Argentine Spanish is famous for some of the crazy slang and expressions that they use. Add this to their different accent and intonation and you have a completely different Spanish. It is so different that natives from other speaking countries often have difficulties understanding them. Argentines have no problem with foul language and use it freely, and this is the same for the younger and older people, male and female. If you plan on spending any length of time in Argentina, you should attempt to learn some of the slang that is used there, so you can better communicate with the fun, somewhat eccentric Argentines. It takes some effort to learn some of the slang before arriving in Argentina, but there are a few things you can do.

First of all, there are many different sites on the internet with a pretty good directory of Argentine Slang. Just type Argentine Slang into a web browser, and you will find a number of options. Be sure to find a site that give example sentences using the slang, and not just the translation. It is very difficult to properly learn the slang without seeing it in context.

There is a very good book on the market called Che Boludo: A Gringo’s Guide to understanding the Argentines by James Bracken. This is an excellent book, because it is short, easy to read, and only lists the slang that is used in today’s Argentine Spanish. It also demonstrates some of the hand signs that the Argentines use. You should be able to purchase this book online, or purchase an e-version of it.

If you are having problems understanding an expression that you recently learned, try visiting the Word Reference site. There are many Argentines who frequent the forum, and you can ask questions that are usually answered swiftly.

Your last and possible the best option for learning Argentine slang is by watching some current Argentine movies. It is important that you watch them with the subtitles in Spanish, so that you can see the expressions while they are being used. If you already know some of the slang and expressions used, you will learn how to use them in context by watching movies. The best movies for slang are the ones that are targeting a younger crowd, anywhere from teenagers to late 20s. These movies tend to use a lot of slang, and are therefore a great way to learn it yourself. Some suggestions are Un Oso Rojo, Un Novio Para Mi Mujer, Quien Dice Que Es Facil, but there are many different ones that would be helpful.

As long as you have a basic understanding of Argentine slang, you will be much better off when you arrive, and should be well prepared to have an entertaining conversation with the colorful Argentines!

Diego Malingo is an expatriate living in Buenos Aires that has created an in-depth site about living in Buenos Aires. You can learn all you need to know about Buenos Aires such as attractions, top restaurants, living costs, and Argentine slang.

[tags]buenos aires, argentine slang, argentine spanish[/tags]