Transportation Vocabulary in Argentina: Learn the Real Words Locals Use

Hola, amigos. In this post, I’ll teach you the specific vocabulary you need to move around in Argentina.

Why is this important?
Because in Argentina we don’t always use the same words you might hear in other Latin American countries. That’s why learning this local vocabulary will help you travel more confidently and avoid awkward or confusing moments.

Let’s dive in.

1. 🚗 Car = Auto / Coche

In Argentina, the word for “car” is usually either:

Auto (most common)
Coche (also used)

Example: Tengo un auto azul. → I have a blue car.

Note: Owning a car in Argentina is very expensive (especially as of February 2025), so keep that in mind if you plan to buy one here.

2. 🚌 Bus = Colectivo / Bondi

Forget autobús — no one says that here.

In Argentina, we use:

Colectivo (standard word)
Bondi (slang)

To stop a bus, you must raise your hand like you’re waving. If you just stand there, the bus might not stop.

Example: ¿Dónde está el colectivo? → Where is the bus?

3. 🚇 Subway = Subte

The subway system only exists in Buenos Aires, and we don’t call it metro — we say:

Subte

Example: ¿Dónde está el subte? Necesito ir allá. → Where is the subway? I need to go there.

4. 🚖 Taxi / Uber / Remis

In Argentina, you can say:

Taxi – normal taxi
Remís – private car service (booked in advance)
Uber – used like anywhere else

Example: Necesito tomar un taxi / un remis / un Uber.
I need to take a taxi / remis / Uber.

Taxi driver = conductor de taxi or, informally, tachero (slang).

5. 📍 Directional Vocabulary

These are essential if you want to ask for directions or navigate the city:

Allá = there (farther away)
Ahí = there (closer)
Acá = here

Example: ¿Cómo llego allá? → How do I get there?

Other useful words:

Dirección = address or direction

¿Cuál es la dirección? → What’s the address?

Cuadra = block

¿Cuántas cuadras faltan? → How many blocks are left?

Calle = street
Esquina = corner

En la esquina hay un McDonald’s. → There’s a McDonald’s on the corner.

6. 💰 Talking About Money in Argentina

Let’s look at common terms for money:

Plata = money (used all the time)
Guita = money (slang)

Example: ¿Tenés plata? → Do you have money?

Other key words:

Billete = banknote
Moneda = coin

Fun fact: Coins are almost useless in Argentina now. You can’t even buy candy with a 5-peso coin, so most people use bills (billetes).

Why Learning This Vocabulary Matters

If you’re a traveler in Argentina, Spanish is not optional.
Less than 2% of people outside the capital speak fluent English — and even in Buenos Aires, it’s rare.

Without Spanish, you’ll feel isolated. I’ve met many students who had bad travel experiences here because they didn’t realize how necessary Spanish was.

How I Can Help You Speak Argentinian Spanish

If you’re serious about traveling, moving to Argentina, or just finally learning the language that you’ve always wanted to speak — I’m here to help.

I’m Nicolas G. Miño, Spanish teacher, owner of the YouTube Channel “Spanish with Nico”, the founder of Spanish Mindset Academy – Learn Argentinian Spanish and the author of Mini Stories to Learn Spanish for Beginners, available on Amazon.

In my YouTube Channel “Spanish with Nico”, with +600 subscribers, I teach Spanish language and our dialect -Argentinian Spanish- and I explain everything about Argentinian history and culture.

In my Academy, you can learn Argentinian Spanish from scratch, for traveling / living / business in Argentina. With my private 1:1 program, or group lessons in Spanish Mindset Academy.

Start learning Argentinian Spanish right now and be free in ARGENTINA!

👉 Ready to start?

Check the links below to join the Spanish Mindset Program, get the book, or contact me directly on here.

Click here for more details for: GROUP LESSONS.

Click here for more details for: 1:1 PROGRAM.

Final Thoughts

Living in Argentina or Latin America without Spanish is like living behind a glass wall.
You can see the beauty, the people, the opportunities — but you can’t touch them.

With Spanish, that wall disappears. You’re part of it. You belong.

So, if you really want to start a new life, a new business, or a new adventure here, there’s only one step you need to take:
Learn Spanish.

I’m here to help you make it happen.

SPANISH MINDSET