slang

Popular Slang words and phrases used in Argentina

Slang words in Argentina

Slang words and idiomatic expressions, as we’ve explained in previous posts like 7 Essential Lunfardos for tango and Speak Spanish like an Argentine , are used in Argentina a lot, and you will need to learn them if you want to clearly understand what Argentines are talking about!

In this post we are covering some very popular words that people use most of the time in informal contexts like when you’re talking to a friend or relative, or when you are at an informal event, or even at work (try to avoid them when addressing your boss!)

Let’s check them out:

Salir rajando: To leave a place really quickly, especially cause you are in real hurry, want to escape or need to be somewhere else soon.


“Estar fusilado” (Literally when someone receives a shot by firearm) it means to be extremely tired, exhausted. Example: “Estuve todo el día en el gimnasio, estoy fusilado” (I was at the gym all day, I’m really tired)

In which situation would you use this slang phrase?


“No pasa naranja” – When someone asks “¿Qué pasa?” (What happens?) sometimes people respond “No pasa naranja” or just “Naranja” instead of saying “Nada” (Nothing). It’s a very informal and funny way of answering!


“Sacate la gorra” (Literally: Take out your hat) – It’s a very informal expression to tell someone to stop acting like a policeman.

Example: “No me controles, ¡sacate la gorra!” (Don’t control me, take out your hat (or actually, stop acting like the police).

 

“¡Buen finde!” = It means “Have a nice weekend” but instead of saying “fin de semana” (weekend) we shorten the word and it becomes, as we show in the picture, “finde”.

 

“Quemarse la cabeza” (Literally: To burn your head”) means to worry a lot about something or to be upset about a problem.
For example: “No te quemes la cabeza, ella no era para vos”. (Stop worrying, she wasn’t the right one for you)

 

Apolillar – To rest or sleep. Apparently it derives from the Neapolitan word “apolaiare” that would come from “apolaio”, the henhouse. “Apolaiare” in the countryside referred to the time when the hens would go to sleep at night.
Example: Me voy a apolillar. I’m going to bed/to sleep.

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