Doing Business in Argentina means stepping into a warm, relationship-first culture where people value trust, agility, and a human touch—often coordinated on WhatsApp, confirmed over coffee, and sealed with a friendly “¿Te parece?” (“Sound good?”). If you’re Living in Buenos Aires or planning to work here as one of the many digital nomads Argentina attracts, mastering the tone and rhythm of Argentine Spanish (with its famous voseo) will instantly make meetings smoother and outcomes better.
This guide gives you everything you need: etiquette, cultural insights, meeting flow, and a jam-packed phrase bank with natural examples (Spanish + translation). You’ll also find tips tailored to Expats in Argentina and those Retired in Argentina who still attend building/condo meetings (reuniones de consorcio) or manage local services.
Why Argentine Spanish Feels Different (and Why It Matters for Meetings)
Argentines use vos (not tú) and conjugations like vos querés, vos podés, vos sos, vos tenés. You’ll also hear the ll/y pronounced like an English sh or zh: yo → “sho,” llamar → “shamar.” In meetings, you’ll switch between vos (friendly, direct) and usted (formal, respectful) depending on the relationship, age, or hierarchy. Mastering that choice signals cultural intelligence.
Key idea: successful meetings here blend clarity + warmth. A crisp agenda helps, but a few minutes of small talk builds the rapport that gets deals done.
Meeting Etiquette 101 (for Expats, Digital Nomads, and Executives)
Punctuality & Scheduling
- Start time: Corporate meetings aim to start on time, but expect a few minutes of buffer. People often say “arrancamos en unos minutos” (“we’ll start in a few minutes”).
- Channels: WhatsApp rules. You’ll often confirm the time, location, and materials via WhatsApp even if the invite came by email.
- Rescheduling: It’s common and not dramatic. A polite, quick message keeps goodwill (templates below).
Greetings & First Names
- Professional handshake, direct eye contact, and a smile. A cheek kiss is common socially, but in work settings the default is a handshake unless the other person leans in first.
- People use first names quickly. Titles matter less than being prolijo (tidy, well-prepared) and buena onda (positive vibe).
Small Talk Opens the Door
- Safe topics: food (asado), football, the neighborhood, travel, culture, or coffee. Avoid heavy politics at the start.
- Expect a few minutes of charla before the agenda.
Decision-Making & Trust
- Decisions can be centralized (owner/CEO, gerencia). Building trust is vital; expect a short series of meetings/WhatsApps to close a deal (cerrar un trato).
- Polite hedging is common: “Lo vemos,” “Puede ser,” “Lo charlamos,” which can mean “not yet.”
Dress Code & Setting
- Business casual is standard; being prolijo beats being flashy. Meetings may happen in offices, cafés, or coworking spaces—especially for Digital nomads Argentina style.
The Voseo Cheat Sheet (Sound Native Fast)
- vos sos (you are), vos tenés (you have), vos querés (you want), vos podés (you can), vos estás (you are/feeling).
- Examples you’ll use:
- ¿Vos querés empezar? — “Do you want to start?”
- Si querés, lo vemos ahora. — “If you want, we can look at it now.”
- ¿Podés compartir la pantalla? — “Can you share your screen?”
Formal option:
- ¿Usted prefiere que…? — “Do you prefer that…?”
- ¿Le parece bien si…? — “Would it be okay if…?”
Tip: Start with usted when in doubt (senior execs, public officials), then mirror the level of formality they use.
Essential Phrase Bank by Meeting Stage
1) Scheduling & Confirming (WhatsApp or Email)
- Hola, ¿cómo estás? ¿Te parece bien mañana a las 10:00?
“Hi, how are you? Does 10:00 tomorrow work for you?” - Confirmo la reunión de hoy a las 15:00. ¿Querés que lleve algo?
“Confirming today’s meeting at 3 pm. Want me to bring anything?” - ¿Preferís Zoom o presencial?
“Do you prefer Zoom or in-person?”
Rescheduling politely
- ¿Te parece si lo pasamos para las 11:30? Me surgió un imprevisto.
“Would it be okay to move it to 11:30? Something unexpected came up.” - Gracias por la flexibilidad.
“Thanks for the flexibility.”
2) Opening the Meeting
- Gracias por el tiempo. Hacemos un repaso rápido de la agenda.
“Thanks for your time. Let’s quickly review the agenda.” - ¿Les parece si empezamos por los objetivos de hoy?
“Shall we start with today’s objectives?” - Les comparto brevemente el contexto y después abrimos preguntas.
“I’ll briefly share the context and then we’ll open for questions.”
3) Presenting, Clarifying, and Managing Flow
- Acá tienen el deck / la presentación. Avísenme si no se ve bien.
“Here’s the deck/presentation. Let me know if you can’t see it.” - Para que quede claro…
“Just to make it clear…” - Volvamos a este punto, así no se nos escapa.
“Let’s circle back to this point so we don’t lose it.”
4) Negotiating & Pushing Back (Politely, the Argentine Way)
- No me cierra del todo este número; ¿podemos revisarlo?
“This number doesn’t fully convince me; can we review it?” - Me gustaría explorar otra opción: ¿te parece si…?
“I’d like to explore another option: what if we…?” - Necesito hablarlo con el equipo / con gerencia.
“I need to discuss it with the team/management.”
5) Agreeing, Closing, and Next Steps
- Quedamos así: yo mando la propuesta y ustedes la revisan.
“So we’re set: I’ll send the proposal and you’ll review it.” - Seguimos por WhatsApp y coordinamos firma.
“We’ll continue on WhatsApp and coordinate the signing.” - Gracias por la reunión. ¡Muy productiva!
“Thanks for the meeting. Super productive!”
Mini-Dialogue (Realistic, with Subtext)
A (vendor): Hola, ¿cómo estás? ¿Arrancamos?
“Hi, how are you? Shall we start?”
B (client): Dale. Hacemos un repaso rápido y vemos números.
“Sure. Let’s do a quick review and look at the numbers.”
A: Perfecto. Les comparto la pantalla. La idea es bajar costos sin afectar la calidad.
“Perfect. I’ll share my screen. The idea is to lower costs without affecting quality.”
B: Me gusta, pero no me cierra el plazo de entrega.
“I like it, but I’m not convinced about the delivery time.”
A: ¿Te parece si lo llevamos a 10 días y agregamos un check-in intermedio?
“How about we make it 10 days and add a mid-way check-in?”
B: Ahí sí. Quedamos así. Mandanos la propuesta y la vemos.
“That works. We’re set. Send us the proposal and we’ll review it.”
A: Genial. Les mando hoy y seguimos por WhatsApp.
“Great. I’ll send it today and we’ll follow up on WhatsApp.”
Words You’ll Hear in Meetings (What They Really Mean)
- laburo = work/job (colloquial).
“Buen laburo” = “Nice work.” - quilombo = mess/complication (informal; avoid in formal settings).
“Se armó un quilombo” = “It turned into a mess.” - no me cierra = I’m not convinced / it doesn’t add up.
- cerrar un trato = close a deal.
- reunión / reunión de equipo = meeting / team meeting.
- charlar = to chat/discuss (used for business, too).
- por las dudas = just in case.
- ¿Te parece? = Sound good?
- dale = okay/let’s do it/yes (very common).
- ahora en un ratito = in a little while (flexible!).
- minuta = meeting notes/summary.
- factura = invoice (also… pastries! facturas).
- feriado = public holiday (meetings may shift around these).
Tip: “boludo/a” is common among friends but not for business meetings. Keep it off your corporate vocabulary list.
WhatsApp, Email & Follow-Ups: Templates You’ll Actually Use
Scheduling (WhatsApp)
- Hola, ¿cómo estás? ¿Te queda cómodo jueves a las 11 por Zoom?
“Hi! Does Thursday at 11 on Zoom work for you?”
Nudge (Friendly Reminder)
- Buenas, ¿pudieron ver la propuesta? Si necesitan algo, avísenme.
“Hi, did you get a chance to review the proposal? If you need anything, let me know.”
Reschedule (Keep the Tone Warm)
- Perdón la molestia: ¿te parece si lo movemos a mañana? Tuve un imprevisto.
“Sorry for the hassle—can we move it to tomorrow? Something came up.”
Email Subject Lines
- Subject: Propuesta y próximos pasos – [Proyecto X]
- Subject: Minuta de la reunión 27/08 – Acciones y fechas
Quick Follow-Up Email Skeleton
Hola [Nombre],
Gracias por la reunión de hoy. Minuta:
- Objetivo A → [dueño + fecha]
- Objetivo B → [dueño + fecha]
Próximos pasos: Yo envío contrato/La empresa revisa.
¿Les parece bien?
¡Gracias y seguimos en contacto!
(Translation below if needed for your internal team.)
Cultural Tips to Thrive in Business in Argentina
Relationship First, Then the Spreadsheet
Expect 5–10 minutes of friendly conversation. Being genuinely curious about Argentina goes a long way. Try:
- ¿Probaste el asado de…? — “Have you tried the barbecue at…?”
- ¿De qué cuadro sos? — “Which football team do you support?”
Coffee Meetings & Coworking
Cafés double as meeting rooms. For Digital nomads Argentina, coworking spaces are common—but even then, final confirmations often happen on WhatsApp.
Lunch & After-Office
Lunch is later (1–2:30 pm), and after-office (happy hour) can be where deals progress informally.
Holidays & Time Windows
Watch local feriados and early Friday afternoons. Proactively suggest times: “Si les va, propongo martes 10:00.”
Living in Buenos Aires While Working: Practical Phrases
- ¿Nos juntamos en Palermo o en Microcentro?
“Shall we meet in Palermo or Microcentro?” - ¿Tenés una sala disponible?
“Do you have a meeting room available?” - ¿Hay buena señal de Wi-Fi ahí?
“Is the Wi-Fi signal good there?” - ¿Me pasás la dirección exacta?
“Could you send me the exact address?”
Note for planners: The Cost of living Argentina can fluctuate; booking cafés/rooms with reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets is worth any small premium—your meeting will run smoother.
Special Cases: Building/Condo Meetings (Useful for Retired in Argentina)
If you’re Retired in Argentina or a long-term resident, you’ll eventually attend a reunión de consorcio (building meeting):
- ¿Cuándo se pagan las expensas? — “When are the building fees due?”
- ¿Podemos revisar el presupuesto de mantenimiento? — “Can we review the maintenance budget?”
- ¿Hay quorum para decidir? — “Do we have quorum to decide?”
- Propongo votar esta semana. — “I propose we vote this week.”
These phrases transfer well to any community or service meeting you’ll face.
Mini Checklists to Keep You Organized
Before the Meeting
- Confirm time/place on WhatsApp (pin location).
- Share the deck 1–2 hours before (por las dudas).
- Decide your level of formality (usted vs vos).
- Prep a 2-line small talk opener.
During the Meeting
- Start with a quick agenda.
- Summarize decisions as you go.
- Ask “¿Te parece?” to ensure alignment.
After the Meeting
- Send a minuta with owners/dates.
- Move logistics to WhatsApp for speed.
- Book the next touchpoint before the momentum fades.
Learn Spanish in Argentina: High-Impact Phrases You’ll Use Today
Opening & Rapport
- Un gusto conocerte / conocerlos. — “Great to meet you.”
- ¡Gracias por recibirnos! — “Thanks for having us!”
Clarity & Alignment
- Para alinear expectativas… — “To align expectations…”
- ¿Cómo lo ven ustedes? — “How do you see it on your side?”
Decision & Action
- Entonces quedamos así… — “So we’re set like this…”
- ¿Quién se encarga de esto? — “Who’s taking this on?”
Politely Saying “No (for now)”
- Hoy no llegamos con ese plazo. — “We can’t make that deadline today.”
- Preferimos revisar números y volver con una propuesta. — “We’d rather review the numbers and come back with a proposal.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using “tú” everywhere: In Argentina it’s vos. In formal settings, go usted.
- Over-slanging: Leave boludo, quilombo for close friends, not boardrooms.
- Refusing every cultural cue: You don’t have to drink mate, but be curious and respectful.
- Relying only on email: You’ll move faster with WhatsApp follow-ups.
- Forgetting the human factor: Numbers matter; relationships close deals.
Put It All Together: A One-Minute Meeting Script
- Greeting + rapport:
Hola, ¿cómo estás? Gracias por el tiempo. ¿Arrancamos? - Agenda in one line:
Hacemos un repaso rápido y vemos números/datos. - Offer clarity:
Para que quede claro, la propuesta cubre A, B y C. - Handle pushback:
No me cierra el plazo; ¿te parece si lo llevamos a 10 días? - Close + next steps:
Quedamos así: yo mando la propuesta, ustedes la revisan, y coordinamos por WhatsApp.
That script alone will save you from awkward silences and keep everyone moving toward a decision.
Final Word (and Your Next Step)
Doing Business in Argentina isn’t just about vocabulary; it’s about tone, timing, and trust. With the phrases and cultural cues in this post, you’ll navigate meetings confidently—whether you’re pitching as a new arrival, settling in as one of the many Expats in Argentina, or Living in Buenos Aires long-term.
If you need deeper, hands-on practice, check out my Spanish Mindset programs for travelers, executives, and residents—designed for real-life results in 30–120 days. Click here to know more.
Learn Argentinian Spanish: Slang & Culture | Spanish Mindset 