countries.
Norbert recently posted..5 Additional European Cities To Visit If You Love Architecture
This is what I love so much about travel. Every culture is so different and even though it’s the same language it’s different. I’m already horrible at speaking and understanding Spanish so any differences than what I already learned totally throws me off. I really loved Argentina and the Italian influence is such a nice touch.
Jerri recently posted..Travel Deals and Sweepstakes – Win an adventure to Morocco with iExplore
Great post. I remember struggling with Spanish when I hit Argentina…wish I could have read this at the time!
Abi recently posted..Now I See What All the Fuss Is About
The little language differences in each country are amazing and are exactly why just knowing Spanish isn’t enough because each country, and sometimes each region has its own list of slang.
Cornelius Aesop recently posted..A Historical Guide to Real Mexican Tequila
Argentine Spanish feels completely different than any other country.
The Aregentine accent is hard! I was at a restaurant the other day here in Santiago and the waiter was Argentine. He asked if our table had “servichetas”. Since I had no idea what they were, I said no. Then he came back with napkins (servilletas) and when he saw that there were already some on the table got really confused. To make matters worse I blurted out “Ahhh! ServiLLetas! Si, ya tenemos.” Haha.
When Chileans want to immitate the Argentine accent they put “che” before everything and “viste” after. Not sure if this is so accurate but it sure is hilarious.
Abby recently posted..Phrases to Live By
When I tell Argentines that Chileans are easier to understand they think I am crazy.
Wow! Very informative post. I had NO IDEA Argentine expressions and slang were so different! Like you, I was mostly familiarized with Central and most of South American Spanish. But when I moved to Spain, I had to re-learn entire vocabulary lists and phrases because a lot of words were different or had completely different meanings than what I had been taught. It’s interesting how much a language can change from region to region, isn’t it?
Michi recently posted..València- ciutat de le Spanish modern architecture and paella!
Every time I hit a new country I have to ask around if the slang I used before is still applicable.
Here are a few more:
boludo/a – Ayngelina, you told me you discussed this word in another post but I never saw it. For those who don’t know I would personally think this is the most popular lunfardo word (besides che perhaps) and can be used among friends in greeting but is very commonly used to refer to stupid people or people who have done something stupid or even to call someone (usually a guy who misleads a gal) an asshole; it seems, according to all my female friends here, that just about all Porteños are boludos
quilombo – something that is messed up (a situation, bad traffic, whatever)
pedo – normally means fart, but when used in the phrase estar EN pedo means to be drunk and when used in the phrase estar AL pedo means to have nothing to do or to be doing nothing
chanta – is kind of like chamuyar but more for the purpose of defrauding or cheating someone
Just to clarify, chamuyar is also a verb and refers to someone making stuff up or exaggerating, not just guys trying to get into a girl’s pants.
gato – prostitute
The above are what I gathered from some Porteña friends and I could have mis-understood the exact translations so any locals might want to review them.
Jeff recently posted..Street Art- Valparaíso- Chile
Great additions, I looked back and I hadn’t included boludo but you are right that it is very common.
Great Post! Spanish slang is so hard considering there are about 20 lands that speak Spanish as their official tongue. I felt like my Spanish was going well in Panama recently, until I ended up hanging out with a group of Argentinians from my hotel. After a short time, it got to the point where I could only catch a small bit of what they were saying, if that even. That dialect sure is heavy duty stuff.
I think Argentine Spanish is the most difficult to understand, it was also much easier for me in Panama.
I love the photos in this post!
Buenos Aires is an amazing place for photographers, if you can avoid getting robbed
nice and useful list
just a few comments:
it’s not “un gaucho”, it’s just “gaucho” as in “Chance fue re gaucho”.
about “bueno onda” it’s actually “buena onda”, since buena, here is an adjetive, and in spanish the adjetive has to have the same gender as the noun.
cheto/o is also used to describe people, not only things. is the short form for “concheta/o”, and is usually used to refer to rich and annoying people – or people that act as if they were rich.
and telo comes from saying hotel backwards – repeat many times hotel in spanish and you’ll get it
saludos!
Paulina recently posted..Pedo, estar al pedo, estar en pedo
Paulina
Thanks so much, my Spanish is a constant learning process. I hadn’t realized I forgot to explain that telo was hotel backwards, but yes I knew that
telo is not quite hotel backwards (which would be “letoh”) it’s a question of reversing the syllables. Other examples include feca = cafe, zapi = pizza, and gomia = amigo