‘When your Argentine frend shows up late ‘and exclaims Che chabén! No sabés, ise ‘cago la chata en la loma del orto y nos _quedamos en bolas!" do you wish you had ‘paid more attention in Spanish class? No ‘worries, it wouldn't have helped you anyway. This book will. Argentines speak a ‘unique kind of Castellano reled with slang that you won't find in your Spanish dictionary. jChe Boludo!is your guide to keeping up in Argentina (Che Boluco!" is an essential tool for any gringo who wants to mingle with the ‘Argentines!’ - Bony Planet Travel Guide ‘The most colorful language since Swabi ‘Adventure Guy Magazine ‘Don't be a pelotudo, read this book! - jaime Miguel Helecho James BrackenjChe Boludo! A Gringo's Guide to Understanding the Argentines James Brackentasken, mes ‘Ce todo / James acento rar a ago de: ail anguime-22 04 - aioe: Calc, 208. ISBN 97B967-1373309 | Jegs Argon Dison. Tague, Rad 1 Tilo co 467982 ecbs ecalogscn: 90872008 reine, 2007 2 eden amends y comedy 2008, Jes Brahe Heodgan@hetnaicom Earn Calne (CC. 1728 (8400) Balke Tol (02944) 461978 ‘rr patagonalioscoraar- ages. com ar Dirotor Boi: Raat egoine isto deeubiea tron Nicola Lai Dibaos de ineroe Mar Chilo 7 SOY, CHE BOLUDO! A Gringo’s Guide to Understanding the Argentines James Bracken Dibujos: Matin Chiralo one EA enrroRa caLzucHe Giciones continentePara Kaicito, mi quilombero PROLOGO Argentines love to talk, They communicate directly, ‘openly and offen loudly. In Argentina there is no taboo in the use of foul language. A respectable old woman will, swear like a silor and no one bats en eye. Fools are not suffered lightly and anyone behaving in a pretentious oF obnoxious manner will be sharply reprimanded, some- times with just simple gesture of the hands. Politica correctness doct not exist in Argentina because it would only impede getting your point across. If you are a bit overweight your nickname might be ‘el Gordo’, orf you have a dark complexion they might call you ‘Nogro" oF if you happen to be of Polish descent, ‘el Polaco’. No offense is intended, none is taken and there is no false morality to confuse te issues, When Argentines co nicate with one another iis evident that their freedom of speech is real anda strong pert oftheir identity Although Argentines are extremely patriotic and will not hesitate to tell you that their country has the tlles¢ mountains, the tastiest beef, the most beautiful women, the finest ‘wine and the best footballers inthe world, they wil also ‘be quick to point out tha their country is run by corunt politicians and i full of bullsiters and crooks. The truth is “Which country isn't” but Argentines in particular al- ‘ways seem tobe just as aware of teir own shortcomings as they are of other's. This keen sense of discernment is illustrated by the vast quantity of words used precisely deseribe an idiot, a braggart, a liar, «scam or the quality ‘of anything from personal character to household appli- ances. The Argentines use these words with suck passionand frequency that a foreigner will eventually have to ask “What is a‘boludo’ and why can’t find itin my Spanish dictionary? The distinet form of Spanish spoken in most of Ar- ‘2entina today is most accurately deseribed a rio platense and can be identified by it use ofthe pronoun ‘vos (you) as well a shh or 2 sof jj sound when pronouncing Il or y pollo-posho, yerba-sherba). Rio Platense receives its ‘ame from the Rio de la Pte, which borders the prov: nce of Buenos Aires and defines the most populated e- sion of Argentina. (Uruguay, located across the Rio de a Pista from Atgentin, is also home to rio platense Span- ith) Althougts a geographically massive country with en incredibly diverse population, Argentina has received ‘most ofits cultural and lingual influences from the sheer number of those who speak Rio Platonse. The majority of this population is descended from the huge influx of immigrant that erived, fom all pats ofthe word, tt prt of Buenos Aires inthe early 20 century. The par- Uicular language and slang that evolved inthe streets of [Bucnos Aires at this time is referred to as Lunfardo and is directly related to Tango music and culture. Lanfardo bas ite own vocabulary and word play such ax syllable inversions (pizza ~ zapi,eafé-eca) that originated 2s a way for folks fo commusieate beyond the understanding. ‘of the police and prison guards. Mach Lunfardo reflects a life of crime and treachery and could be why most ‘Argentines appear to be so streetwise when speaking thir native tongue. Although a groat deal of Lunfaréo ‘nas found a permanent place in the Argentine vocabu- lary, “Che Boludo! isnot a dictionary of Lunfardo but comprehensive guide to understanding the slang, ex- pressions, gestures and Rio Platense Spanish that is used ‘throughout most of Argentina today. Everyone from the celebrated Tango singers tothe infamous gauchos to the youth of today has made their contribution. Many words and expressions vary from place to place and to accu rately cover them ail would be impossible as language is constantly crossing borders and evolving through the generations. With globalization hundreds of languages are becoming extinct as others begin to share their Vo- cabulary. Shopping, super, happy hour, delivery, winner and heavy are some of the many English words adopted into the Argentine vocabulary. On the other hand, when speaking about New York, most Argentines wil insist on pronouncing it as Nuevo Sshork, a direct translation ofits English name into Argentine dialect, This would be like refering to Buenos Aires as “Good Air’ and expecting anyone to know what city you were talking about. Hu- ‘mans often adopt the most fluid form of expression and ‘whatever rolls off of the tongue the easiest regardless of hhow it may be interpreted literally. The English transla” tions of many of the words and expressions found inthis book are quite absurd and thus provided much inspiration forthe creation of “Che Boludal” In Argentina you will hear frequent use ofthe word pedo (fart) and would be Jed to belleve thatthe Argentinos sre quite gaseous. AS you will seein this book, peda has about a dozen different ‘meanings depending on the context in which iti used, ‘The literal meanings of words and phrases are given to help clarity these matters. What is most important isto remember that certain colloquistisms are only appropri ‘ate in certain situations and that this book is to be used ‘wisely, Read i, listen to the Argentines and be grmong ‘200d friends before spouting out any ofits contents. A failure of good judgment could likely result in an embar~ rassing situation or, worse yet, offending someone and promptly receiving & tompadaVos With the exception of a few other specific parts of Colombia, Bolivia and Cental America, Rio Platense is unique ints use of the pronoun ‘vos" (you). Its not cor- ‘ain whether or not “vos" comes from Portuguese 'voot,” EExpafiol ‘vosotros’ or an antiquated form of addressing someone of the utmostimportance suchas god orthe king, ‘Whatever its origins may be, the use of *vos" in Rio Platense is accepted a legitimate Castellano, In Rio Platense, ‘vos’ also has its own form of conjugation. The ‘only differences between the conjugation of “vos” and “tu” are found in the simple present tense and imperative (Command) form, In most cases itis usually only a matter ‘of an accented syllable. Ifyou speak using “vos” instead ‘of Mu’ or “usted, it is important that you recognize these conjugations and use them accordingly. The examples given are to illustrate the differences between conjugat- {ng ‘tu’ and “vos.” Rio Pltense like Fspafiol, also uses ‘usted’ in cases where respect is shown such as when speaking to an elder with whom one is nt intimate. verb vos ser (to be) vos 508 estar(Wobe) ——_vosestis ‘caminar (o walk) vos eaminis fener (ohave) —_vostenés ‘querer ((o want) vos querés ‘subir (fo goup) vos subs venir (lo come) vos venis pensar (to think) vos pensis, Aecir(lossy) ——_vordecis contar ‘vos contis (otell, to count) tu imperative vos. meres set fuestis jest! ‘a caminas jcamind! tutienes tens! tu quieres jqueré! tusubes subi! tuvienes veri - tupiensas jpensél tudices —jdeeit twouentas jcontilDICcIONARIO fo) masculine noun (0) finn ous 61 ve (oa) deatve [enigsec) wes by older genentions [ol) exclanaton (Gog) augmented [Gin] imate 1 er! mean a te werd abollado [aj] lit. dented; someone who appears to bein rough shape or abused abrochar{¥] lit to button up; to fuck (vulgs), to fice acaba (¥] litt finish; to have an orgasm aceleradola (mf) ‘accelerated’, very excited; to be ‘wound up achaparrada (adj) short and stubby, usod to describe vegetation Acovachar {¥] to hide something away, to stash adornar [vit to ador; fo buy off to bribeafanar {v] to steal, 0 rob; to overcharge; to win by a lange difference ‘greta [adj] a sour person; from agrio (adj) bitter ‘aguantar [v] it. to bear, to put up with; to wait “hacer fl aguante” to support someone or a cause aguantadero [m] place to hang out jete [m] Arabic in origin, from al-qasrw which ‘means ‘word’; 1) nare, informer to police; 2) tattle tale; someone not tobe trusted with a secret; 3) [antiquated] pimp; aleahuetear [¥] to betray a Secret, to bea tattle tale amarrete (m] a hageler, a cheapskate amarrocar [v] to save money, to hide something away amigovio‘a (mf) someone who is dating, more than = ‘icnd but not quite a boyigtitiend aparate [mo] lit. apnaram; areal character of a person: ‘a eccentric person ‘polar o fslep, am pall oo] sping in atorrante fm} 1) someone who is worthles,a lazy bum; this term originated in the erly part ofthe century when large drain pipes, manufactured by the company Torrant, were used by the homeless as place to sleep. 2) sometimes used affectionately for men or children; 3) a whorish woman ‘uboso/a (adj) drooling; used to describe someone who is lusty, with sexual dsio ‘ory horny's babosear [v]to drool with desire Dbacén [adj] someone with expensive tastes, who lives luxuriously and enjoys the finer things in life Dagarto( an ugly person Dagny {im} 1) an uly person, a dog of « woman; 2) baneses, neeage Dajén (ws) lit. a decline, drop; ‘a downer’, a