Argentalk: Stories in Argentine Spanish

In this episode, you’ll learn how to give instructions, advice, and yes—how to sound a little bossy in Argentine Spanish using the vos imperative . I’ll explain how it works, and then you’ll hear a short sketch where I use these forms in a natural conversation, along with some useful new vocabulary. You can also watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCow9cQGnEvNUjBKu0...

In this episode, you’ll learn five very Argentine expressions built around the word pedo —and what they actually mean in real life (hint: it’s not always literal). You’ll also hear a natural conversation between me and my husband, Mariano, where we use these expressions the way Argentines really do. ¿Estás al pedo? Then press play and enjoy the episode. Argentalk is a podcast for intermediate Span...

In this episode, I chat in Rioplatense Spanish with Austin, an American friend who fell in love with the Argentine accent and culture. He shares what surprised him most about Argentina and Argentines, his favorite words and expressions, and a few practical tips to help you learn Rioplatense Spanish more naturally. Argentalk is a podcast for intermediate Spanish learners who want to understand Arge...

In this episode, I have a conversation in Rioplatense Spanish with Marcelo Lamela about the history of Argentine national rock—a genre that’s truly unique in Latin America. In Argentina, rock has often been more than music: it’s been a way to push back, to survive difficult political times, and to express who we are. We talk about iconic figures like Charly García, Spinetta, and Gustavo Cerati, an...

In this episode, we dive into classic Argentine expressions like “vos,” “che,” and “laburar”—and also talk about the words you should probably never say to an Argentine. If you’re planning a trip to Argentina and want to sound more natural (and maybe impress your partner, cousin, or friends), these tips will help you understand how Argentines really speak and what to avoid saying. Argentalk is a p...

In this episode, I chat with Jaime, a wildlife ranger in Argentina’s Entre Ríos province, while I’m visiting his nature reserve on a photo safari—all in Rioplatense Spanish. Jaime shares his story: growing up in a rural area where he sometimes had to hunt to eat, and how that experience slowly shaped his deep commitment to protecting local flora and fauna. We also talk about the region’s animals,...

In this episode, I’m reading “The Giant Turtle” by Horacio Quiroga —a classic short story and a great, easy entry point into Argentine (and regional) literature for intermediate Spanish learners. It follows a hunter who, seriously ill, goes into the jungle hoping to recover—and there he meets a giant turtle. What happens next is unexpected: is this encounter a fight… or the beginning of an unlikel...

In this episode of Argentalk , my husband Mariano and I talk about dulce de leche —Argentina’s ultimate sweet obsession: what we eat it with (spoiler: almost everything), why it shows up in so many classic treats like facturas and alfajores , and even how it sneaks into everyday language with expressions like “remar en dulce de leche” and “más argentino que el dulce de leche.” We also explore the...

In this episode of Argentalk , I chat with Gustavo Robert—writer, history teacher, and tango lover—about lunfardo , Argentina’s iconic slang: where it came from, how tango helped spread it, and why so many everyday expressions have roots in Italian, French, African languages, and Indigenous languages like Quechua and Mapudungun. Along the way, we unpack the stories behind words like laburar , crot...

In this episode, you’ll learn 10 very Argentine words and phrases —and then you’ll hear them again inside a natural, everyday conversation so they really stick. I’ll introduce each expression (like bondi, posta, quilombo, and no hay drama ), explain what it means and how Argentines actually use it, and then I’ll act out a casual chat with my husband so you can hear everything in context. The full...

In this episode, we dive into the typical Argentine family: how relatives get along (and sometimes clash), what family life looks like day to day, and when people usually move out and start living on their own. And as a bonus, I’ll also tell you about the beginning of my road trip through Argentina—so press play and come along for the ride. ---- Argentalk is a podcast for intermediate Spanish lear...

Just weeks after Maradona’s death, I sat down with Matías Saavedra—an Argentine journalist and lifelong football fan—to talk about why Maradona still holds such a powerful place in the Argentine heart, how Messi represents something very different, and what Argentine football really means beyond the pitch. Matías has over 16 years of experience in traditional and digital media, studied Social Scie...

Argentina wouldn’t be what it is today without immigration. But what pushed millions of people to cross the ocean and start over here? And how did those arrivals reshape the country’s culture, language, and everyday life—sometimes in ways we don’t even notice anymore? In this episode, we travel through the different waves of immigration to Argentina and explore how they changed everything: from id...

In this episode of Argentalk , we dive into the different waves of immigration to Argentina. Why did so many people choose to come here? And what changed forever because of those arrivals? Come with me as we explore the historical, cultural, and social impact immigration has had on Argentina’s story. ------------------- ✉️ This podcast is just the beginning. If you subscribe to the Argentalk newsl...

In this episode of Argentalk , we’re diving into vos —the pronoun Argentines use instead of tú . You’ll learn a bit of its story, where else it’s used in the Spanish-speaking world, and I’ll walk you through the key grammar patterns so you can start using it with confidence. The whole episode is 100% in Spanish , so get comfy—and let’s chat for a while. --------------------- ✉️ This podcast is jus...

This episode is all about mate —one of Argentina’s most loved (and most everyday) traditions. I’ll tell you where it comes from (spoiler: it starts with Guaraní roots), why Argentines are so obsessed with it, where else people drink it, and a bunch of fun little facts along the way. The whole episode is 100% in Spanish , so grab your mate and come hang out with me. Argentalk is a podcast for inter...

In this episode, you’ll meet one of Argentina’s most legendary folk saints: Gauchito Gil—a kind of Argentine Robin Hood whose story mixes war, love, betrayal, miracles, and a lot of popular devotion. We’ll go back to the 19th century (around the time of the War of the Triple Alliance) to understand who he was, why he became an outlaw, and how a single prophecy right before his death turned him int...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating story behind tango, one of Argentina’s most iconic cultural symbols—far beyond the postcard image most people know. We explore how tango was born, who shaped it, and why it became such a powerful expression of identity, conflict, migration, and social change. From its early, controversial beginnings to its rise, transformation, decline, and reinvention...

Welcome to Argentalk ! I’m Mariel—an Argentine Spanish teacher, and I’ll be your guide to Argentina through language. Argentalk is an alternative way to learn Argentine Spanish—built around real audio, real context, and a simple routine you can actually stick with. The heart of it is this podcast, and I also share a PDF transcript + glossary for each episode through my newsletter , so you can foll...

Welcome to Argentalk ! I’m Mariel—an Argentine Spanish teacher and your guide to Argentine culture through language. In this introductory episode, you’ll get to know me, what this podcast is about, and how to use it to improve your Argentine Spanish in a way that feels real and enjoyable. Each episode is an intermediate-friendly cultural deep dive—history, everyday life, traditions, places, movies...