Capítulo 6

From lunfardo, broadly used across all social classes in everyday speech to mean theft of any kind, from petty shoplifting to armed robbery. The verb form is 'afanar'. Not exclusively criminal-register; it can be used humorously for minor dishonesty.

One of the strongest insults in Rioplatense Spanish. Can express rage at another person or be used as an exclamation of general frustration. Often shouted in confrontations. Deeply offensive; its high frequency in this dialogue signals the intensity of conflicts between characters.

Lunfardo term for the police force as an institution, or individual officers. Neutral in tone within its register, used matter-of-factly by people across social classes though most at home in working-class and street speech. Not inherently derogatory, just informal.

Extremely common in everyday speech. Can refer to physical disorder, a chaotic situation, a noisy argument, or serious trouble. Originally derived from the word for a runaway-slave settlement. Fully absorbed into general informal usage with no racial connotation in contemporary speech.

Lunfardo inversion (vesre) of 'cagar' (to shit on someone). Refers to someone who betrays, cheats, or acts without honor. Stronger and more specifically moral in its condemnation than just calling someone an idiot; implies deliberate treachery.

From lunfardo. To convince someone through persuasive or deceptive speech. 'Chamuyo' is the noun. Used when someone suspects they are being lied to or manipulated, or when someone is flirting with clever talk. Very widespread in everyday speech.

Means to leave quickly, escape, or get out of somewhere, especially in a hurry or to avoid danger. 'Rajá' is the vos-imperative form: 'Get out of here!'. Broadly used and not limited to criminal contexts, though it has a strong connotation of urgent escape.

Used metaphorically to describe a period of economic or general hardship, has nothing to do with the disease. Signals widespread social difficulty. Common in colloquial speech when discussing economic crisis or personal misfortune.

Literally means 'to burst'. In this context used to mean raiding or hitting a place hard, taking full advantage of a target. Can also mean to utterly defeat or exhaust someone or something. Widely used figuratively across many contexts.