Never will we be far apart again. Argentines are very expressive, and their Spanish is distinct from, for example, Mexican Spanish. There are plenty of books and websites out there that explain Buenos Aires slang, or lunfardo βslang words you will never learn in a high school Spanish class. Over the last four years of living in Buenos Aires I have learned there is a particular modern lunfardo, or slang, when it comes to dating, sex, love and relationships.
Certain words would come up again and again. Once I understood the words I understood the culture and what was happening in my own life. So I have put together this dating glossary for you. I thought it would be a service to the many women and men who come to Argentina looking for love. Or who simply find themselves here, dating. Dating can be bewildering in another culture, and language can help guide you. Knowledge is power. You can say you want a chongo, or not.
Whether you come here on vacation or you live here, here are some words to help you date in Buenos Aires. They said, with impish glee, chamuyo. Chamuyo is bullshit. Sometimes poetic bullshit, but bullshit nonetheless. A chamuyero is a bullshitter, par excellence. While Rio de Janeiro has its malandros charming tricksters who do anything to avoid work , Buenos Aires has its chamuyeros.
A chamuyero talks in circles but really they are talking about nothing. Everything they say is airy and unreliable. In dating, chamuyo is flattery. Chamuyo is quite related to the piropo, a flattering or romantic compliment to seduce a woman.
I could believe that piropo or get off on believing it. The difference between a piropo and chamuyo is chamuyo is clearly bullshitβand totally generic. See also: Lie to me, I love it when you lie to me. A chamuyero milonguero tango dancer and frequenter of the milongas, events where we dance tango may flatter you by telling you what a wonderful dancer you are.
