Good day to all!
I’ve recently been paying attention to all the alternative interjections we have at our disposal in Rioplatense Spanish and came up with this list below. I’m sure you’ll start using some of them in no time.
¡UFA!
¡Ufa! is used to express disappointment. It sounds a bit childish -but acceptably childish.
Ufa, está lloviendo. No vamos a poder hacer el asado.
¡UPA!
¡Upa! is used to express surprise and react to unexpected events or information.
-El precio del pasaje aéreo es US$ 1350.
-¡Upa, qué caro!
¡APA!
¡Apa! is a variation of ¡Upa!
-Sabés cuánto salen las entradas de los Rolling? 5 lucas la más barata!
-¡Apa, qué salado!
¡EPA!
Epa is used to call attention to someone who has crossed a line.
-Correte, tarado
-Epa, ¡qué boquita, eh!
It can also be heard as an alternative to UPA and APA.
¡OPA!
Yes, another sibling in the upa family.
-Dejame que lo hago yo. Vos no servís para nada.
-Opa, qué buena onda.
¡GUAU!
¡Guau! is used to express surprise or admiration.
-La Tierra gira a sobre su eje a más de 1600 kilómetros por hora.
-¡Guau, qué zarpado!
-Corrí una ultra maratón: 80 kilómetros en la montaña.
-¡Guau, qué genio!
¡FA!
¡Fa! is used to express surprise similarly to “Guau”.
Fa, ¡Mirá qué autazo, che!
¡UY! | ¡UH!
“Uy” and “¡Uh! are used to express surprise, concern, or frustration.
Uy, ¡qué boludo! Me olvidé la billetera en mi casa.
¡ESA!
¡Esa! is used to celebrate good news.
-Conseguí laburo
-¡Esa! Felicitaciones!
TA
Ta is an interjection used similarly to okay. It’s normally associated to Uruguayans, but frequently heard on both ends.
-Hoy no vengo a comer, ¿sabés?
-Ta, no hay drama
¡AIA!
¡Aia! is used to express it hurts.
¡Aia! No me hagas eso, me duele.
AHÍ VA
Ahí va is used to express understanding and that you follow.
-Llegás a Aeroparque y te tomás un taxi hasta el hotel. Te va a salir unos $500
-Ahí va. Perfecto.
More words to add to pack in your suitcase!
You can also download the Argentinian Spanish Phrasebook. Don’t miss out on it:
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Until next time,
Happy Spanish learning,
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