Wally's
     Curtis Draves, Certified Spanish Interpreter and Translator

Wally's Dictionary of Argentine Colloquialism and Culture
A Collaborative Work in Progress E to J
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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
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Keywords
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e  f
factura n   1 pastry Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme comida Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info facturas   2 invoice Note To do freelance work (for example teach English), many clients/employers will require an official invoice for their bookkeeping. It's a 3-step process: first go to your neighborhood police station (comisaría) and request a certificado de domicilio. Next, you go to the DGI (equivalent of the IRS) to get a CUIT, a tax I.D. number, and finally to an official printer to get your very own tablet of invoices. As of this edition, you don't need any proof of a work visa or any such thing. Of course you're supposed to pay taxes every month, and occasionally employers will require proof of this payment.
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
fierro n   1 'piece' gun   2 'blade' knife   3 'hotrod' a flashy, fast, or otherwise super-duper car Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme transporte   meterle fierro 'to step on it, put the pedal to the metal' Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme transporte   (ser) de fierro 'solid as a rock' trustworthy Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme persona   echarse un fierro to have sex Click on the Synonym to see it's definition echarse un polvo Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme sexo   hacer fierros 'to pump iron' to lift weights | Note From hierro, standard Spanish for 'iron'.
flaco   1 adj skinny, thin   2 n ( muchacho) kid: ¡Flaco! Hey, kid! Hey, you! Click on the Synonym to see it's definition chabón, pibe, tipo | Note It's true that obesity is generally much less common in Argentina than in the States, but this doesn't really explain why they use 'skinny' as a form of addressing strangers, does it? Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme persona
flash nm 'rush': ¡Es un flash! What a rush!   1 surprisingly or shockingly good Click on the Synonym to see it's definition masa Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme bueno   2 initial effect of a drug Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme droga   flashear vi to experience either of the above
flete nm (lit. freight)   1 a van or truck for hire Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme transporte   2 action of 'fletar'   fletar vt to fire, to throw out, get rid of s.b. Click on the Synonym to see it's definition rajar
forroUse with some caution! n   1 ( preservativo lit. lining) 'rubber, jimmy, etc.' condom Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme sexo   2Use with extreme caution!!! 'jerk, fool' a strong insult, what taxi drivers yell at each other (in moving traffic) Note Popularized by a comedian named Antonio Gasalla. Never used in fun, unlike 'joder' and its variations. Click on the Synonym to see it's definition boludo Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme persona   forrear vt to strongly annoy, make very annoying jokes, to humiliate, to use sb: Yo no soy forro de nadie. I'm nobody's fool.
franela n (lit. flannel)   1 dust rag Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme casa   2 'heavy petting' sensual caresses Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme sexo   franelear v Click on the Synonym to see it's definition transar   franeleo n Click on the Synonym to see it's definition franela   franelero n!
g
tirar los galgos exp (lit. to release the bloodhounds) to try to pick up Click on the Synonym to see it's definition tirar los perros Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme levante
gallego n,adj (lit. born in Galicia, Spain)   1 ( español) Spanish   2 ( bruto, ignorante) 'thug' the stereotypical characteristic of the Spanish | Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme extranjero
garchaUse with extreme caution!!! n   1 penis Click on the Synonym to see it's definition pija Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme masculino   2 sth worthless or of bad quality Click on the Synonym to see it's definition trucho Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme comprar   3 bad luck: ¡Qué garcha! This sucks! Click on the Synonym to see it's definition cagada Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme malo   garchar v 'to screw' Click on the Synonym to see it's definition coger Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme sexo
Carlos Gardel prop The most famous tango singer ever. Born in 1890 in France, grew up in the Abasto neighborhood of Buenos Aires (where the Subte station is named after him), reached the peak of his career in the late 20's and early 30's, when he starred in a few movies, then died in 1935 in a tragic plane crash in Colombia at the age of 45, thereby immortalizing his unique voice and pretty face at an early age (both of which are ubiquitous in the more touristy areas of Buenos Aires).   ir/andar a cantarle a Gardel exp (lit. go sing it to Gardel) 'tough luck'   ser gardel to be the best in s.th.   como Gardel con guitarra eléctrica (lit. like Gardel with an electric guitar) impossibly good | Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme tango
garrafa n cylinder for pressurized gas Note Warning, in most other Spanish-speaking countries this means a jug of wine. Click on the Antonym to see it's definition damajuana
garrón Most Frequently Used Slang nm   1 'hassle, pain, shame' annoyance, disappointment Click on the Synonym to see it's definition bajón, embole, hinchapelotas   2 'joke, pitiful' injustice, disgrace   comerse un garrón exp the experience of 1 or 2, possibly unexpected   de garrón exp free, without paying   garronear v 'to bum (around), to mooch' to get stuff for free Click on the Synonym to see it's definition manguear | Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme malo
garúa n ( llovizna) drizzle Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme tiempo   garuar v   Que te garúe finito exp good luck
gil, -a adj lunf ( tonto) foolish, naive   gilún stonger version of ~   ¡El que no llora no mama, y el que no afana es un gil! (lit. He who doesn't cry doesn't breastfeed, and he who doesn't steal is a fool!) often quoted line from a famous tango called Cambalache by Enrique Santos Discépolo Note This lyric offers a fabulously succinct insight into the porteño mentality. Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme tango   gil de goma (lit. rubber fool) colorful version of ~   gilada n group of fools, or something simple enough for a fool Click on the Synonym to see it's definition boludez | Click on the Synonym to see it's definition tarado Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme person
grela n   1 ( mugre) filthiness, grime   2 ( mujer) woman Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme femenino | Note There is no documented connection between the two meanings, so your basic misogyny seems to be at work here.
h
hinchapelotas adjmf 'pain in the ass' annoying Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info joder
hinchar v (lit. to swell, inflate) to annoy, fool around. Abbreviated form of hinchar las pelotas/bolas: No hinches! Quit bugging me! Cut it out! Click on the following for a pop-up box with related cultural or linguistic info joder
lo que mata es la humedad say (lit. the humidity will kill ya) Note The geographic conditions in Buenos Aires aren't so very different from, for example, Washington D.C. In the summer the mosquitos can reach plague proportions. Be prepared! Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme tiempo
i  j
jamón nm ( muslo) thigh Click on the Synonym to see it's definition gamba Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme cuerpo   jamón del medio exp (lit. ham from the center) 'cream of the crop, best of the batch' good quality Click on the Synonym to see it's definition joya Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme bueno, gesto
jopo   1 n (lit. fox's tail) 'do, boof' stylish or conspicuous hairdo   2 male hairstyle of the 50's (think of Elvis and James Dean, or Matt Dillon if the originals aren't within your pop vocabulary) Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme masculino   del año del jopo old, from an older generation Click on the Synonym to see it's definition del año del pedo | Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme cuerpo
joya (nunca taxi) (lit. jewellery, a treasure)  1 exp 'cool, sweet, etc.'  2 adj perfect, excellent condition Note cars are qualified in good condition by saying 'never taxi' because taxis are so beat on Click on the Synonym to see it's definition mató, jamón del medio Click on the Keyword to see a list of slang related by that idea or theme bueno, transporte

Last updated 11/10/2006
Copyright Curtis Draves 2005. All rights reserved.