Sometimes, even native Spanish speakers can get tripped up by words and phrases used in other countries. A good friend of mine, Jorge is from Colombia but moved to Argentina to go to school. His Spanish and English are both impeccable, so I take great joy in any of his minor slip ups. It just […]

AALRPMQTRP Try saying that three times fast. I bet you didn’t learn the pronunciation rules for that many consonants in a row! Okay, okay, I’ll come clean. This is not a Spanish word, it is actually an acronym for the worst Argentine insult you can dish out: Andáte a la re puta madre que te re […]

If you have never been to Argentina, chances are you have never even heard of the vos form. It is not to be confused with the vosotros form, which is native to Spain and also frequently ignored in the classroom. The vos form is native to Argentina and is interchangeable with tú. While Argentinians will understand […]

The first time my Argentine friend asked me ¿me tenés? I was a little confused. By that time, I was at least used to the vos form conjugation of “tener,” but the direct translation “You have me?” left me drawing a blank. Luckily, I was able to figure this out through context because she was shoving […]

Just like in any language, Spanish has many words that have multiple meanings. The word “SUBIR” has several different meanings such as to go up, to get on, to climb up, to raise and many others along the same lines. Usually, you can figure it out from context, but the other day I came across […]

Mobile viewers: watch this video here https://youtu.be/5Gc4tim4EmUThis is the second part of the post Really Argentine or a Fake? For gestures 1 to 4 see the first part: Really Argentine or a Fake? 4 Non-Verbal Argentina Spanish Expressions.   Really Argentine or a Fake? Part 2 5. ANDÁ (A CAGAR) Gesture: hand open, facing body, […]

Mobile viewers: watch this video here https://youtu.be/5Gc4tim4EmUJust got in to Buenos Aires and feeling out of place? Gestures and body language in Argentina, more so than in many other countries, are an obligatory part of communication. Use these gestures to fit right in and communicate with the locals.   Really Argentine or a Fake? Part […]

Pedo is probably one of the most versatile words in Argentina. Pedo literally translates to “a fart,” but colloquially it also has the meaning of “a problem.” Here are some examples of Argentine slang phrases that use the word pedo.

This drawing illustrates the Argentine Spanish expression estar de pirata. It is featured in the book Speaking Argento: A Guide to Spanish from Argentina. ESTAR DE PIRATA: Argentine Spanish Expression • Literal translation: Being a pirate • Meaning: 1) to go out with male friends to pick up girls and cheat on your wife or […]

This list of Argentine Spanish slang and colloquial Spanish words used by locals includes more than 1,500 terms with English definitions.

Talking about criminal activities in a Spanish-speaking country will force you to get a deeper knowledge of the local words. Crime words in Spanish vary among countries and Argentina is not the exception. What you think should be a simple, common word might hold a double meaning. So pay attention to these examples! Here is […]

Have you heard the expression vender un buzón in Argentina? The Argentina Spanish expression vender un buzón literally translates to “to sell a mailbox” and means to cheat or scam someone. Similar English idioms are “pull the wool over their eyes” and “to sell someone the Brooklyn Bridge.” So, what’s the story behind this Argentine […]

If you have ever been to Argentina and spent a little time around the locals, it is likely you have heard the phrase “after office”. This is particularly true if you were there living or working as this is a term often used by professionals. So what does the term after office really mean? After […]

Let’s be honest. I bet you would like to hacer huevo every day. I’m not talking about making eggs daily, I am talking about the Argentina Spanish slang expression hacer huevo that means to not do anything or screw off. Take a look at the above illustration from my book Speaking Argento and don’t tell […]

Ever heard the phrase “Billetera mata galán” floating around in Argentina and wondered what in the world it means? Don’t worry; you’re not alone in the confusion. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Argentine sayings and unpack this gem. If you are looking for the English translation of this Argentina Spanish slang expression, here […]

Videos to Learn an Argentina Accent in Spanish Here are four videos that teach and demonstrate an Argentina Accent in Spanish. The first three are a mini-course to an Argentine Accent while the last video is a humorous impression by an American of an accent from Argentina. Course of Three Videos that Teach an Argentine […]

Conjugate Argentine Spanish Verbs: TENER The common verb TENER plays an important role in Argentine Spanish with over 15 variations. Here is how to conjugate it in Argentina using the Vos conjugation so common to the country. After, a list of the various phrases using TENER along with their meanings is included: Present Tense Yo […]

The Argentina Vos conjugation is used for the second personal, singular verb conjugations. This is the “you” form, or tu in most other Spanish countries, as in You need to buy a book or Tienes que comprar un libro. The Argentine Vos equivalent is Tenés que comprar un libro. Understanding Vos is important if you […]

What is Lunfardo? Lunfardo is a term that refers to Spanish slang words and phrases used in Argentina. Lunfa is the quick way to say it. A debate exists about whether Lunfardo refers to any Argentina slang or if it only applies to the original terms that began Lunfardo in the late 19th and early […]

The phrase en pampa y la via is an Argentina Spanish slang expression that means poor and penniless. While in the book Speaking Argento: A Guide to Argentine Spanish I am more focused on translating and explaining these types of sayings into English, I was curious about the origin of this phrase. Sergio Vázquez in […]