Chapter 24: Argentine Slang - Lunfardo

Argentine Spanish B1 Level

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🎯 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter you will be able to:

• ✅ Understand what lunfardo is and where it comes from
• ✅ Comprehend the most used slang words on porteño streets
• ✅ Decode lunfardo expressions in tango songs
• ✅ Distinguish different slang usage according to age groups
• ✅ Know which slang to use in each situation
• ✅ Converse naturally with young porteños in daily chat

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🎭 24.1. What is Lunfardo? - History and Origin

Lunfardo is a unique slang that has embedded itself in the heart of Buenos Aires. Born in the late 19th century, it still lives vibrantly today.

📚 Historical Roots

LATE 19TH CENTURY:

• Migration waves: Italians, Spanish, Russian Jews
• Port workers: mixture of different languages
• Prison jargon: word changes for secret communication
• Tango neighborhoods: San Telmo, La Boca, Barracas

🗣️ Language Mixtures

MAIN SOURCES:

• Italian: biggest influence (fiaca, laburo, chau)
• French: social class influences (madam → madama)
• English: technology and modernization
• Portuguese: neighboring languages
• Vesre: syllable inversion (tango → gotán)

🎵 Tango and Lunfardo

Tango became lunfardo's gateway to the world:

FAMOUS TANGOS:

• "Sur" - Homero Manzi
• "Cambalache" - Enrique Santos Discépolo
• "El día que me quieras" - Carlos Gardel

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🏙️ 24.2. Common Lunfardo in Daily Life

Basic lunfardo words you'll hear every day on porteño streets.

💰 Money and Shopping

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

• "No tengo guita para ir al cine." (I don't have money to go to the movies)
• "Este café cuesta dos lucas." (This coffee costs two thousand pesos)
• "¿Tenés gambas para el colectivo?" (Do you have coins for the bus?)

👥 People and Relationships

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

• "Ese pibe es muy copado." (That kid is really cool)
• "Mi vieja hace el mejor asado." (My mom makes the best asado)
• "¿Conocés a esa mina?" (Do you know that woman?)

🏠 Home and Life

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

• "Voy a mi bulín a descansar." (I'm going to my room to rest)
• "¿Vamos al boliche esta noche?" (Shall we go to the club tonight?)
• "Llegué tarde al laburo." (I arrived late to work)

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😄 24.3. Emotions and States

Colorful lunfardo that porteños use to express their emotions.

😊 Positive Emotions

😠 Negative Emotions

😴 States

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🎵 24.4. Lunfardo in Tango

Argentine tango is intertwined with lunfardo. This combination forms the soul of Buenos Aires.

🎼 Lunfardo in Classic Tangos

"SUR" - HOMERO MANZI:

• "Paredón y después..." (wall and then...)
• "En la cortada que se llamaba..." (in the little street that was called...)

"CAMBALACHE" - DISCÉPOLO:

• "¡Qué falta de respeto, qué atropello!" (What disrespect, what outrage!)
• "El que no afana es un gil" (He who doesn't steal is a fool)

🎭 From the Tango Dictionary

🎪 In Milonga Nights

ON THE DANCE FLOOR:

• "Esa mina baila bárbaro." (That woman dances amazingly)
• "El chabón tiene onda." (The guy has charm)
• "¿Sacamos este tango?" (Shall we dance this tango?)

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 24.5. Slang Usage by Age Groups

Different generations use different lunfardo and slang. Knowing these differences is key.

👴 Older Generation (60+ years)

CLASSIC LUNFARDO:

• laburar → to work
• mina → woman
• gil → fool
• guita → money
• fiaca → laziness

EXAMPLE: "En mis tiempos, los pibes laburaban de verdad, no como ahora." (In my times, kids really worked, not like now)

👨‍💼 Middle Age (30-60 years)

MIXED USAGE:

• Classic lunfardo + modern slang
• More standard Spanish at work
• Lunfardo in informal settings

EXAMPLE: "Tengo que laburar hasta tarde, qué embole." (I have to work late, what a bore)

👦 Young Generation (15-30 years)

MODERN SLANG:

• flashear → to imagine things
• zarpado → extreme
• copado → awesome
• tranqui → chill
• re → very (emphatic)

DIGITAL INFLUENCE:

• English words: "cool", "ok"
• Internet slang: "lol", "wtf"

EXAMPLE: "Ese video está re zarpado, ¡flasheé mal!" (That video is extremely crazy, I freaked out!)

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⚠️ 24.6. Expressions that Require Caution

Some lunfardo expressions can be rude or inappropriate. Knowing when to use what is important.

🚫 Rude Expressions

BE CAREFUL WITH:

• boludo/boluda → Normal among friends, rude with strangers
• pelotudo → Very rude, aggressive
• pajero → Derogatory
• forro → Very strong curse

😊 Safe Expressions

CAN ALWAYS BE USED:

• copado → awesome
• bárbaro → perfect
• genial → great
• joya → awesome
• divino → beautiful

⚠️ CONTEXT IS KEY

AMONG FRIENDS:

• "¡Ey, boludo! ¿Cómo andás?" ✅ (normal)

FORMAL SITUATION:

• "Buenos días, señor boludo" ❌ (never)

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🎯 24.7. Vesre - Syllable Inversion

One of lunfardo's most creative features is "vesre" (reverse of "revés"!).

🔄 Vesre Rules

TECHNIQUE:

1. Identify the syllables of the word
2. Change the order of syllables
3. Sometimes drop or add letters

EXAMPLES:

🏪 Daily Usage

AT THE COFFEE SHOP:

• "¿Vamos a tomar una feca?" (Shall we go have a coffee?)

TALKING ABOUT MUSIC:

• "Me encanta el gotán." (I love tango)

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🗣️ 24.8. Daily Conversation Examples

Real examples of conversations from porteño streets.

Dialogue 1: Among Friends

Martín: ¡Ey, boludo! ¿Cómo andás? Diego: Todo copado, hermano. ¿Vos? Martín: Acá, laburando como siempre. Tengo una fiaca... Diego: ¿Vamos a tomar una feca después? Martín: Dale, bárbaro. En el bar de siempre.

Translation: Martín: Hey, dude! How are you doing? Diego: All good, brother. You? Martín: Here, working as always. I'm feeling lazy... Diego: Shall we grab a coffee later? Martín: Sure, perfect. At the usual bar.

Dialogue 2: Shopping

Cliente: ¿Cuánto sale ese fierro? Vendedor: Dos lucas, pibe. Cliente: ¡Está zarpado! ¿No me hacés precio? Vendedor: Bueno, por mil ochocientos es tuyo. Cliente: Joya, me lo llevo.

Translation: Customer: How much is that thing? Vendor: Two thousand pesos, kid. Customer: That's crazy expensive! Can you give me a better price? Vendor: Well, for eighteen hundred it's yours. Customer: Awesome, I'll take it.

Dialogue 3: Nightlife

Paula: ¿Vamos al boliche esta noche? Sofía: No sé, tengo fiaca... Además no tengo guita. Paula: Tranqui, yo te invito. Va a estar re copado. Sofía: Bueno, dale. Pero primero voy a mi bulín a cambiarme.

Translation: Paula: Shall we go to the club tonight? Sofía: I don't know, I'm feeling lazy... Plus I don't have money. Paula: Chill, I'll invite you. It's going to be really cool. Sofía: Okay, let's do it. But first I'm going to my room to change.

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📱 24.9. Modern Digital Slang

Modern slang created by new generations with influence from internet and social media.

💬 WhatsApp and Social Media

MODERN EXPRESSIONS:

• re → very (emphatic): "Está re bueno"
• mal → a lot: "Me gusta mal"
• posta → seriously: "¿En serio? ¿Posta?"
• flashear → to imagine: "No flashées"
• mandar → to send: "Mandame un mensaje"

🎮 Gaming and Technology

ENGLISH INFLUENCE:

• cool → awesome
• ok → okay
• random → random
• spoiler → spoiler
• hype → excitement

EXAMPLE: "Ese juego está re cool, pero no me hagas spoiler." (That game is really cool, but don't spoil it for me)

📺 Netflix and Streaming Culture

NEW USAGES:

• stalkear → to stalk on social media
• bingear → to binge-watch
• ghostear → to ghost (not reply to messages)
• cringe → cringe
• hater → hater

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🎭 24.10. Regional Lunfardo Differences

Even in different neighborhoods of Buenos Aires there are variations in lunfardo usage.

🏘️ Neighborhood Differences

PALERMO - RECOLETA: (Upper class)

• Less lunfardo
• More French influence
• "Qué bárbaro" → chic expression

LA BOCA - SAN TELMO: (Traditional)

• Intense classic lunfardo
• Strong Italian influence
• "Che, pibe" → typical beginning

VILLA 31 - RETIRO: (Working class)

• Very intense slang
• Fast speech
• "Wacho" → kid/friend

🏟️ Football Culture Lunfardo

AT THE STADIUMS:

• hincha → fan
• aguante → support
• gol → goal (universal)
• gambeta → dribble
• caño → nutmeg

EXAMPLE: "Ese pibe tiene tremenda gambeta, va a hacer un golazo." (That kid has an amazing dribble, he's going to score a great goal)

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📚 24.11. Lunfardo Dictionary - Basic Words

50 basic lunfardo words you need to know to live in Buenos Aires.

🎯 THE MOST IMPORTANT 20

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🎵 24.12. Tango and Lunfardo Connection

Ways to learn lunfardo by listening to tango.

🎼 Recommended Tangos

BEGINNER LEVEL:

1. "Sur" - Homero Manzi
2. "Volver" - Carlos Gardel
3. "Por una Cabeza" - Carlos Gardel

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL:

1. "Cambalache" - Enrique Santos Discépolo
2. "Malena" - Homero Manzi
3. "El día que me quieras" - Carlos Gardel

🎤 Modern Tango Artists

CONTEMPORARY PERFORMERS:

• Adriana Varela
• Susana Rinaldi
• Amelita Baltar
• Roberto Goyeneche

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🎯 24.13. Level Assessment

After completing this chapter you should be able to handle these situations:

✅ Success Criteria:

1. Listening to tango you understand lunfardo words
2. Chatting with young people you use modern slang
3. Talking with older people you understand classic lunfardo
4. You know which slang to use in each situation
5. On porteño streets you understand natural conversations

🎯 Practical Exercises

DAILY TASKS:

• Listen to a tango and look up words you don't know
• Ask porteño friends about their lunfardo usage
• Try using modern slang on WhatsApp
• Observe classic expressions when talking with older people