Gaucho Glossary

Don't let the porteños fool you - the best parts of Argentina exist outside the city of Buenos Aires. The "provincias" are important too, and though they've stopped fighting civil wars to prove it, it's still self-evident. No region of the country is more recognizable than the Pampas, the great grassy plains of Santa Fe, La Pampa, Cordoba, and the province of Buenos Aires. This is the home of the guacho, the philosopher-cowboy, the solitary rider of the open plains, immortalized in Martin Fierro; when planning your itinerary, it’s always a good idea to include the setting of the country's national epic. To help you make the most of your travels, here are some essentials to the Argentine experience, starting in the Pampas but useful in most of the country, as well:

Asado: we begin our list with one of the keystones to Argentine culture; grilling. Starting with a wood fire, then grilling over the charcoals, asado will include bife, chorizo, pollo, and whatever else strikes the fancy. 

Che: not just a Communist revolutionary! "Che" is an expression which at the same time means everything and nothing at the same time. It's used mainly by youngsters to give emphasis but also to fill gaps in conversation, similar to the way American kids say "like," "um," "really," or "hey."

Día de los Reyes Magos: much to the delight of the nation’s children, two gift-giving holidays are celebrated in Argentina. Dia de los Reyes Magos, or “Day of the Three Wise Kings” is an occasion for Gaspar, Baltasar, and Melchor to give every child in the land the Jesus treatment with some presents (even if they’re not frankincense and myrrh). 

Dulce de leche: the world’s most delicious treat made out of condensed milk, dulce de leche is similar to caramel, but must be tried for the full effect. And with its flavor appearing everywhere from breakfast to dessert in Argentina, that won’t be difficult.

Facturas: pastries. Facturas include all the numerous delicious baked goods of Argentina, from carasucias (literally, dirty faces; buns topped with brown sugar) to palmeritas (flaky, sweet concoctions).

Fuegos artificiales: fireworks, and one of the great marvels of merrymaking. Unlike American fireworks, set off en masse by centralized authorities on the 4th of July and illegal most of the year, fuegos artificiales can be bought at any time and by anyone. Most commonly, however, they go up in every size and shape on Christmas and New Year's in an hours-long extravaganza of popular participation, filling the sky with a constellation of noise and color.

Gitanos: of mysterious origin, Argentina’s “gypsies” can be found in the larger provincial cities, often driving their horse-carts amongst motorcycles and Mercedes along the main streets.
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Guardapolvo: contrary to your first impression, the young children of Argentina are not all licensed doctors or scientists. Guardapolvo, transliterated as "dust-guard'" but known to us as "lab coats," is the word for the white smocks that are part of the public school uniform.
 
Leche: milk, packaged in a bag, coming straight from the great tambos (milk-producing cattle farms) of the Pampas. 
 
Martín Fierro: the Argentine national epic, Martín Fierro is the encapsulation of the gaucho experience. Almost any Argentine can begin it for you; "Here I'll sit and sing, to the rhythm of my guitar..."

Mate: the gaucho’s official drink, mate is a thick concoction of leaves from the yerba mate plant, drunk out of a gourd with a metal straw, or bombilla. Its devotees claim that it does not contain caffeine, but an even better compound called “mateine.”

Ñoquis: in the most literal meaning, a dish of small pasta, in Argentina made from potatoes. The second meaning of ñoquis is a somewhat derogatory joke on government officials; ñoquis are traditionally eaten on the last day of the month, (when traditionally the month’s pay had run out), as they are cheap to make. Government workers who do no work the rest of the month show up on ñoquis day to receive the next month’s paycheck.

Perros: dogs. Man's best friend is here also one of man's most prolific friends, as hundreds of stray dogs roam the streets of provincial towns. Fear not; the stray perros are quite friendly, though it may not be the best idea to take one home with you.

Quinta: a little plot of farmland and prairie, sometimes with a few horses and cattle, kept just for the pleasure of it by many town-dwelling Argentines.

Tipo: A slang term best approximated as “guy.” 

Vuelve usted mañana: the last and most bittersweet entry in our glossary, this phrase is common in shops, stores, and government offices throughout the land. While it may ruffle the feathers of the impatient Anglo, see this not as laziness but an invitation to extend your stay in Argentina; vuelve usted mañana means “come back tomorrow.”