35 Argentinian Spanish Expressions to Master Lunfardo
Argentina is known for much more than just tango and football. Its way of speaking Spanish is famously rich, expressive, and distinctly local. If you’ve ever spent time in Buenos Aires, you’ve probably heard words that don’t appear in any Spanish textbook. That’s because you were hearing Lunfardo, the colorful slang that gives Argentinian Spanish its soul. Whether you're chatting with locals, watching Argentine cinema, or navigating the streets of Buenos Aires, these expressions will make you sound like a true Porteño.
What Is Lunfardo?
Lunfardo is a form of slang that originated in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s, born in immigrant neighborhoods where Italian, Spanish, and other languages blended. Originally associated with the working class and even criminal circles, Lunfardo eventually became a cherished part of Argentina’s cultural identity. Today, many Lunfardo terms are widely used across the country in everyday conversation.
35 Essential Argentinian Lunfardo Expressions
1. Che
A classic Argentine interjection, "che" is used to get someone's attention, similar to "hey" or "dude." It's a key part of sounding local.
Example: Che, ¿cómo andás? (Hey, how are you?)
2. Boludo/a
This word can mean "silly," "idiot," or even "buddy" depending on tone and context. It's both an insult and a term of endearment.
Example: No seas boludo, eso no se hace. (Don’t be dumb, don’t do that.)
3. Laburo
Derived from the Italian "lavoro," this word means "work" or "job." It’s used instead of the standard "trabajo."
Example: Estoy buscando laburo. (I’m looking for a job.)
4. Quilombo
This term originally meant a brothel but now refers to chaos or a messy situation.
Example: ¡Qué quilombo hay en la calle! (What a mess on the street!)
5. Chabón
A colloquial word for "guy" or "dude," common among young people.
Example: Ese chabón es muy copado. (That guy is really cool.)
6. Mina
Used to refer to a woman or girl. It’s informal but widely accepted.
Example: Esa mina es re simpática. (That girl is really nice.)
7. Guita
Slang for money, similar to "plata" or "pasta" in other dialects.
Example: No tengo guita para salir. (I have no money to go out.)
8. Fiaca
Describes the feeling of laziness or unwillingness to do something.
Example: Hoy tengo mucha fiaca. (I feel really lazy today.)
9. Bondi
Means "bus." This word originated from an old brand of bus, and stuck around.
Example: Voy a tomar el bondi. (I’m taking the bus.)
10. Chamuyar
To sweet-talk or flirt, often insincerely. It also refers to persuasive speech.
Example: Dejá de chamuyar y decime la verdad. (Stop sweet-talking and tell me the truth.)
11. Morfar
From the Italian "mangiare," this verb means "to eat."
Example: Vamos a morfar una pizza. (Let’s eat a pizza.)
12. Posta
Used to express sincerity, similar to “seriously” or “for real.”
Example: Posta que está buenísimo. (Seriously, it’s awesome.)
13. Escabiar
Means "to drink alcohol." Typically used among friends.
Example: Vamos a escabiar algo esta noche. (Let’s drink something tonight.)
14. Re copado
"Copado" means cool or fun, and "re" is an intensifier meaning "very."
Example: Ese lugar es re copado. (That place is really cool.)
15. Pibe/Piba
Casual word for a young boy or girl.
Example: Ese pibe juega bien al fútbol. (That kid plays football really well.)
16. Joda
Depending on the context, this can mean a joke or a party.
Example: ¡Qué buena joda anoche! (What a great party last night!)
17. Mandar fruta
Means to speak nonsense or make things up.
Example: Ese político está mandando fruta. (That politician is just making things up.)
18. Trucho
Used to describe something fake, counterfeit, or low quality.
Example: Me vendieron un reloj trucho. (They sold me a fake watch.)
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19. Bancar
Can mean to support, endure, or wait for someone.
Example: Bancame un toque. (Hold on a sec.)
20. Mala leche
Refers to bad luck or someone with bad intentions.
Example: Fue de mala leche lo que hizo. (What he did was mean-spirited.)
21. Ponerse las pilas
Literally "put in the batteries," it means to get moving or start putting in effort.
Example: Dale, ponete las pilas y estudiá. (Come on, get to work and study.)
22. Cagarla
A vulgar way to say someone messed up.
Example: La cagué en el examen. (I screwed up the test.)
23. Ser un nabo
Describes someone as naive, dumb, or gullible.
Example: No seas nabo, eso es mentira. (Don’t be naive, that’s a lie.)
24. Mandarse una macana
To mess something up or make a mistake, less vulgar than "cagarla."
Example: Me mandé una macana en el trabajo. (I made a mistake at work.)
25. Tener mala onda
Used to describe a person with bad energy or attitude.
Example: Ese tipo tiene mala onda. (That guy has bad vibes.)
26. Zarparse
To go too far or exaggerate.
Example: Se zarpó con lo que dijo. (He went too far with what he said.)
27. Estar en el horno
Means to be in trouble or a difficult situation.
Example: Si no estudio, estoy en el horno. (If I don’t study, I’m in trouble.)
28. Hacer la vista gorda
To purposely ignore something wrong.
Example: El jefe hizo la vista gorda al error. (The boss ignored the mistake.)
29. Estar al pedo
To have nothing to do, to be bored or idle.
Example: Estoy al pedo, ¿hacemos algo? (I’m bored, wanna do something?)
30. Ser un chamuyero
Someone who talks a lot but lacks substance—especially flirts or salespeople.
Example: Ese flaco es un chamuyero total. (That guy’s a total sweet-talker.)
31. Tener aguante
To have stamina, strength, or resilience.
Example: ¡Qué aguante tiene ese pibe! (That kid is so tough!)
32. Estar remando en dulce de leche
An image-rich expression meaning you're stuck in a difficult or slow-moving situation.
Example: Estoy remando en dulce de leche con este proyecto. (This project is moving painfully slow.)
33. Mandarse una cagada
A more intense way of saying you messed up big time.
Example: Me mandé una cagada con mi novia. (I really messed up with my girlfriend.)
34. Hacerse el vivo
Trying to act smart or take advantage of a situation, often sneakily.
Example: Se quiso hacer el vivo y lo engancharon. (He tried to act slick and got caught.)
35. Estar de diez
Means everything is excellent or perfect.
Example: Después del finde largo, estoy de diez. (After the long weekend, I feel amazing.)
Why Learning Lunfardo Matters
Learning Lunfardo goes beyond picking up slang. It allows you to enter the rhythm and humor of Argentine life. Understanding these terms helps you grasp cultural nuances and unspoken meanings that traditional Spanish lessons overlook. If you're serious about your Spanish skills and want to connect on a deeper level, Lunfardo is essential.
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Final Thoughts
Argentinian Spanish is one of the most dynamic and expressive forms of the language. Whether you're mingling with locals, navigating Buenos Aires, or just looking to spice up your vocabulary, these Lunfardo expressions will give you that authentic local flavor. And remember, language is living—Lunfardo continues to evolve.
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