The Meaning of ‘Chamuyar’ / ‘Chamullar’

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

In Lunfardo, the word “chamuyar” (also spelled chamullar) means “to chat up” or “to sweet talk” a woman or “to make small talk.” Other possible informal English translations of the word include to smooth talk, to chitchat, to bullshit, to shoot the breeze, and to shoot the shit.

Chamuyar has also come to mean “to lie” in certain contexts.

It’s said that the verb “chamuyar” stems from the caló (gypsy dialect) word “chamullar,” which means to converse or chat.

Related words in Lunfardo:
noun chamuyo or chamullo: smooth talk, bullshit, small talk, lie
noun chamuyero/a or chamullero/a: smoothtalker, bullshitter, liar, pick-up artist

Usage examples: Vamos a chamuyar a unas cuantas minas. // We’re going to put the moves on a bunch of girls.

El nuevo plan de viviendas es un chamuyo. // The new housing plan is nothing but a lie.

The song “El chamuyo,” written in the milonga style by Edmundo Rivero, prominently features the word “chamuyo” in the title and lyrics.

Se bate, se chamuya, se parola,
se parlamenta reo, como “grilo”,
y aunque la barra bufe y dé el “estrilo”
el lengo e’ chile es un bacán de gola.

Si es vichenzo, escafaña y no la grola
lo catan pal’ fideo manco dilo,
y hay cada espamentoso tirifilo,
más puntiagudo que zapallo angola.

El chamuyo cafiolo es una papa
cualquier mistongo el repertorio “ñapa”
y es respetao cuando lo parla un macho.

A veces si otro camba me lo emparda,
hay programa de espiche en la busarda
o se firma, con un feite, en el escracho.

The Meaning of ‘Piola’

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets ofBuenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language inArgentina (especially in and aroundBuenos Aires) andUruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

In Lunfardo, the word “piola” takes on a number of meanings, but it generally refers to someone who is clever, crafty or astute. Piola can also be used to describe someone who’s nice or friendly, calm or relaxed in nature, or something that’s cool or great.

When piola is paired with the verb quedarse, the phrase takes the meaning “to be/stay/keep cool.” The phrase hacerse el piola is also used, an expression that means to pretend to be/make like one is clever.

Related words in Lunfardo:

noun piolada: 1 cleverness 2 a case where one personally benefits from a situation without considering how others will be affected

Usage example: Mi amigo es muy piola. Seguro que te va a dar buenos consejos. // My friend is quite clever. Surely he’ll give you good advice.

The 1975 song Patente de piola by Eladia Blázquez features the word “piola” in the title and lyrics.

PATENTE DE PIOLA

La gente hace rato, no quiere más lola,
Con los avivados llamados los piolas
Y ni por asomo entres en su ley,
Porque de los plomos el piola es el rey.

Cuidado muchachos con tanta ranada,
Porque no nos hace ninguna gauchada
Y eso que parece risueño y pueril,
Puede ser a veces patente de gil.

El que nada en la piolada,
Vos sabés, se puede ahogar
En la clásica bobada de faltar
O de sobrar,

Pero para el porteño flor,
Es un loco berretín,
Un glorioso antecedente
De ocurrente y de pillín.

En la maratón del piola nadie cola quiere ser,
En el ranking del canchero, él primero y vos después.
Yo no se quién lo embarcó en la estupidez genial
La que él piensa que es señor, cuando es un chanta nacional.

Que aunque nadie le dé bola, él es piola y nada más.

Que loca manía que tiene el porteño,
Cuanta fantasía, que inútil empeño,
Muestra complacido, en cada ocasión
Que está recibido de vivo y piolón.

Un candor ingenuo lo caracteriza,
Y aquel que lo juna, se mata de risa.
Vive pregonando que raja de más
Y lo ven jadeando llegar siempre atrás.

El que nada en la piolada, vos sabés, se puede ahogar,
En la clásica bobada de faltar o de sobrar,

Pero para el porteño flor,
Es un loco berretín,
Un glorioso antecedente
De ocurrente y de pillín.

En la maratón del piola nadie cola quiere ser,
En el ranking del canchero, él primero y vos después.
Yo no se quién lo embarcó en la estupidez genial
La que él piensa que es señor, cuando es un chanta nacional.

Que aunque nadie le dé bola, él es piola y nada más.

Lunfardo: The Meaning of ‘Curda’

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

In Lunfardo, the word “curda” refers to a drunkard, a bout of drinking or drunkenness itself. Equivalent slang terms for curda (in the drunkard sense) are lush, sot, sponge, wino, and boozer. Binge, bout of boozing, and binge drinking are acceptable translations for instances where curda is used to describe a drinking session.

Curda is often paired with a verb (e.g. le agarró una curda), giving it the meaning “to get drunk/inebriated/intoxicated.” When used in this manner, other possible informal English translations of the word include to get hammered, to get wasted, to get smashed, to get plastered, to get trashed, to get bombed and to get lit.

The Dictionary of the Real Academia Española states that this Lunfardo term entered the lexicon directly from the French dialect word curda, meaning pumpkin or squash. Another source cites a Romani/Gypsy dialect word meaning drunk as the origin of curda, which, frankly, seems more plausible.

Related words in Lunfardo:

noun curdela: same meanings as those listed above

noun curdeli: same meanings as those listed above

Usage example: Sólo quedaba un pobre curda tirado en la calle. // Only a poor drunk remained lying in the street.

The 1956 tango La última curda by Aníbal Troilo and Cátulo Castillo features the word “curda” in the title and lyrics.

Lastima, bandoneón,
mi corazón
tu ronca maldición maleva…
Tu lágrima de ron
me lleva
hasta el hondo bajo fondo
donde el barro se subleva.

¡Ya sé, no me digas! ¡Tenés razón!
La vida es una herida absurda,
y es todo tan fugaz
que es una curda, ¡nada más!
mi confesión.

 

Contame tu condena,
decime tu fracaso,
¿no ves la pena
que me ha herido?
Y hablame simplemente
de aquel amor ausente
tras un retazo del olvido.
¡Ya sé que te lastimo!
¡Ya sé que te hago daño
llorando mi sermón de vino!

 

Pero es el viejo amor
que tiembla, bandoneón,
y busca en el licor que aturde,
la curda que al final
termine la función
corriéndole un telón al corazón.
Un poco de recuerdo y sinsabor
gotea tu rezongo lerdo.
Marea tu licor y arrea
la tropilla de la zurda
al volcar la última curda.

Cerrame el ventanal
que arrastra el sol
su lento caracol de sueño,
¿no ves que vengo de un país
que está de olvido, siempre gris,
tras el alcohol?…

 

 

The Meaning of ‘Morfar’

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect.

morfar - Lunfardo

In Lunfardo, the word “morfar” means to eat, especially in a hearty, voracious or gluttonous manner. Other possible informal English translations of the word include to get some grub, to get some chow, to chow down, to devour, to wolf down, to gobble (down) and to scarf (down).

In soccer (football) slang, morfar can also be used to indicate that a player hogs the ball.

It’s said that the verb “morfar” stemmed from the French slang word “morfer” meaning—not surprisingly—to eat, although it’s highly likely that both the French and Lunfardo terms arose from the Italian dialect word “morfa,” meaning mouth.

Related words in Lunfardo:
noun morfi: food, grub, chow
noun morfón: glutton, pig, hog

Usage example: Ese chabón es un morfón, se queda con la pelota. // That guy’s a ball hog. He keeps the ball for himself. (He never passes the ball.)

Éstos van en limusina y no tienen para morfar. // These guys ride around in a limo, but they’ve got nothing to eat.

The song Yira yira by the popular 90s Argentine rock band Los Piojos features the word “morfar” in the lyrics.

Cuando rajés los tamangos
buscando ese mango
que te haga morfar
la indiferencia del mundo
que es sordo y es mudo
recién sentirás.

Verás que todo es mentira
verás que nada es amor
que al mundo nada le importa
yira, yira…

Aunque te quiebre la vida
aunque te muerda un dolor
no esperes nunca una mano
ni una ayuda ni un favor.

The Meaning of ‘Quilombo’

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

In Lunfardo, the word “quilombo” means a mess, scandal, uproar, disorder, or conflict. In the past, quilombo strictly referred to brothels or so-called houses of ill repute; however, as the term evolved, it began to be applied to disorganized or messy conditions or situations of conflict. Nowadays, quilombo is rarely used in its original Spanish sense of brothel/whorehouse.

It’s said that the origins of the word “quilombo” can be traced to the word “kilombo” from the African language Kimbundu. Use of the word dates to Argentina’s colonial era, when it made reference to a hideout, particularly for fugitive slaves.

Related words in Lunfardo:

noun or adj quilombero/a: troublemaker, rabble-rouser; rowdy, noisy, disorderly

noun bolonqui (the word “quilombo” with the syllables written in reverse)

verb quilombear: to cause a disturbance

Usage examples:
¡Esta habitación es un quilombo! // This room is a mess!

The word “quilombo” appears in a chant frequently sung by fans at football (soccer) games in Argentina.

Si lo tiran a [insert team or player name here] al bombo, va a haber quilombo, va a haber quilombo.

Another popular chant includes the word “quilombera”:

Vamos, vamos, Argentina,
vamos, vamos a ganar,
que esta barra quilombera
no te deja, no te deja de alentar.

 

The Meaning of ‘Pibe’

In Lunfardo, the word “pibe” means kid or boy. While the word is unique to the Rioplatense dialect, experts in Lunfardo disagree on its origins. Some say that “pibe” is derived from the word “pive” of the Genoese dialect of Italian, meaning “errand boy” or “apprentice.” Another possible candidate for the forerunner of “pibe” is pivello or pivèll, of the dialect of Lombardy, meaning “youth” or, again, “apprentice.”

An alternative theory—one that feels like more of a stretch—posits that the origin of “pibe” lies in the word “pebete,” a term meaning incense, which arose from Catalan. The thought is that “pebete” came to refer to a boy or kid in an ironic sense, given that active young boys/adolescents are prone to some unattractive odors—the complete opposite of the pleasant smell of incense.

Related words in Lunfardo: piba (girl)

Usage examples:  Diego Maradona, one of Argentina’s greatest soccer players, was nicknamed “El Pibe de Oro” or “The Golden Boy.”

The word “pibe” appears in the lyrics of the 1945 tango “El sueño del pibe” by Juan Puey and Reinaldo Yiso.

pibe-lunfardo

El sueño del pibe

Golpearon la puerta de la humilde casa,
la voz del cartero muy clara se oyó,
y el pibe corriendo con todas sus ansias
al perrito blanco sin querer pisó.

“Mamita, mamita”, se acercó gritando;
la madre extrañada dejó el piletón
y el pibe le dijo riendo y llorando:
“El club me ha mandado hoy la citación”.

The Meaning of ‘Atorrante”‘

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

In Lunfardo, the word atorrante commonly refers to one who avoids work and other responsibilities or one who lacks honesty and respect, with concern only for his own personal gain. In addition, atorrante carries the following meanings:

  • When used to describe a man or a woman (atorranta in the case of a female) – scum, bum, tramp, layabout, crook, slacker, good-for-nothing, naughty, cheeky
  • When used to describe a woman – whore, slut, easy, promiscuous
  • When used to describe a child – prankster, mischievous, cheeky
  • When used to describe an animal – mutt

The origin of the word “atorrante” is uncertain; however, there are two widely held explanations as to its etymological roots.

(1) It’s said that in the early 20th century, vagabonds and indigents slept inside huge cement pipes being installed for an important public works project in the City of Buenos Aires. Allegedly, the French-made pipes were emblazoned with the name of the manufacturer A. Torrent, and the men spending the night in these pipes gained the moniker “atorrantes” as a result.

(2) At the turn of the 20th century, unemployed men who came looking for work at general stores were offered the job of roasting coffee beans (to roast/toast = torrar). The raggedy-looking folks given this task later came to be known as atorrantes.

Related words in Lunfardo:

atorrantear – to loiter; to go out and have fun, especially at night; to go out in search of someone to have sex with

atorrar– to sleep

The word “atorrante” appears in the lyrics of popular 70s tune “Cara de tramposo” by Argentine pop and tango singer Cacho Castaña.

Cara de tramposo

Cara de tramposo y ojos de atorrante
con el pelo largo y la lengua picante

Dejó la Argentina buscando horizontes
en un viejo barco fue de polizonte
en tierras lejanas buscando fortuna

 

The Meaning of Yeta

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

In Lunfardo, the word “yeta” refers to a jinx; something or someone who brings bad luck. Experts in Lunfardo believe that the word “yeta” is derived from the words “jettatura” and “jettatore” of the Neapolitan dialect of Italian, meaning “evil influence” or “a man whose presence brings harm or bad luck to others.” Given that the word “yeta” initially gained popularity with the working class, it’s difficult to say when its use became widespread among all Buenos Aires residents; however, the first instances of this slang term in the written word crop up in 1915.

Related words in Lunfardo: enyetar, yetar, yetado, yetadura

In addition, jeta occasionally appears as an alternate spelling of yeta.

Usage examples:  Victims of bad luck might exclaim, “¡Qué yeta!” instead of “¡Qué mala suerte!

The word “yeta” turns up in the lyrics of the tango “Preparate pa’l domingo” by José Rial and Guillermo Barbieri.

Preparate pa’l domingo si querés cortar tu yeta;
tengo una rumbiada papa que pagará gran sport.
Me asegura mi datero que la corre un buen muñeca
y que paga, por lo menos, treinta y siete a ganador.
Vos no hagás correr el yeite, atenete a mis informes;
dejá que opinen contrario “Jornada” y “La Razón”.
Con mi dato pa’l domingo podés llamarte conforme…
Andá preparando vento; cuanto más vento, mejor.

 

 

Lunfardo: Money Talk

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

While Lunfardo features a number of words to refer to money in general, it also employs several terms to describe specific currency denominations.

TermMeaning
guitaone cent [also used as a general term for money]
mangoone peso
diego [considered a non-standard term by Lunfardo purists]ten pesos
gambaone hundred pesos
lucaone thousand pesos
paloone million pesos

Unless otherwise specified, these terms always denote Argentine legal tender. If the speaker wishes to refer to a foreign currency, there are special terms that are affixed to the quantity. For example, verde is used in reference to U.S. dollars (e.g. 5 gambas verdes = 500 dollars). Speakers tack on euro after the quantity if discussing euros, the currency of the European Union (e.g. 10 lucas euros = 10,000 euros).

In addition, it’s best to use the term for the largest quantity applicable, i.e. 20 palos instead of 20,000,000 mangos or 20,000 lucas to express the sum of 20 million pesos.

Lunfardo: What Does “Guita” Mean?

Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a defining characteristic of the Rioplatense dialect. Add a dash of Argentine flavor to your Spanish vocabulary with the Transpanish blog’s ongoing feature highlighting some of the most frequently used terms in Lunfardo.

The Meaning of Guita

In Lunfardo, the word “guita” means “money” or “cash.” The word “dinero” (money) is not frequently heard in Argentina, with speakers tending to favor the word “plata” instead. The term “guita” is in widespread use throughout Argentina. In addition to guita, you may run across the words “mango,” “vento,” “sope” (a reversal of the syllables in the word “peso”), and “mosca” in a discussion about money. Also the word “guita” is equivalent to cent or “peso” (Argentine currency).

The word “guita” turns up in the lyrics of the tango “Al mundo le falta un tornillo” by José María Aguilar  and Enrique Cadícamo

Todo el mundo está en la estufa,
Triste, amargao y sin garufa,
neurasténico y cortao…
Se acabaron los robustos,
si hasta yo, que daba gusto,
¡cuatro kilos he bajao!
Hoy no hay guita ni de asalto
y el puchero está tan alto
que hay que usar el trampolín.
Si habrá crisis, bronca y hambre,
que el que compra diez de fiambre
hoy se morfa hasta el piolín.

Hoy se vive de prepo
y se duerme apurao.
Y la chiva hasta a Cristo
se la han afeitao…
Hoy se lleva a empeñar
al amigo más fiel,
nadie invita a morfar…