Nine Favorite Buenos Aires Pick Up Lines

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Flirting Argentine Style

Thanks to Oliver Ingrouille for the photo.

It’s a Saturday night, you and your friends head to a trendy bar, you order a drink and just before you take your first sip this gorgeous Argentine approaches you from behind, leans in close and whispers something in your ear, “Tus ojos son tan lindos como el mar (Translation: your eyes are beautiful like the sea). You pause and before you even have a chance to respond he says, “Que linda que sos! Porque no estas acá con tu novio!?” (Translation: You are so beautiful! Why aren’t you here with your boyfriend?).

Okay, fast forward a few more lines, and well now you’ve just fallen victim to chamuyo, the secret artful language that Argentine men have been using on women for years with the sole purpose of seduction. Chamuyo, modern day version of coquetry, is an important part of Argentine culture and male machismo in which many of the porteños take pride in exercising and perfecting. There’s even a chamuyo class.

For the sake of good humor, I compiled a list of chamuyo examples received both personally and by some of my girlfriends. One little disclaimer: these examples were all translated from Spanish to English so they might not be exactly (literally) correct:

Mr. Arrogant: (opening up his wallet) See what you will be losing if you don’t come home with me tonight?

Mr. Schemer: I design business cards. Hey, in fact why don’t you pass me your contact info and I’ll make you a great one!

Mr. Waste No Time: Do you like quality sex?

Mr. Wannabe Sexy Foreigner: (approaches the woman in English, his supposed “native” language) Hi. My name is Bobby, I’m a foreigner and I speak English.

Mr. Macho: Excuse me you look lost…Let me walk you to your destination.

Mr. Typical Chamuyo: My God! I cannot believe how beautiful you are! With you, I will marry. What beautiful eyes/mouth/butt/hair/legs/top/etc…you have!

Mr. Just Plain Rude: You have beautiful boobs!

Mr. Corny: You better get into the shade fast before you melt, bonbon! Or: Saint Peter must have been distracted because he let an angel escape!

Mr. Bizarre: I want to drink Nesquik with you and play like we are in second grade.

Upon moving to Buenos Aires as a twenty-something-year-old, I was anticipating a ton of things – tango, fabulous wine, scrumptious meat, gorgeous men and lots of Spanish. Little did I know I would be exposed to a whole new language!

Chamuyo can be used on a number of different people, for a number of different reasons, and in a number of different ways. Chamuyo (or verso) is for the most part taken lightly on both ends and is more so about having a good time and initiating conversation. Many men claim that it serves as a great excuse to approach a woman they have been eying all night. Although not generally taken too seriously, chamuyo does tend to have the desired ending effect on both parties involved – the women feel more seductive and sexy, and the men feel like they have conquered.

Now I realize that there are women ‘chamuyeras’ as well, but for consistency’s sake I’m focusing on the chamuyo that men have shot my way. Many men stress the importance of chamuyo amongst the essential elements of seduction. It’s especially interesting (and entertaining!) from a woman’s perspective to see just how far the men will go with their sweet-talking in an almost desperate attempt to “seal the deal,” so to speak.

Chamuyo is a weapon that macho men consider indispensable as one of their tried-and-true flirtation tactics. Before the night has even begun, men get together to eat and throw down a couple of drinks, thus increasing their macho ‘mojo’ and giving them that extra necessary dose of courage. The first few words of chamuyo should be a mixture of tasteful yet a bit racy, and a good chamuyero knows he’s rung in the night when the woman he’s chatting up cannot resist responding with a smile.

It’s easy to get caught in the trap of chamuyo, that warm, fuzzy feeling where all of the sudden the men’s words wrap you up in a tight little ball and you begin to believe that every word, every literal word that he is whispering in your ear is actually true– I mean, come on! I could be the prettiest girl that this man has ever seen in his whole, entire life … right? And I mean, why wouldn’t he want to propose to me on this very dance floor in this dimly lit, smoke-filled hole-in-a-wall bar, I mean, seriously! I’m hot … right?

3 Comments

Mandy on April 15, 08

Hi, I attend the chamuyo class you mentioned at the language institute VOS Buenos Aires (http://www.vosbuenoaires.com). I just wanted to make sure that we are not only talking about chamuyo in terms of “pick up lines”. 😉 There are lots of other topics you can refer to “chamuyo”. It’s merely a course where we get en insight about the “slang” the porteños are using very frequently. So I can understand more of the meaning of some conversations… not 100%, but I get an idea. 😉 Btw, it’s a very cool and funny class!!

Anyway, I’d like to add a frase to the pick up lines. I’m not a native english speaker, so no translation into english from my side. 😉

He: “Se te cayo el papel”
She: “Qué papel?”
He: “El que te envuelve bombon!”

El Paparulo on October 11, 08

Chamuyo includes, like mandy says, from pick up lines, to swindle talks or a way to get to get out of a difficult situation, to get in places that you wouldnt enter any other way, etc etc etc.

La camellita on June 7, 10

Here’s one that works like a charm on both men and women: “Tu espanol es perfecto!!” Everybody falls for that one.

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