LANGUAGE

In Buenos Aires most locals speak Spanish and other language. As Buenos Aires is very international, many people also speak English and it is unlikely that you will be in a situation where you won't be able to communicate with someone. 

Hola (oh  lah) - Hello.

¿Cómo está? (coh moh es tah) or ¿Que tal? – How are you?

Por favor (por  fah vohr) – Please.

Gracias (grah cee ahs) – Thank you.

Encantado or Mucho gusto (moo choh goos toh) – Nice to meet you.

¿Hablas inglés? (ahblah een glays)? – Do you speak English?

Yo no hablo español (yoh no ahblo espan yohl) – I don’t speak Spanish.

Yo quiero, yo no quiero (yoh kee ayr oh,  yoh noh kee ayr oh) – I want, I don’t want.

¿Dónde está? (dohn des tah)  – Where is it?

¿Cuánto cuesta? (cwahn toh cways tah)? – How much does it cost?

¿Qué hora es? (kay orah ess)? –  What time is it?

Yo tengo, yo no tengo (yoh  tayn goh, yoh noh tayn goh) – I have, I don’t have.

Yo entiendo (yoh  ayn tee ayn doh) – I understand.

Yo no entiendo (yoh noh ayn tee ayn doh) – I don’t understand.

A la derecha ( a  lah day ray chah) – To the Right.

A la izquierda (ah  lah eez kee ayr dah) – To the Left.

En la esquina (a lah ays kee nah) – At the corner.

We recommend bringing a pocket dictionary and/or phrasebook with you.

You may notice a porteño accent that is common in the city of Buenos Aires. Here the people use the form “vos” instead of the “tú” form, and the Spanish double L and the “y” is pronounced like “sh” instead of the “y” sound heard in other Latin American countries.

Local Terms to Know:

Porteño – a person from the port (the city of Buenos Aires).

Asado – a typical Argentine barbecue.

Mate – an herbal, loose leaf tea, drank from a gourd and a metal straw.

Colectivo / Bondi – a public bus.

Subte – the subway (metro).

SUBE – the public transportation card needed to ride both the subway and bus.

Locutorio – an internet and phone center.

Cajero Automático – ATM.

Che – an informal way to address another person.