Facts About The Argentina Language
Argentina Language
When you think of Argentina and the Argentina Language, you just can’t help but think of fans shouting at
Argentina History
Although the country’s history dates back to the Paleolithic age, and there are many indigenous languages spoken here, Spanish holds its sovereignty over others. After Spanish, English is the most spoken language in the country. Portuguese and Italian are also spoken widely. Owing to the migration of Lebanese, Syrians, and Libyans, a new form of Arabic language is also spoken abundantly in the country. Levantine Arabic, as they call it, is spoken by more than one million people here. Other indigenous languages include Quechua, German, Yiddish, Guarani, Catalan, and Mapudungun. Guarani is one of the official languages of Paraguay whereas Quechua belongs to Bolivia. Read more about the differences between Argentina and Paraguay.
Interesting Facts About Argentina Language
Largest Number of Spanish Speakers
According to recent statistics, with 534 million speakers worldwide, the Spanish language stands as the 4th largest spoken language in the world. And it might come as a surprise that the largest number of Spanish speakers are not in Spain but in Argentina. Yes, Latin Americans speak more Spanish than the Spaniards themselves.
Various Dialects
The Argentina language has various dialects and forms mixed up over time but it’s still the spicy Espanol, spoken by 42 million Latin Americans. It is also used in government offices, schools, and all other official institutions of the country. However, with immigrants from different countries, the local language now has many colors. Among these, the most distinctive is Italian. Many other dialects, such as Basque, Sicilian, Welsh, and Gaelic, can also be heard throughout the country.
The extent of Hispanic influence in the country can be traced back to its history. Being a Spanish colony, the place is home to the largest community of native speakers.
The Argentinian Slang; Lunfrado:
By the end of the 19th Century, a rather blended language came into existence. Lunfardo, as we call it today, is an underworld language that emerged in the city of Buenos Aires and spread throughout the country. If you want to know how Lunfrado sounds, you have to listen to one of those tango songs.
Amalgamation of Words
The language is an amalgamation of words taken from Italian, Portuguese, Espanol, German and African languages. Speaking of the origin, some say that it was a code language used by criminals who used it to communicate while steering clear of the authorities. Linguists, however, have a different approach and suggest that it is a result of immigrants coming over, especially Italians. The word Mina, used for women in Lunfrado, is derived from Femina, which is an Italian word for women. Similarly, the word Fiaca is used when someone is feeling lazy, which is derived from Fiacco, which means laziness in Italian.
Vos Instead of Tu:
The Spanish spoken here is popular for its usage of different terms and usages. For instance, unlike the regular Spain word tu, Vos is used here. Vos was initially introduced to use as a polite alternative for tu and is still used in many countries. But not as exclusively as an Argentinian would use in their conversation.
Quechua: The Language of The Inca Civilizations:
One of the top indigenous languages in the country, it is an ancient language. Spoken since the time of the Inca civilization, it was regarded as the verbose of the administrators. To date, it is the official language in Peru and Bolivia. Indigenous communities still cherish this language in many Latin American countries. Many other languages such as have taken words from this ancient language and thus also from the Argentina Language.
Guarani:
Guaraní is also one of the indigenous languages spoken mainly in Paraguay. Unlike most local languages, this Tupi Guarani language, which is associated with Jesuit Missionaries, is gaining strength within and outside the communities. A fun fact about Guarani is that it has no gender and no definite article. Over time, however, it has adopted la and lo from Espanol.
It is historically one of the oldest yet specifically preserved languages in the Paraguayan region where it is spoken by 3 million people. The rural communities converse only in Guarani, as the locals are not bilinguals.
English, French, German:
Immigrants from all over the world settled here. For the same reason, there is no shortage of English and other immigrant languages here. Even Welsh is spoken in Patagonia.
If you are traveling to a South American country, learning their local lingos can be handy, but if you think you’ll not find any English speakers there, that won’t be the case. In fact, in the hospitality business, English speakers are found in abundance as it is a part of their job to communicate with tourists.
About the Country and the Argentina Language and words:
If you are planning to visit this land, it will be good for you to know about the events that took place here. It is one of the first countries to have radio broadcasting. The first broadcast was aired in August 1920. It is an Argentinian ritual to eat the traditional dish of gnocchi on the 29th of every month. The tradition came from Italians and eventually became so popular that it is served in restaurants and has a special place on the menus. On your next trip, don’t forget to try it.
Latin word Argentum
The word Argentina is derived from the Latin word Argentum, which means silver. Who would have known a country would be named after precious metal? Coming down to the residents and their well-being, the country has the largest number of psychiatrists. Some statistics even indicate that there is a shrink for every single individual there.
Conversation with the Locals
The next thing you need to learn as a visitor is to understand the native speakers and make conversation with locals. Latin Americans have a thing for languages. Luckily, there are courses online for language learners. From there, you can get the basics of everyday life. Even 10-minute lessons are available for Spanish learners. You can learn proper pronunciation, share real-time feedback, and get words for everyday situations. You can even download apps that can help you with your native language. When you want to immigrate to the US, you need to have your Argentina birth certificate translated. When you learn the languagee,e you might be able to start working as a translator.
Learning the Argentine Language Family
To do that, we suggest you hurry up as these courses take time. Staying in a certain society all your life and speaking like them is different from learning a foreign language. Learning the Argentine language will only be easier for you if you are already familiar with the voices and accents used in Latin America. And if that’s the case, then you’re good to go. Just polish those phrases you already know, and you can make your winning impression right away!
Frequently Asked Questions
Spanish may not be the official language of Argentina, but it is surely one that should be. It is because, since its foundation, Spanish has been spoken throughout the country and has also been used by government institutions. Although it has absorbed several accents and words from other languages, such as Italian, it is still the same Spanish language that is Latin America’s most widely spoken vernacular. English is also largely spoken in Argentin,a as it is compulsory in primary school instruction in many places. Argentinians have excellent English language skills as the government enforces English language learning in the country.
Apart from Spanish and English, Italian, German, Lufardo, Portunol, Plaudietch, and Welsh are also spoken in various geographical locations in the country. Dozens of indigenous languages are also spoken in Argentina. Guarani and Quechua ( South Bolivian Quechua and Santiageuno Quechua) are the top indigenous languages spoken by indigenous people in the country.
Spanish, the Argentinian version, is mostly spoken in Argentina. You can hear many dialects, such as Basque, Ciiclian, Welsh, and Gaelic. The Argentinean culture has surely borrowed a lot from European countries,s but just like many other countries in Latin America, the majority of the people speak Spanish.
Their English language skills are also exceptional as English language learning is promoted on official levels.
The top 2 languages spoken in Argentina are Spanish and English. Both these languages are a huge part of their cultural activities and are taught in almost all public universities.
English language learning is an important part of primary education in the region.
Due to its unique dialects, accents, vocabulary, slang, and grammar, Argentina’s Spanish is different from all other Spanish variants spoken in South America and Latin America.
However, if you are a Spanish speaker, you can understand the Spanish spoken in different countries of Latin America.
