Argentinian Spanish: Lunfardo Words You Need to Know
¡Hola, Super Learners!
It's Miguel Marina, your Spanish Super Tutor, ready to take you on a linguistic tango through the streets of Buenos Aires. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on our newsletter to get daily Spanish tips that are as flavorful as a well-seasoned asado!
But first, let's lighten the mood with our joke of the day:
What did the Spanish-speaking computer say to the new software? "¡Che, instalate tranquilo, no hay apuro!"
¿Qué le dijo la computadora que habla español al nuevo software? "¡Che, instalate tranquilo, no hay apuro!"
I might have to apologize for that one, but I hope it at least cracked a sonrisa on your face!
Now, let's get serious about Lunfardo, the slang that spices up the Spanish spoken in Argentina. These words are the juicy steak of conversation, and knowing them will make you sound like a true porteño. So, grab your mate, let's get started!
Lunfardo 101: Must-Know Words
Bondi – BusNope, we're not talking about a beach in Australia. In Argentina, "bondi" is the word for bus!
"Tomé el bondi para ir al centro." (I took the bus to go downtown.)
Chabón / Chabona – Guy / GirlThis is how you refer to a person, usually a young one, in a casual way.
"Ese chabón es re copado." (That guy is really cool.)
Fiaca – LazinessFeeling lazy? Then you've got the "fiaca."
"Hoy tengo una fiaca tremenda, no quiero hacer nada." (Today I feel extremely lazy; I don't want to do anything.)
Guita – MoneyTalking cash? In Argentina, it's all about the "guita."
"No puedo salir este fin de semana, estoy sin guita." (I can't go out this weekend; I'm out of money.)
Mina – WomanAn informal and common way to talk about a woman.
"¿Viste a la mina que acaba de entrar? Es hermosa." (Did you see the woman who just came in? She's beautiful.)
Quilombo – Mess / ProblemIf something is a big mess or problem, Argentinians would call it a "quilombo."
"Se rompió la impresora en la oficina y fue un quilombo." (The printer broke down in the office and it was a big problem.)
Pibe / Piba – Boy / GirlA very common way to refer to young people.
"Los pibes están jugando al fútbol en la plaza." (The boys are playing soccer in the square.)
Lunfardo is all about the flavor of the streets, the essence of the barrios, and the rhythm of everyday life. And if you want more of this flavor, don't forget to visit our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHRZtjIc5JMEzxppFdWax1w) and tune into our Spotify podcast (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/miguel-marina9), where we serve up Spanish with a side of cultural zest.
Remember, our daily classes and a team of native-speaking teachers are here to help you understand every acento and make you feel like you're sipping on a cortado in a Buenos Aires café.
So, Super Learners, keep this in mind: "Si estás buscando clases online de español en internet puedes encontrar muchas, pero si lo que quieres es aprender español, Spanish Super Tutor."
¡Chau for now! Keep practicing those Lunfardo words, and soon you'll be speaking Spanish that's as rich and vibrant as a night out in Palermo!
Miguel Marina (The Spanish Super Tutor)
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