Chapter 3: First Words and Expressions
Argentine Spanish Learning Series
Introduction
¡Hola! Now that you've explored the world of Spanish sounds, it's time to start real conversations! In this chapter, you'll learn the most essential words and expressions you'll use in daily life in Argentina. From that first "hello" that will make you feel at home on Buenos Aires streets, to politeness expressions, asking questions, and daily necessities.
This isn't just a word list - every expression is part of Argentine culture. You'll discover that saying "che" is a sign of friendship, how Argentines respond when you say "gracias," and why using "vos" is so important.
3.1. Greetings and Farewells
Basic Greetings
Greeting in Argentina isn't just politeness, it's the heart of culture! Here are greetings you can use at any time of day:
Time-Based Greetings
| Time Period | Spanish | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Buenos días | Buenos di-as | Until noon |
| Afternoon | Buenas tardes | Buenas tardes | Noon - sunset |
| Evening/Night | Buenas noches | Buenas noches | After sunset |
| Anytime | ¡Hola! | ¡O-la! | Any time of day |
Informal Greetings
¡Hola! - The most universal greeting
- English: Hello!
- Usage: With friends, peers, casual situations
- Example: "¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?" (Hello! How are you?)
Buenas - Short and friendly
- English: Hi
- Usage: Informal situations, quick greetings
How Are You Questions - Argentine Style
¿Cómo estás? - Classic question
- English: How are you?
- Usage: Universal, safe choice
¿Cómo andás? - Argentine favorite
- English: How's it going? / What's up?
- Usage: Very popular, daily conversation
¿Qué tal? - Frequently used
- English: How's it going? / What's new?
- Usage: Casual, friendly
¿Todo bien? - Quick check
- English: Everything okay?
- Response: "Sí, todo bien" (Yes, everything's fine)
Che - Argentina's Symbol
"Che" is part of Argentina's linguistic DNA:
-
To get attention:
- "Che, ¿cómo andás?" (Hey, how are you?)
- "Che, mirá esto" (Hey, look at this)
-
Friendly address:
- "Che, vamos a comer" (Hey, let's go eat)
Vos Usage in Greetings
In Argentina you don't use "tú", only "vos":
| Standard Spanish | Argentine Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Cómo eres? | ¿Cómo sos? | What are you like? |
| ¿De dónde eres? | ¿De dónde sos? | Where are you from? |
Farewells
Chau - Argentine classic
- English: See you / Bye
- Origin: From Italian "ciao"
Adiós - Formal farewell
- English: Goodbye / Farewell
Hasta luego - Emphasis on meeting again
- English: See you later
3.2. "Por favor", "Gracias", "Perdón" - Politeness Expressions
Basic Politeness Expressions
Por favor - Please
- Example: "¿Me podés ayudar, por favor?" (Can you help me, please?)
Gracias - Thank you
- Usage: In all situations
Muchas gracias - Thank you very much
- Usage: More intimate, more grateful
Response to Thanks in Argentina
De nada - You're welcome (standard)
No, por favor - Argentine specialty!
- English: Oh no, don't mention it
- Very characteristic Argentine response
Apology Expressions
Perdón - Pardon/Sorry
- Usage: Light situations, bumping into someone, getting attention
- Example: "Perdón, ¿sabés qué hora es?" (Excuse me, do you know what time it is?)
Disculpe - Excuse me
- Usage: To strangers, formal
Lo siento - I'm sorry
- Usage: When genuinely sorry
Con permiso - Excuse me (to pass)
- Usage: When passing through crowds
3.3. Basic Question Words
Main Question Words
| Question Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué? | ¿Ke? | What? | ¿Qué es esto? (What is this?) |
| ¿Cómo? | ¿Ko-mo? | How? | ¿Cómo te llamás? (What's your name?) |
| ¿Dónde? | ¿Don-de? | Where? | ¿Dónde vivís? (Where do you live?) |
| ¿Cuándo? | ¿Kuan-do? | When? | ¿Cuándo llegás? (When are you arriving?) |
| ¿Quién? | ¿Kyen? | Who? | ¿Quién sos? (Who are you?) |
| ¿Por qué? | ¿Por ke? | Why? | ¿Por qué no venís? (Why aren't you coming?) |
Question Forms with Vos
¿Cómo te llamás? - What's your name?
- Standard: ¿Cómo te llamas?
- Argentine: ¿Cómo te llamás?
¿De dónde sos? - Where are you from?
- Standard: ¿De dónde eres?
- Argentine: ¿De dónde sos?
Daily Questions
¿Dónde está el baño? - Where's the bathroom? ¿Cuánto cuesta? - How much does it cost? ¿Qué hora es? - What time is it? ¿Tienen...? - Do you have...?
3.4. Yes/No Answers
Saying Yes
Sí - Yes Claro - Of course Por supuesto - Certainly Dale - Okay/Sure (Argentine slang)
Saying No
No - No Para nada - Not at all Ni en pedo - Never (very informal!)
Uncertainty
No sé - I don't know No estoy seguro/a - I'm not sure Creo que sí - I think so Depende - It depends
Approval Expressions
Perfecto - Perfect Bárbaro - Great (Argentine specialty) Genial - Awesome
3.5. First 50 Words in Daily Life
Family and People
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| familia | family |
| mamá/madre | mom/mother |
| papá/padre | dad/father |
| hermano/a | brother/sister |
| amigo/a | friend |
| persona | person |
| hombre | man |
| mujer | woman |
| chico/a | kid/young person |
Daily Objects
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| casa | house |
| comida | food |
| agua | water |
| dinero/plata | money |
| tiempo | time |
| trabajo | work |
| auto | car |
| teléfono | phone |
| ropa | clothes |
Places
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ciudad | city |
| calle | street |
| escuela | school |
| hospital | hospital |
| banco | bank |
| supermercado | supermarket |
| restaurant | restaurant |
| estación | station |
Time
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| hoy | today |
| mañana | tomorrow |
| ayer | yesterday |
| semana | week |
| mes | month |
| año | year |
| hora | hour |
| día | day |
Basic Verbs (Vos Form)
| Spanish | English | Vos Form |
|---|---|---|
| ser | to be | sos |
| estar | to be (location/state) | estás |
| tener | to have | tenés |
| hacer | to do/make | hacés |
| ir | to go | vas |
| hablar | to speak | hablás |
| comer | to eat | comés |
| vivir | to live | vivís |
Argentine-Specific Words
che - hey, buddy pibe/piba - kid, young person (male/female) plata - money mate - traditional herbal tea asado - barbecue colectivo - bus subte - subway (Buenos Aires)
Cultural Notes
Argentine Greeting Culture
- When meeting acquaintances, you kiss on the right cheek
- Using "che" is a sign of friendship
- Vos usage is normal at all social levels
Practical Tips
- Start with "Hola, ¿cómo andás?"
- Don't hesitate to say "che"
- "Dale" is very useful - means "okay", "let's go"
- Expect "No, por favor" response after "gracias"
With these basic words and expressions, you can handle most of daily life in Argentina. The most important thing is to practice - Argentines are patient and helpful!
¡Dale, a practicar! (Come on, let's practice!)