A bit about Argentine Spanish

Unique Argentine Spanish Sounds, Phrases, & Words

You can tell when a Spanish speaker is from Argentina. For starters, the way an Argentine pronounces “ll” (as in lluvia -- rain) or “y” (as in yogur -- yogurt) is quite unique, very similar to how “j” is pronounced in French.

The closest we get to that in English is the sound the “s” makes in “treasure” and “pleasure.” Practice making this sound with these Spanish words to give them an Argentine Spanish flair:

yo - - - -> I / me
mayo - - - -> May
ayudar - - - -> to help
llevar - - - -> to take (or to carry)
llave - - - -> key
pollo - - - -> chicken

As you listen to an Argentine speak, another language might come to mind: Italian.

The inflection and flow of Argentine Spanish is much closer to Italian than to Spanish spoken elsewhere, no doubt because of the large Italian population in Argentina.

Even the Italian ciao is used extensively for “goodbye” or “see you later.” Argentines write it as chau.

Another major difference is the translation for the familiar form of “you.” In the rest of the Spanish-speaking world, “you” is tú.

But in Argentina, “you” is vos. The corresponding verb typically changes as well, as shown in these examples:

Typical Spanish - - - -> Argentine Spanish - - - -> English

tú eres - - - -> vos sos - - - -> you are
tú bailas - - - -> vos bailás - - - -> you dance
tú hablas - - - -> vos hablás - - - -> you talk
tú sientes - - - -> vos sentís - - - -> you feel

You’ll notice that between bailas and bailás, and between hablas and hablás, the only difference is an accent.

But in Spanish, this is a big difference! The accent changes which syllable is stressed and alters the pronunciation of the whole word.

Argentine Spanish Slang

Argentines love their slang and Argentine Spanish is full of it!

To avoid getting lost in a conversation, it’s good to know some of the more popular slang words unique to Argentine Spanish (even though you might be safest not using them yourself, since some have double-meaning):

che - - - -> hey (used all the time in casual conversation)
bronca - - - -> anger
una macana - - - -> a mistake
bochinche - - - -> noise
pibe - - - -> guy, kid
piba - - - -> gal, kid (female)
choto, chota - - - -> of very poor quality
engrupir - - - -> to deceive
laburar - - - -> to work
rajar - - - -> to flee, to leave quickly
afanar - - - -> to steal, to rob

When you dine in an Argentine restaurant or café, you’ll want to know how to order delicious traditional fare:

churrasco - - - -> steak
chimichurri - - - -> steak marinade made from parsley and garlic
milanesa - - - -> breaded, pan-fried cutlets
empanada - - - -> dumpling or turnover, Argentine-style
fatay - - - -> spicy turnover
chorizo - - - -> sausage
fiambre - - - -> cold cuts
fideos - - - -> noodles, pasta
tallarines - - - -> spaghetti
tuco - - - -> spaghetti sauce
flan - - - -> Argentine egg custard
arroz con leche - - - -> rice pudding
vino tinto - - - -> red wine

If you find yourself in one of the fabulous Argentine bakeries or pastry shops, these words will come in handy:

panadería - - - -> bakery
confíteria - - - -> pastry shop (may also sell pizza & finger foods)
pan francés - - - -> French bread
torta - - - -> cake
facturas - - - -> pastries
medialunas - - - -> crescent rolls
sandwiches de miga - - - -> finger or tea sandwiches
alfajores - - - -> classic Argentine dessert (something like a
soft, fancy, dipped and rolled sandwich cookie)

At the grocery store, in a farmer’s market, or at a vegetable stand, you’ll find some products unique to Argentina. You’ll also see that some items are labeled differently than what you might be accustomed to. For example, “strawberry” is fresa in most Spanish-speaking countries. But in Buenos Aires and in most other regions of Argentina, it’s frutilla.

mate - - - -> a tea which is THE Argentine beverage
dulce de leche - - - -> sweet caramel spread
pan dulce - - - -> Italian-style fruitcake
caramelos - - - -> candy, sweets
el ananá - - - -> pineapple
el pomelo - - - -> grapefruit
las arvejas - - - -> peas
las frutillas - - - -> strawberries
el durazno - - - -> peach
los porotos - - - -> beans

Here are several more Argentine words that you may find useful while visiting this beautiful and intriguing nation:

la bañadera - - - -> bathtub
la pileta - - - -> sink, or swimming pool
la heladera - - - -> refrigerator
un mozo - - - -> a waiter
el boliche - - - -> bar, nightclub
el carrito - - - -> food cart
el auto - - - -> car
la nafta - - - -> gasoline
manejar - - - -> to drive
el micro - - - -> bus

Chau!

written by Graciela Sholander