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Argentine slang for Aussies: phrases that actually help

Start with che among people you know and laburo for work. These 25 phrase pairs show you what to say, and when to hold back.

Updated · 7 min read

The painted houses of Caminito in La Boca, Buenos Aires
Photo: Hernán Piñera, CC BY-SA 2.0

The short version

Quick start
25 Aussie-to-Argentine phrase pairs
Everyday address
Che gets someone familiar’s attention
Watch your tone
Boludo can greet a friend or insult a stranger

Start with che to get the attention of someone you know, laburo for work, and quilombo for a mess or difficult situation. Keep boludo for mates who you know will take it kindly; it can also be an insult.

Which Aussie words have useful Argentine equivalents?

Think of these as conversational matches, not word-for-word translations. Read the notes before trying one out.

Aussie saysArgentine saysNotes
Mate?¿Che?Familiar attention-getter; che isn't a universal substitute for an English noun meaning friend.
Mate! (between close friends)¡Boludo!Can be affectionate between friends, but also a vulgar put-down. Don't open with it.
Yakka / workLaburoColloquial word for work or a job.
I'm workingEstoy laburandoLaburar means to work; ordinary trabajar works too.
An odd jobUna changaTemporary, usually informal paid work; the word does not mean a visitor can legally take the job.
What a shamblesQué quilomboA mess, commotion, or troublesome situation; the word also has a vulgar older sense.
The busEl bondiInformal term for a public bus.
The underground trainEl subteBuenos Aires underground rail; short for subterráneo.
That's grouseEstá copadoSomeone or something enjoyable or interesting; informal and especially youthful.
That's brilliantEstá joyaJoya can mean very well or excellent in casual Argentine speech.
Can't be botheredMe da fiacaFiaca is laziness or lack of drive, not exhaustion from a medical condition.
You're talking rubbishEs puro chamuyoChamuyo is talk designed to impress or persuade; don't use it for every harmless chat.
For real?¿Posta?Casual way to ask whether something is true; posta can mean exact or genuine.
That person is niceEs piolaPiola can mean pleasant; it can also mean clever. Context picks the sense.
That's a knock-offEs truchoSaid of a fake product or something that isn't as it appears.
The young blokeEl pibeMeans a young person or lad; not every adult man.
The young womanLa pibaFeminine of pibe; use the person's name if you know it.
The bloke / young personEl flaco / la flacaFamiliar address to a young person; doesn't necessarily comment on their body.
A womanUna minaCommon colloquial noun for a woman; avoid using it as a default label for someone you don't know.
Let's grab a feedVamos a morfarMorfar is a colloquial verb for eating; not formal restaurant language.
A pastry from the bakeryUna facturaIn Argentina, a bakery sweet; factura also means an invoice elsewhere.
The pub / a clubEl bolicheCan mean a nightclub or modest bar/shop, depending on the conversation.
The poolLa piletaMeans swimming pool; it can also mean a sink, so listen to context.
I'll shout you / cover itTe bancoBancar can mean support, pay for someone, or tolerate them; use a clearer phrase when money matters.
Good on you for putting up with itTe la bancasteFrom bancarse: to endure or handle a difficult situation.

Can you say boludo to an Argentine you just met?

Only use boludo with a friend when you know it suits your relationship. ASALE’s dictionary records both a vulgar insult and an Argentine youth term for addressing a friend. Che also needs a familiar setting; with strangers, use a name or a polite perdón.

Quilombo usually means disorder or a hard-to-solve problem in conversation; the dictionary also records a vulgar brothel sense. “Qué quilombo con los horarios” describes a muddle with the timetables. Keep both words for casual settings, not your first chat with an employer. For work situations, the working-holiday jobs guide deals with jobs rather than vocabulary alone.

Which phrase should you try first?

Listen to how someone addresses you before borrowing their words. On a bus, “¿Este bondi va al centro?” asks if it goes towards the centre. At a bakery, ask for facturas while pointing to the pastries; the word can also mean an invoice. If someone invites you to share mate, “gracias” is a safer first move than boludo. At an asado, barbie etiquette matters at least as much as your vocabulary.

Questions Aussies ask

Is che the same as mate in Argentina?

Che gets the attention of someone you know. It is a familiar form of address, not a direct translation of the Aussie noun mate; keep formal requests polite.

Can I call a stranger boludo?

Stick to a name or a polite greeting with strangers. Boludo can address a friend but also works as a vulgar insult.

What does quilombo mean in Argentina?

Quilombo often means a mess, uproar or difficult situation in casual Argentine speech. The dictionary also records a vulgar brothel sense, so use it in familiar settings.

Sources

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