Wally's
     Curtis Draves, Certified Spanish Interpreter and Translator

Wally's Dictionary of Argentine Colloquialism and Culture
A Collaborative Work in Progress pageTitle
keywords  |  index   |  help   |   feedback  |   home  
Thumb Index
a b c d e f g
h i j k l m n
ñ o p q r s t
u v w x y z  
Symbols
For full descriptions see the
anatomy of an entry
Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme Keyword
Most Frequently Used Slang Most Frequent
Use with extreme caution!!! Extreme caution!!!
Use with some caution! Mild cuation
Click on the Synonym to see it's definition Synonym
Click on the 'Lite' Synonym (euphemism) to see it's definition Lite
Click on the Antonym to see it's definition Antonym
See Reference
Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info Sidebar
Help
Introduction
Anatomy of an Entry

Argentine Pronunciation
Foreign Pronunciation
Spelling
Verb Tenses
Written Language
Feedback
Contribute a new word or phrase
Suggest a change to a definition
Offer an entertaining example

Broken links and other html problems
Suggest improvement to site design

Offer to help do something Wally hasn't thought of
List of contributors
Sidebars
Facturas
Mate
Re-
Keywords
Thumb Index
a b c d e f g
h i j k l m n
ñ o p q r s t
u v w x y z  
q
quilombo Use with some caution! Most Frequently Used Slang n   1 ( lío) mess, disaster, chaos Click on the Synonym to see it's definition bardo Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme malo   2 ( prostíbulo) whorehouse Click on the Synonym to see it's definition tambo Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme prostitución   quilombear v   quilombero n!
quinta n country house with surrounding land, often the location of weekend relaxation, parties, or asado Note If anyone invites you to their quinta, don't hesitate to accept. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme edificio, asado   quinta de ñato cemetary
r
rajar Most Frequently Used Slang (lit. to split)   1 vi 'to split, scram, beat it' to leave immediately or quickly Click on the Synonym to see it's definition tomarselas, tomarse el palo, picarselas, salir cagando/carpiendo/a los pedos See illus   2 vt 'to kick/throw s.b. out' or to fire from a job Click on the Synonym to see it's definition fletar, mandar a cagar, sacar cagando/carpiendo   tomarse el raje same as 1
re- Most Frequently Used Slang intensifier Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme lenguaje Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info re-
recién adv   1 ( acabar de) 'just': Recién llego a casa. I just got home.   2 'a little while ago': Recién llegué a casa. I got home a little while ago.   3 'not until': Recién a las once llego a casa. I won't get home until eleven. | Note See the grammar section on Time and Tenses for a more complete listing of adverbial phrases and constructions. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme hora
s
Susana Giménez prop The epitome of the latin TV personality, whose image (usually combined with money and telephones) is constantly plastered across Buenos Aires. She's involved in legal problems with her boyfriend, who manages the company that collected the "charity" money people donated by calling her show "Hola, Susana" to win contests. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme pop
t
tachero n (taxista) taxi driver   tacho (lit. wastecan) taxi, from when the meters were so big they looked like a wastebasket | Note Due to high unemployment and the trend for new companies to hire young, many taxi drivers are well educated professionals. They are usually more than willing to engage in a conversation about politics, soccer, or philosophy, and you will invariably have to shut the door in the driver's face to get him to shut up. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme transporte
tano n,adj (lit. from Napoli, Italy) Italian, often used as nickname   tanada group of Italians   subirle la tanada ( enfurecerse) to get furious, in a loud, agressive, or destructive manner | Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme foreigner
tetra (brik) nm a box of very cheap wine Note Drink of choice for certain groups of young people, especially rock 'n roll types, for example fans of the Redondos. Characteristically marks a tendency towards nihilistic behaviour (try the wine, and you'll see what I mean). Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme tomar
Marcelo Tinelli prop Obsequious television personality with a surgically implanted smile who turned his sports show Videomatch into a lotto to get people to watch (he's not the only one). Fabulously popular, king of the jet set. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme pop
transar   1 'to make out, to pet, to fool around' the kind of thing teenagers do in doorways (and adults do in parked cars) all over the city at night Click on the Synonym to see it's definition franelear   2 to have sex Click on the Synonym to see it's definition coger   3 'to be fooling/screwing around' to have a romantic/sexual relationship without any commitment   4 to compromise, to accept s.th. negative to get what you want   5 to deal drugs Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme droga   transa n action of ~ : hacer una transa Click on the Synonym to see it's definition transar   transero n one who ~ | Note From the Spanish transacción meaning 'transaction'. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme sexo
trucha ( boca lit. trout, the fish) mouth Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme cuerpo
trucho Most Frequently Used Slang adj ( falso) 'fake, chintzy, cheapo, knock-off' of dubious authenticity, imitation, cheap, low-quality, illegal, forged, unconvincing: Alguien me cagó con este billete trucho. Somebody screwed me with this counterfeit bill. Tomemos un bondi trucho, sale más barato y no necesitamos monedas. Let's take an unauthorized bus, it's cheaper and you don't need change. Note Popularized in the 80's. In a society where everyone is trying to get by (zafar), the concept of things that aren't real is very important. It is ubiquitous. It applies to products, services, events, projects, organizations, companies, of course people, and even concepts. See pirulo Click on the Synonym to see it's definition chanta, berreta Click on the Antonym to see it's definition posta Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme mentir, comprar, cultura   truchada n action of ~
u  v
viaje de egresados exp high school senior graduation trip, traditionally to a tourist/outdoor destination in the South Note If you get the chance to visit Bariloche during the summer, you will undoubtedly see these huge packs of teenagers led by one or more brave souls, who are charged with the unenviable task of taking care of them all for one or two weeks, during which their sole mission is to raise hell. Luckily for all of us, Argentine teenagers are still way behind Americans in alcohol abuse. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme escuela
vigilante nm (lit. police officer)   1 informer Click on the Synonym to see it's definition buchón   2 a long thin pastry made with both butter and grease, decorated with sugar and optionally dulce de membrillo Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme pan Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info facturas
w  x  y
yanqui n,adj   1 ( estadounidense, norteamericano) 'American' Comes from the worldwide (originally British) nickname Yankee, and has nothing to do with drugs, although it ends up sounding very much like 'junky' when the Argentines say it.   2 anything of or relating to American imperialism, capitalism, comsumerism, culture, etc. | Note Like it or not, we Americans have a powerfully stereotypical image based on a combination of exported culture, our governments' foreign affairs, and American tourists (think flower print shirts). If you're open-minded about the Argentines and their culture, then maybe they'll return the favor (respect). Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme foreigner
yerba n ( hierba lit. herb)   1 leaf of the plant Ilex paraguayensis, toasted and ground, packaged and mass marketed, for drinking mate Note If you happened to get hooked on mate, yes you can buy yerba in major cities of other countries, although you will pay double or triple the price. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme mate   2 'herb' marihuana Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme droga   yerba mate same as 1 ~   yerba mala nunca muere exp (lit. a bad weed never dies) if you can't get rid of something or somebody | Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info mate
yo, Argentino exp (lit. I'm Argentine) used to deny responsibility Note Argentines are obviously very aware of their tendency to avoid assuming responsibility at all costs. Click on the Synonym to see it's definition lavarse las manos Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme cultura
z
zafar Most Frequently Used Slang v 'to get by/along': No estudié, pero zafé igual. I didn't study, but I did okay anyways. Están re-desgastados, pero puedo zafar con estos zapatos hasta el año que viene. They're totally worn out, but I can get by with these shoes until next year. Note One of the most representative words of contemporary Argentine culture. The concept is to get by with as little effort as possible and enjoy yourself if you can. In order to do so, one may have to resort to representing the facts in a creative way, bending the rules, or putting on a bit of an act. Check out the keywords mentir , hablar , astuto . Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme culture

Last updated 12/5/2005
Copyright Curtis Draves 2005. All rights reserved.