Task:Tango Glossary
This Tango Glossary is an attempt to gather some of the frequent terms in tango lyrics, which are often difficult to translate accurately. Apart from words and expressions that belong to lunfardo, the peculiar slang used in the spheres of the old, melting-pot Buenos Aires where tango was born—some of them are still in use, though—, the Tango Glossary wants to enclose regionalisms, words, expressions, references to a time gone by, in order to understand it better and, thus, bring it closer.
A
Albur
n. Eventuality or chance, that depends on the result of a given endeavour.
Amurar
v. To abandon. Its participe amurado (abandoned) in even the name of a famous tango.
Arrabal
n. A low-income, working class neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city.
Arrabalero
adj. Relative to the arrabal or displaying its characteristics.
Atorrante
adj. /n. Lazy, often sloppy and sly individual.
B
Bacán
n. Person of wealth or who appears to be such.
Bandearse
v. 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.
Barrio del Tambor
One of the names used to refer to the neighbourhood of Monserrat, because of the large number of african slaves who once lived there.
Berretín
n. Whim, caprice, strong desire, craving, fixed idea, often excessive and bordering with mania.
Bulín
n. Apartment, room where one sleeps or lives. The term often refers to small place set up for romantic encounters.
C
Campanear
v. To look attentively, though unnoticed; to keep watch.
Canyengue
adj.. Style of tango originally danced in the suburbs, considered immoral and severely frowned upon by the upper clases.
Chamuyar
v. To talk with persuasive intentions, often falsely, aimlessly or without solid arguments.
China
n. 1. Low-class woman. 2. Woman with aboriginal features. 3. Beloved woman. 4. Maid, servant woman. 5. Woman.
Chiripá
n. 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.
Codillo
n. Card game. A variant of another game called "tute".
Criollo
adj. n. As an adjective, the term is used to describe what is original of America or the nation, of national origin.
Cimarrón
n. Bitter mate
Cocó
n. Cocaine.
Compadrear
v.A man's act of displaying his own masculinity, courage and value through a conceited, brave, almost aggressive attitude and behaviour.
Compadrito
n. Man from the lower-class urban areas, vain and conceited, known for imitating the bravery of the [compadrón].
Compadrón
adj. The term can mean brave, but also boastful and arrogant. By extension, it comes to designate the individual owner of those qualities.
Conventillo
n. Poor tenement house with many rooms and a large number of dwellers, individuals or full families.
Copetín
n. Alcoholic beverage, cocktail.
Cortada
n. Short, generally narrow street with only one access point.
Cotorro
n. Home, place where someone lives.
Cuarteador
n. 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.
D
De avería
Locution meaning something, most often a person, is immoral and dangerous.
E
Engrupido
Adj. Conceited, pretentious, arrogant.
F
Facón
n. Long gaucho knife.
Flor
Literally meaning "flower", the term is used to express that something is excellent, the best of its kind. E.g. Saying something is "La flor de…" (lit. "The flower of..."), means such thing is the culmination, the summit of its kind. 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
n. Cheap, low reputed tavern.
Fulero
adj. Ugly, unpleasant, poorly made. Also cowardly, faint-hearted and incompetent.
G
Gaucho
n. A particular kind of countryman-horseman, characteristic of the plains and adjacent areas of Argentina and other Southamerican countries.
Griseta
n. 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
adj./ n. Brave individual, bold and resolute. Tough man, often a braggart and a bully. The term is also used as an adjective.
Guarango
adj./ n. Rude, vulgar. Also rude, vulgar person.
H
I
J
K
Kepi
n. Derived from the French term képi. It designates a cylindric, or sightly conic hat, with a lateral visor, part of military uniforms in some countries.
L
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.
M
Malevo
adj./ n. Despicable, quarrelsome individual, often a thief and with a criminal record.
Marroco
n. Bread.
Mate
n. A typical South American drink of infused leaves of ilex paraguensis or yerba mate.
Milonguero
adj. Relative to the milonga and the tango ambiance.
Mina
n. 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.
Mishiadura
n. Poverty.
Mistongo
adj. Wretched, extremely poor.
N
O
P
Paica
n. Woman.
Payador
n. Popular singer who improvises on several topics, generally with the accompaniment of a guitar and in counterpoint with another singer.
Percal
n. Percale, a kind of fabric out of cotton. Because of its low cost and resistance, it was often used in the uniforms of working-class women. The term is present in many tango songs, as a metaphor of the simple life of the poor, quite often in contrast with the luxury of the upper classes, or even with the sparkling colours of a prostitute's attire.
Percanta
n. Noun.
Peringundín/Piringundín
n. Dance local attended by individuals of low condition, of dubious moral.
Porteño
adj./ n. Original or native to Buenos AIres. The word derives from puerto (cursiva) (eng. 'port'), while -eño (cursiva) is a common suffix that indicates origin. As a noun, the term also designates the inhabitants of the city.
Primus
Once a well-known trademark for water heaters.
Q
R
Rana
Sharp, clever, even roguish individual.
Rango
Hierarchy.
Rante
Apheresis of [atorrante].
Requintar
v. To do or say something with an affected, artificial manner. Also, to tilt the hat to the side on one's head.)
Retobado
adj. Lined with leather. Angry, rebelious person, reluctant to comply or obey the requests of another.
Retreta
n. Open air musical show, generally at a park or public square.
S
T
Tallar
1. To predominate, to prevail. 2. To converse. 3. To act as a dealer in a game of chance.
Tapera
Abandoned, rustic house, extremely run down and typical of the rural areas.
Timbear
v. To gamble.
Timba
n. Gambling establishment, often illegal.
U
V
Velay
Interjection that expresses resignation or indifference.
Viejo
Father.
W
X
Y
Yerba
n. Yerba mate, or Ilex paraguariensis, is the name of a plant native to South America. In countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay, its leaves are used for preparing an infusion, commonly referred to as mate. It has been for a very long time a distinctive element of the cultures of said countries, where its preparation and consumption can be an important part of social gatherings, and even of times spent in solitude. Its strong presence in tango lyrics is a sign of its predominance.
Z
Phrases and expressions
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. Literally means ’breaking and cracking’.
