Task:Tango Glossary
Contents
- 1 Individual terms
- 1.1 A-K
- 1.1.1 Albur
- 1.1.2 Arrabal
- 1.1.3 Atorrante
- 1.1.4 Bacán
- 1.1.5 Bandearse
- 1.1.6 Berretín
- 1.1.7 Bulin
- 1.1.8 Campanear
- 1.1.9 Chamuyar
- 1.1.10 Criollo
- 1.1.11 China
- 1.1.12 Chiripá
- 1.1.13 Cocó
- 1.1.14 Compadrear
- 1.1.15 Compadrito
- 1.1.16 Compadrón
- 1.1.17 Conventillo
- 1.1.18 Cortada
- 1.1.19 Cuarteador
- 1.1.20 Facón
- 1.1.21 Flor
- 1.1.22 Fondín
- 1.1.23 Fulero
- 1.1.24 Gaucho
- 1.1.25 Griseta
- 1.1.26 Guapo
- 1.2 L-Z
- 1.1 A-K
- 2 Phrases and expressions
- 3 Other sources
Individual terms
A-K
Albur
Eventuality or chance, that depends on the result of a given endeavour.
Arrabal
A low-income, working class neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city.
Atorrante
Lazy, often sloppy and sly individual.
Bacán
Person of wealth or who appears to be such.
Bandearse
1. To get away. 2.To fail. 3. To overstep the bounds of propriety. 4. To corrupt oneself,to be come perverted, to adopt bad habits.
Berretín
Whim, caprice, strong desire, craving, fixed idea, often excessive and bordering with mania.
Bulin
Apartment, room where one sleeps or lives. The term often refers to small place set up for romantic encounters.
Campanear
To look attentively, unnoticed; to keep watch.
Chamuyar
To talk with persuasive intentions, often falsely, aimlessly or without solid arguments.
Criollo
As an adjective, the term is used to describe what is original of America or the nation, of national origin.
China
1. Low-class woman. 2. Woman with aboriginal features. 3. Beloved woman. 4. Maid, servant woman. 5. Woman.
Chiripá
Poncho held in place by a belt, worn on top of the gaucho's trousers, in order to protect him from the cold and possible injuries.
Cocó
Cocaine.
Compadrear
A man's act of displaying his own masculinity, courage and value through a conceited, brave, almost aggressive attitude and behaviour.
Compadrito
Man from the lower-class urban areas, vain and conceited, known for imitating the bravery of the [compadrón].
Compadrón
The term can mean brave, but also boastful and arrogant. By extension, it comes to designate the individual owner of those qualities.
Conventillo
Poor tenement house with a large number of dwellers.
Cortada
Short, generally narrow street with only one access point.
Cuarteador
Man who would aid vehicules (carriages) out of difficult parts of a road, either too steep or muddy, with the help of one or two horses.
Facón
Long gaucho knife.
Flor
Literally meaning "flower", the term is used to express that something is excellent, the best of its kind. E.g. "La flor de…". However, it can be simultaneously used to say that something or somebody possesses an undesirable quality to the highest degree. E.g. "Sos un flor de…"
Fondín
Fulero
Ugly, unpleasant, poorly made. Also cowardly, faint-hearted and incompetent.
Gaucho
A particular kind of countryman-horseman, characteristic of the plains and adjacent areas of Argentina and other Southamerican countries.
Griseta
From the French term, grisette, it designates a young, working-class woman, typically flirtatious and coquettish. It's derived from gris ("gray" in French), the usual colour of the cheap fabrics used for work clothes and rustic dresses.
Guapo
Brave individual, bold and resolute. Tough man, often a braggart and a bully.
L-Z
Lancero
As a noun, it designates a professional thief, specialist in pick-pocketting passersby. It can also refer to a Don Juan, a ladie's man. As an adjective, it describes the qualities of a bold, daring and brave individual.
Malevo
Despicable, quarrelsome individual, often a thief and with a criminal record.
Mina
Informal word for "woman". The meaning of the word, however, is quite broad and ranges from naming a dear woman or a concubine, to a mistress and a prostitute.
Mistongo
Wretched, extremely poor.
Payador
Popular singer who improvises on several topics, generally with the accompaniment of a guitar and in counterpoint with another singer.
Porteño
Inhabitant or original of Buenos Aires. The word derives from puerto (cursiva) (eng. 'port'), while -eño (cursiva) is a common suffix that indicates origin.
Primus
Once a well-known trademark for water heaters.
Rana
Sharp, clever, even roguish individual.
Rante
Apheresis of [atorrante].
Tallar
1. To predominate, to prevail. 2. To converse. 3. To act as a dealer in a game of chance.
Velay
Interjection that expresses resignation or indifference.
Viejo
Padre.
Phrases and expressions
A suerte y verdad
Copar la parada
To accept a challenge and to even raise the stakes.
De rompe y raja
Adjectival expression that describes a determined spirit and great confidence, outstanding, straight, with a strong temperament.
Other sources
In English
Lunfardo: The Slang of Buenos Aires
In Spanish
