Wally's
     Curtis Draves, Certified Spanish Interpreter and Translator

Wally's Dictionary of Argentine Colloquialism and Culture
A Collaborative Work in Progress Help
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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
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Keywords
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Anatomy of an Entry

Below are groups of examples (one or more dictionary entries), followed by explanations.
piola adjmf   1 'cool, hip'   2 'on the ball' smart   quedate piola 'be cool, chill out' Click on the Synonym to see it's definition fumá | Click on the Synonym to see it's definition pícaro, pícarón, pillo, canchero
Basic structure
 
a head words in blue for fast orientation
b multiple meanings marked by bold numbers
c variations and expressions in bold
d information preceding the first number '1' or following a vertical bar refers to the overall entry instead of any single meaning or variation
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!
cagarse Use with extreme caution!!! v 'to shit in one's pants, shit a brick, be scared shitless' ...
Usage icons
 
a a sun marks the most frequently used entries
b a lightning bolt marks dangerous entries (due to vulgar or derogatory nature), black lightning is more dangerous, and
c outlined lightning is mildly dangerous
pegar v braz (conseguir) 'to snag' to get
peyeto (ital peceto) n round steak, used to make tuco pasta sauce, among other things

pub [pab] nm engl 'bar' in the American or British style
Linguistic, spelling, and pronunciation
 
d abbreviations for linguistic information including: part of speech, use, speaker, and origin (see list below)
e alternate spelling
f phonetic Spanish pronunciation if a word doesn't follow normal Argentine pronunciation rules
pucho n old (cigarrillo) 'butt, smoke' tobacco cigarette ¿un pucho tenés? Excuse me, got a smoke? or the more street-wise Che, flaco, ¿me bancás un pucho? Hey, man, spare a butt?
quesos lunf (pies lit. cheeses) feet
croto n   1 (vagabundo) homeless Click on the Synonym to see it's definition linyera   2 badly dressed or without care (like when you run across the street to buy a pack of cigarettes in your sweatpants and holey t-shirt) Click on the Antonym to see it's definition empilcharse | Note Originally the name of a governor of Buenos Aires Province, José Camilo Crotto, who instituted a train service for migrant workers in 1920.
Understanding the meaning
 
e equivalent in standard Spanish in parentheses
f literal translation from standard Spanish to English
g equivalent in American English slang in single quotes
h realistic examples in italics, followed by American English translations. examples sometimes used to show most common auxiliary words used (verb, prepositions)
i cultural or linguistic notes
 
andá a cantarle a Gardel | See Gardel
Where to find it
 
g auxiliary words in parenthesis are optional
e most multiple-word entries listed by the first main word
f if 1st main word is common, listed by 2nd main word
h extra headword pointing to correct alphabetical listing
i link to an entry with a relation not described below in 'links'
bombacha n   1 'panties' female underwear below the belt See lencería Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme femenino 2 baggy wrap-around pants for cowboys, or waiters that dress up for the tourists in cheezy restaurants Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme gaucho | Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme ropa
cagada Use with some caution! n setback, bad luck Click on the Synonym to see it's definition garcha, chotada, guachada LiteClick on the 'Lite' Synonym (euphemism) to see it's definition mala leche   mandarse una cagada 'to screw up' Click on the Synonym to see it's definition pifiar LiteClick on the 'Lite' Synonym (euphemism) to see it's definition mandarse un moco
fiaca Most Frequently Used Slang n feeling or state of being lazy, passive, bored, unmotivated: ¡Qué fiaca que tengo! Boy, do I feel like a slug! Click on the Synonym to see it's definition pachorra Click on the Antonym to see it's definition pilas
pucha int 'shoot, heck, darn': ¡La gran pucha! Gosh darnit! hvyClick on the Synonym to see it's definition puta Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme curse
bombilla n metal straw with a filter in one end for drinking mate Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info mate
Cross references
 
j thesaurus links to other entries (=synonym, /=antonym)
k in a group of synonyms, every member of the group will point to one 'principle' synonym (marked by a '+' following the link), which lists all the members of the group
l eufemism links point to synonyms that are either the dirty version ('hvy=') of a mild word, or
m the mild version ('lite=') of a dirty word, something you can say in front of your Argentine friend's family
n a keyword link points to a group in the keyword index in the back of the book, where you will find a list of entries that all relate to a single theme or idea
o box links point to an entry that has an accompanying sidebar, in which the original entry is listed or explained in detail
Parts of Speech
 
n noun
n! noun (person doing an action)
n& noun (result of action)
nm masculine noun
nf femenine noun
nmf noun of either gender (ending doesn't change)
adj adjective (mf!& as noun)
v verb
v+ active verb
v- passive verb
adv adverb
int interjection
exp expression (+- as verb)
prop proper noun (name)
piro piropo (sensual complement)
say saying
comp comparative expression (mas/menos'que')
sim simile ('como')
Uses
 
vul vulgar
der derogatory
chz cheesy
Speaker Certain words and expressions are used predominantly by a certain type of person.
 
yo young
old old
up upper class
low lower class
Origin
 
lunf Lunfardo (in the classic tango sense)
braz Brazilian
sp Spain
ital Italian
engl English
fr French
ind indigenous

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