Did you know that there are some Spanish words that are different in Argentina?
If you want to understand Argentines when talking with them -or if you want to talk like them-, you will have to learn this vocabulary!
Argentine Spanish words vary mainly in food, clothes and modes of transport, and most of them are shared among countries from the Southern Cone.
That means that knowing them will be useful to interact also with people from Uruguay, Paraguay, and even Chile sometimes!
This is just everyday vocabulary. If you would like to learn more Argentine colloquialisms and slang, you can check out other articles of mine here.
Are you ready to learn some Argentine Spanish words? Let’s go!
Spanish words that are different in Argentina
If you have studied some Spanish in school, most likely you were taught ‘neutral’ Spanish, and that’s just the Spanish spoken in Mexico or Spain.
It makes sense especially if you are from North America or Europe because of the proximity.
So for the following list, I will add in brackets the words that Mexicans and Spaniards usually use.
List of Argentine Spanish words by categories
Food and drinks
ananá (piña) = pineapple
arvejas (guisantes) = peas
banana (plátano) = banana
chaucha (judías verdes, ejotes) = green beans
choclo (maíz, mazorca, elote) = corn
facturas (masas) = pastries
frutilla (fresa) = strawberry
gaseosa (refresco, soda) = soda
morrón (pimiento) = sweet pepper
palta (aguacate) = avocado
pancho (perro caliente) = hot dog
pocholo (palomitas de maíz) = popcorn
porotos (habichuela, judía) = beans
Clothes and accesories
bombacha (bragas, ropa interior) = panties
buzo (jersey, sudadera) = sweatshirt
camiseta = team shirt, jersey
campera (chaqueta) = jacket
corpiño (sujetador, brasier) = bra
malla (bañador, traje de baño) = bathing suit
musculosa (camiseta sin mangas, camiseta de tirantes) = tank top
polera (jersey de cuello alto, suéter de cuello de tortuga) = turtleneck
pollera (falda) = skirt
remera (camisa, camiseta) = shirt
zapatillas (tenis) = running shoes
Modes of transport
auto (carro, coche) = car
colectivo (autobús) = bus
micro (autobús de larga distancia, autobús interurbano) = intercity bus
subte (metro) = subway, underground
Other Spanish words that are different in Argentina
balde (cubo, cubeta) = bucket
birome / lapicera (bolígrafo) = pen
nafta (gasolina) = gas, petrol
pileta (piscina) = pool
sorbete (pajilla, popote) = straw
tacho (cubo de basura, papelero) = trash can, rubbish bin
And that’s all for today!
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Thank you very much and until next time,
Kevin.