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The official language of Argentina is Spanish, although some regional accents and variations coexist. 

In Buenos Aires, people have a slightly different accent, pronouncing some words strongly and usually with a rising tone. They don't realise about this most of the time, but as a foreigner you will certainly notice it.

There are some distinctive characteristics of Argentine Spanish.

• The use of 'vos' instead of 'tú'
  For informal relations, everyone addresses the other using 'vos' and never 'tú'. For instance, they will tell you: 'Vos estuviste en Argentina?' instead of 'Tú estuviste en Argentina?'.
  
  Notice the verb conjugation is the same in this example, but in some cases it's not. And the subject ('vos') may not be present at all. Like: 'Querés ir al cine?' is used instead of 'Quieres ir al cine?'. 
  
  The first sentence is using 'vos' as subject while the second is using 'tú'. The verb conjugation is different here. Don't worry about learning all conjugations again! The verb doesn't change too much so you will understand when they talk to you like that! And if you address someone using 'tú' and its conjugations, everyone will understand you!
  
  

• The use of 'usted' and 'ustedes'
  For formal relations, people use 'usted' for addressing one person. The verb used is the same as for the third person singular. For example, 'Usted quiere visitar la ciudad?'.
  
  For addressing more than one person, the form 'vosotros' is never used in Argentine Spanish. The form 'ustedes' is used instead. For example, they say 'Ustedes quieren visitar la ciudad?' instead of 'Vosotros queréis visitar la ciudad?' (which is what you probably were taught in your Spanish lessons, but this is used in Spain).
  
  The verb conjugation changes here. But it's easy to learn and remember: It's the same as in the third person plural ('ellos').
  
  

• The use of 'che'
  You will hear this all the time. When an Argentine wants to get attention (or just to start the sentence in a way, as in the English 'Hey…') he or she will usually say 'che'. For example, 'Che, vamos a comer algo.' (Hey, let's go eat something').
  

• The pronunciation of 'y'
  This letter is pronounced 'sh' by most people in Argentina, except in the northen part of the country, where they use the sound 'i'. For example, a typical porteño (inhabitant of Buenos Aires) will say 'yo' as in 'sho' while someone from the north will say 'io'.
  

• The pronunciation of 'll'
  If you study Spanish, you know this letter is pronounced softly as if it were 'li'. But Argentine people pronounce it 'sh', except in the northern part of the country, where the original pronounciation remains. For example, someone from Buenos Aires will say 'lluvia' as in 'shuvia', while someone from the north will certainly say softly 'liuvia'.
  
  

• Regional words and expressions
  There are some words and expressions used in oral language that originated in the city of Buenos Aires. This is known as lunfardo (Argentine slang) and it consists of the use of words that are different from the orthodox Spanish. This is done intentionally, for example: Argentines know the word 'mujer' but they may say 'mina' when talking informally.

  These words originated in the way of talking of workers in the port, usually lower class people. They started to be used often in tango lyrics and so, they became popular. TV and radio also helped in the creation and expansion of words and expressions. Most of them are only used in everyday language and never in written Spanish. They are very informal.
  
  Some words you will hear are:

  Lunfardo (slang)	Orthodox Spanish	English equivalent
  Bicicletear	Engañar	To deceive
  Birra	Cerveza	Beer
  Bondi	Ómnibus	Bus
  Cana	Policía	Police(man)
  Chabón	Hombre	Man
  Chanta	Tramposo	Liar
  Chorro	Ladrón	Thief
  Engañapichanga	Engaño	Trick, fraud
  Faso	Cigarrillo	Cigarette
  Gil	Tonto	Dumb
  Gratarola	Gratis	Free
  Guita	Dinero	Money
  Joda	Broma	Joke
  Joder	Molestar	To bother
  Joderse	Perjudicarse	To put up with it
  Julepe	Susto	Scare
  Mina	Mujer	Woman
  Mulero	Tramposo	Liar
  Naso	Nariz	Nose
  Quilombo	Desorden	Mess
  Sabiola	Cabeza	Head
  Tachero	Conductor de taxi	Taxi driver
  Tacho	Taxi	Taxi
  Piña	Puñetazo	Punch

 

In some cases, words are originated from their reverse form, in syllables. This is called 'vesre' (which in fact is the reverse of the word 'revés'). For example:

Lunfardo (slang)	Orthodox Spanish	English equivalent
Gotán	Tango	Tango
Grone	Negro	Black
Jermu	Mujer	Woman
Lorca	Calor	Heat
Ñoba	Baño	Toilette / Bathroom
Ñapi	Piña	Punch
Pelpa	Papel	Paper

 

Some common expressions are:

Lunfardo (slang)	Orthodox Spanish	English equivalent
Abran cancha	Despejen el lugar	Leave me some space
Cambiar el agua de las aceitunas	Orinar	To pee
Hacer bandera	Exagerar	To exaggerate
Irse a los caños	Perder todo	To lose everything
Le pongo la firma	Estoy seguro	I'm sure about it
Llevar el apunte	Prestar atención	Pay attention
Me pica el bagre	Tengo hambre	I'm hungry
Me tomo el buque	Me voy	I'm leaving
¡Muzarela!	¡Silencio!	Shut up!
¡Qué jabón!	¡Qué susto!	That's scary!
¡Qué mala leche!	¡Qué mala suerte!	Oh, I'm unlucky!
¡Qué mala onda!	¡Qué malhumorado!	What a mood!
Quedarse en el molde	Quedarse quieto	To be quiet, not to move