Americans traveling to Argentina will be able to enter without having to pay the Reciprocity Visa fee.

by Alex Olson, 24 March 2016

The President of the United States’ visit to Argentina has created a positive new correct between these two countries. For years the Argentine government has been charging American visitors a fee of US$160 for entering Argentina, this was called ”reciprocity fee”, due to the fact that the Argentine people have to pay when applying for an American visa”.

Starting on March 24th 2016 the Argentine National Immigration Agency or Dirección Nacional de Migraciones has issued through Law / Disposition 589/2016 that effective on March 24th the Reciprocity Fee will no longer be applicable for American Citizens and American Passport holders entering Argentina. This is clearly the beginning of a new era between Argentina and USA relations and without a doubt it will increase tourism between this two nations.

Also read about how to get a Visa from Brazil

United Stated of America, along with Canada and Australia were the only 3 major countries asking for Visas to Argentinian Citizens. Unfortunately residents from Australia and Canada will continue t0 pay the Visa Reciprocity fee.

Considering the relaunch of the diplomatic relationships between the US and Argentina is to be exacted that the US government will follow, allowing Argentines to enter the United States of America without having to visit the embassy to request a tourist visa.

Discover more about Argentina in our blog

Study Spanish in Buenos Aires

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The annual Verano en La Ciudad is here again! It is a summer program of cultural events organized by the city government. Not only they all take place in the outdoors (who doesn’t love to lounge around under the starlit sky in such wonderful Buenos Aires summer weather?!), they are also FREE to attend. This year from January 15 until February 28, you will get to enjoy musical shows, drive-in movies, activities for children, and numerous musical events at different locations.

In the month of January, a Drive-in Movie Theater, probably the most popular event during the summer, will be set up at Rosedale (Rose Garden), on Av. Libertador and Av. Sarmiento. An international or Argentine movie will be shown every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9PM. There will be chairs for those who don’t go with a car. The garden is huge but capacity is still limited. Spaces are up for grabs on a first-come first-serve basis.

In February, outdoor movie screenings will then take place at Plaza Vaticano, on Cerrito and Viamonte, right next to Teatro Colon. A series of Argentine movies will be shown at 8PM on the first two Mondays to Wednesdays. During the last half of the month, various live music shows will take over the stage, including the closing of the festival with a jazz performance on February 28 at 7PM.

To see the full schedule of the Verano en La Ciudad program, please visit their site here.

On a side note, Teatro Colon is having its very own 2-week Summer Festival as well. They are bringing several theatrical and musical productions to the outdoor stage at Plaza Vaticano. These will take place from February 14 – 28, 2016 and all are free admission! Go here for more information of their Summer Festival program.

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When reading about Buenos Aires, you’re certain to have come across names such as “Barrio Norte” or “Once” – but then when you go to locate them on a map, you can’t find any reference to them. Buenos Aires officially has 48 neighborhoods (barrios in Spanish), but there are another 48 (give or take) that you’ll never find mentioned on a map. While I won’t mention every single one (so don’t try to count, you’ll be disappointed), here’s a breakdown of what’s going on with the names of the many official and unofficial barrios (or sub-neighborhoods) of Buenos Aires.

Don’t forget to also check out 100 Barrios Part 2, where we’ll dissect the most popular and the biggest neighborhood of Buenos Aires – Palermo.

The earliest neighborhoods took their names from the parishes in that area, for example Monserrat, San Nicolás (the official name of the area called “Microcentro” or Downtown), and San Telmo. These neighborhoods had their physical limits and names defined in 1972 and appear on all of the maps; Puerto Madero and Parque Chas were later added to this list as well.

As I mentioned, San Nicolás is more or less the area called “Microcentro”, sandwiched in above the Casa Rosada and the Plaza de Mayo and below Retiro. It also covers an area popularly called “Tribunales” (on the western side of Av. 9 de Julio)- this is where the Palacio de Justicia (Supreme Court) as well as many lawyers are located. With “Microcentro” on one side and “Tribunales” on the other, you rarely need to refer to it by its official name.

After the same fashion as San Nicolás, Balvanera is also an official neighborhood, and you can find it on all of the maps, but you will almost never hear someone say “Oh, it’s in Balvanera.” It’s limited by Av. Córdoba and Av. Independencia, Av. Callao/Av. Entre Ríos (the street name changes) and Gallo. At its northern limit (Av. Córdoba) is an area called “Facultad”, so named due to the Schools (facultades) of Medicine, Economics and Dentistry of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) that are clustered in that area. Generally people call it “Facultad de Medicina”, since the subway station on the D-line bears that same name. Then at its western edge is an area called “Abasto”, so named for the huge shopping center on Av. Corrientes, which in turn gets its name from the Mercado de Abasto formed there in 1929. To the east is the National Congress building, located at Av. Rivadavia and Av. Entre Rios (the name of Av. Callao below Rivadavia), lending its name to this area as “Congreso”.

You’ll notice that prominent landmarks are a very common source of names among unofficial neighborhoods (“Congreso”, “Tribunales“, “Facultad de Medicina“, etc.). Up in Nuñez, there’s a micro-neighborhood called “River”, located right next to the River Plate Stadium. And there’s also an area called “La Imprenta” in Palermo where the printing house (imprenta) of the Jockey Club used to be located (at Migueletes 800).

Parks or plazas have lent their names to areas such as “Parque Centenario” and “Primera Junta” within the Caballito neighborhood. Some other sub-neighborhoods get their names according to the apartment buildings, housing complexes and municipalities that are constructed there.

The train stations also contribute to the neighborhood names: the “Once” sub-neighborhood in Caballito earned its name from the large train station called 11 de septiembre located there. Up in the neighborhood of Belgrano, there are two sub-barrios that get their names from the train stations. “Belgrano C” (where Barrio Chino is also located, more on this below) received its name because the station was once part of the company, Ferrocarril Central Argentino – with the “C” coming from the word “Central”. “Belgrano R” was once the Ferrocarril a Rosario (a city north of Buenos Aires), where the “R” comes from “Rosario”.

Another trend in naming comes from the groups that populate the area, such as “Barrio Chino” in Belgrano (just like “China Town” in other major cities) as well as a “Barrio Coreano” in the southern part of the Flores neighborhood.

Perhaps the most amusing is the names that have been changed by real estate agents hoping to make a profit. While I’ve never witnessed this myself, apparently some bars in the Retiro neighborhood, not known for being a particularly nice area, christened the area “el Nuevo Bajo“. Even better is the intention of renaming Villa Crespo as “Palermo Queens” – in hopes that the Palermo name would make the property sound more desirable. By the way, Palermo is also the area where our Spanish School in Buenos Aires is located.

Relative geographic location is another source, such as “Centro“, “Bajo (Lower) Belgrano“, and “Bajo (Lower) Flores“. “Barrio Norte” in particular is a famous one. It occupies most of Recoleta and Retiro, and earned its name towards the end of the 19th century when yellow fever was spreading throughout the southern neighborhoods of the city, “Barrio Sur” (approximately around Monserrat and San Telmo). The rich families who could afford to leave the area moved north to “Barrio Norte” (the northern neighborhood). It’s not uncommon to see restaurants and stores list their location as “Barrio Norte”, even though they’re technically in Recoleta.

That wraps up the many and varied neighborhood names in Buenos Aires – so the next time you hear someone telling you about a place that you can’t find on a map, you’ll know why!

Note: Pictures credit goes to renowned Argentine artist Miguel A. Repiso. These drawings are from his book ‘Y Rep Hizo Los Barrios Buenos Aires Dibujada’. Look for it in a bookstore when you are in the city, it’d make an awesome souvenir! To see more of Rep’s signature work, visit his website at www.miguelrep.com.ar.

Anastasia
Read more about Buenos Aires

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When we talk about the cycling culture in an urban city, Amsterdam in the Netherlands probably first comes to mind or Copenhagen in Denmark or Berlin in Germany. Basically, you’d think of a city somewhere in Europe. However, do you know that Buenos Aires, Argentina actually has been quietly modernizing its city landscape and introducing bicycles as a viable and accessible means for everyday transportation? The city’s effort is finally paying off, not only slowly transforming the city into a more livable place but also making a mark in the world’s stage for its urban planning. The City of Buenos Aires has been recognized and newly added to the 2015 Copenhagenize’s Bike-Friendly Index and not just that, it has cracked the Top 20 and landed on the 14th spot placed among all the European ‘elites’ for bicycle urbanism. That’s some achievement we’d say!

This of course didn’t happen overnight. The “ecobici” project, as part of a city-wide Movilidad Sustentable campaign (sustainable mobility) began in July 2009. Since then over 150 miles of bicycle infrastructure has been implemented, and a bike-share program which has been systematically put in place and grown from attendant rental stations only available on weekdays to now having 24/7 automated self-park stations all over the city. The best part? This bike-share program is absolutely free, for both citizens and visitors! You just need to register online (instructions for tourists go HERE), download their app on your smartphone and you can start renting bikes using the app. Each bike rental has a time limit of 1 hour on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends and public holidays. For station locations, bike availability, bike lane map etc., you can find all these info on their Ecobici website. Even though the ecobici has already been with us for a few years and that people in Buenos Aires are getting used to sharing the roads with cyclists and the bicycle system, the culture is still a relatively new one. It is a work in progress no doubt, with rooms for improvements. That also goes without saying that Buenos Aires is still a big busy city with dense car traffic, so before you hop on a bike, make sure you also check out our tips on biking in Buenos Aires. As with where to go, here are our recommendations on some best areas to visit on your two wheels. More information about our Spanish School in Buenos Aires

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10 Reasons to Choose Vamos Spanish Academy

1. Academic Excellence. You will have the same teacher for your Spanish Classes. This is a very important factor for a better learning Experience
2. Dedicated Academic director. She will Evaluate your written and oral level in order to place you at the right class according to your level. She will also be responsable to ensure satisfaction follow up with your learning experience.
3. Max 6 Students per classroom and an average of 5. This guarantee an optimum learning process.
4. We are recognized and authorize by the City of Buenos Aires to operate as a Language School in Argentina. Our permit is proudly posted on our main entrance door area.
5. Confortable facilities. Our School is a 19 Century Historical Building with large classrooms, toll ceilings and conformable chairs and tables. We also have a free 50Mb/s WiFi and a fantastic common area equipped with computers, games, books, and always free coffee and tea. Very important in Argentina: Air Conditioning and heater in every classroom.
6. Location. Vamos is in the safe and prestigious area of Alto Palermo. We are walking distance from top-notch Shopping malls, restaurants, bars, museums and hotels.
7. Weekly guaranteed social and cultural activities. Every Week we organize events to: Bomba del tiempo Live Music Show, Malba Museum, Dinners, Language Exchange at places like Spanglish, long weekends getaways to Iguazu falls, Mendoza, Bariloche and much more.
8. Weekly Free Workshops. Learn all about Yerma Mate, How to navigate the city, Lunfardo (Slangs) and much more. We also play Argentine movies once a week.
9. Certificate of Excellence award by TripAdvior
10. We accept Argentine peso at the official rate. We also accept Visa, Mastercard for no extra fees and Euros and Dollars.

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Around this time of the year is the Carnival season all around the world, including the Rio de Janiero’s Carnival, which has to be the most famous one in South America. When it comes to Argentina, festive colorful carnivals aren’t probably the association one would make right away; however, do you know that we do have Carnival celebrations here in Argentina too?

There is a reason why Carnivals seem to be a new cultural custom in Argentina but it has actually been around in this land since hundreds of years ago. The very origin of Carnival in Argentina can be traced back to the 1600’s during the Spanish colonial time. The Carnival started as a celebration of a mixture of Spanish heritage and the Candombe dance performed by the black slaves. At first, they were only practiced privately in individual houses but slowly over the centuries, they were expanded to neighborhood clubs and then developed into the more organized public street celebrations completed with masks, colorful costumes, elaborated floats and parades. The popularity of Carnival celebrations reached its new heights in early 1900’s.

In 1956, the Carnival days were recognized as public holidays, but 20 years after, the military dictatorship removed them as holidays. It was because of this change, many of the Carnival traditions in Argentina had been interrupted and lost. Even though they weren’t as wildly celebrated and observed as before, a few cities have kept the traditions going. In the case of the City of Buenos Aires, they have replaced it with a different form called ‘murgas‘, an attempt to keep the Carnival spirit alive.

Murga in the City of Buenos Aires

In 2011, the Argentine government has reinstated the Carnival holidays making it a 4-day long weekend nationwide. The Carnivals and their festivities have finally been revived. Moreover, for many Argentines, especially the younger generations, who might have heard about all these Carnival traditions and stories from their parents like fairy tales, they could be in fact experiencing this long-lost tradition for the very first time.

The biggest and the most important Carnival celebration in Argentina takes place in Gualeguaychú. There are parades and performances from January 9-16-23-30 and February 6-7-8-13-20. This year 2016 ”comparsas” are going to be Papelitos, Marí-Marí y O´Bahia.

Watch the Carnival video from Gualeguaychu

The other popular carnival destinations are:
– Los Carnavales de Corrientes will begin on January 22 ending on February 9 . In 2016 Corrientes was declared the Argentina national capital of the Carnaval.

Corrientes Carnival Argentina

– El Carnaval de la Quebrada de Humahuaca takes place in Tilcara, a city in Jujuy. The festivities start on February 6 and last till February 14, 2016, with traditional carnival celebrations combine with local rituals paying tributes to “Pachamama” (an Inca goddess similar to Mother Earth). The most important ritual is where they will unearth the “devil”, begin the party with dancing, music playing and fireworks marching through their small towns and end with the burial of the “devil” again a week later. You can read more about this ritual here (in Spanish).

Jujuy Desentierro del Diablo Carnival

– Los Carnvavales de Salta begins on January 14 till February 9. They have parades and celebrations almost every night at different locations in the city of Salta.

Carnival in Salta

– Last but not least, in the City of Buenos Aires on February 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28, there will be organized parades by murgas on Saturdays and Sundays taking place at the main streets of different neighborhoods in the city. Check out the city website for more information and locations.

Buenos Aires City Carnival

If you are interested in travelling to any one of the locations mentioned above to participate in the Carnival festivities, we highly recommend you to book your travels and lodgings ahead of time. They are very popular attractions among Argentine residents too!

We hope you enjoyed reading our blog and would love if you could share and like it on your social media below.

Learn more about our Spanish School in Buenos Aires

Discover Argentina. Check more Blogs here

The Vamos Spanish Academy Team +

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Anyone planning to come to Buenos Aires is very likely to come across the many sub-barrios (neighborhoods) of Palermo. But this can turn out to be very confusing, especially when you hear two names for the same area or discover that there seems to be some overlap in the territory! So here’s a list of the sub-neighborhoods within Palermo, including the ones that you’re most likely to run into and some super-obscure ones you may never have come across. Also, since there are many versions out there regarding which are the exact defining streets for each ‘zone’, I have considered all the variations, picked the ones most agreed upon and included their approximate locations along with their names for your reference.

Also you might want to check out “100 Barrios Part 1“, if you haven’t yet, to read up on interesting facts of the other Buenos Aires neighborhoods.

1) Palermo Hollywood (between Av. Dorrego and Av. Juan B. Justo, Av. Córdoba and Av. Santa Fe) – This name came from the television studios (such as Channel 9) as well as production companies located in that area. Some might say the name “Palermo Hollywood” was meant to make the area sound more glamorous than it really is. Whatever your opinion, it has a ton of restaurants, bars, and clubs, making it a fun place to live and for nightlife. This area in particular is characterized by cobblestone streets.

2) Palermo SoHo (between Av. Juan B. Justo and Av. Scalabrini Ortiz, Av. Córdoba and Av. Santa Fe) – The name comes from the SoHo of New York City and London. At the heart of Palermo SoHo is a place listed on maps as Plaza Cortázar (but it’s always called Plaza Serrano). This is the area famous for all the local designer boutiques, fancy restaurants and bars, where surely the place to see and be seen day and night.

3) Palermo Viejo (between Av. Scalabrini Ortiz and Av. Dorrego, Av. Córdoba and Av. Santa Fe) – Please take a moment to observe a map and compare the location of Palermo Viejo to Palermo’s Hollywood and SoHo. I’ll wait. All done? Palermo Viejo is the old name for that whole area now called SoHo and Hollywood, before it was divided down Av. Juan B. Justo. If you look around, you’ll find hostels and stores that still bear this name, refusing to be swept away in the New-York-ification of their city.

4) Palermo Nuevo (between Av. Coronel Díaz and Av. Sarmiento, Av. Las Heras and Av. del Libertador) – I’ve noticed there’s also some disagreement about the perimeter of this neighborhood, and you can find many maps that show it’s location as being between Av. Bullrich and Av. Sarmiento, Av. Santa Fe and Av. del Libertador. Wherever it might be located, “New Palermo” is a trendy and fairly recently formed area (at least since 2007), full of cafés and boutiques, but still very residential.

5) Alto Palermo (or Palermo Alto) – (the 2 block area surrounding the Alto Palermo Shopping) – This area takes its name after the nearby mall, and pretty much anyone living within 2 or 3 blocks can probably safely say they live in Alto Palermo. This is also where our Spanish School in Buenos Aires Vamos Spanish Academy, is located, a very vibrant and accessible area.

6) Las Cañitas (Av. Luis María Campos and Av. del Libertador, Av. Olleros and Av. Dorrego) – This area is well-known and popular for being full of great parrillas, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. This is one of the original Palermo’s, although many people think it’s part of Belgrano (it’s not). Unlike some of the more obscure parts of Palermo, everyone will know what (and where) you’re talking about. The name “Cañitas” comes from the early 20th century, from the reeds (cañas) in the nearby arroyo Maldonado.

7) Palermo Botánico (between Av. Scalabrini Ortiz and Plaza Italia, Av. Las Heras and Charcas) – This is the area around the Jardín Botánico. Not much else to say.

8) Plaza Italia (the area around Plaza Italia) – As with “Palermo Botánico”, the name comes from proximity to a major landmark. “Plaza Italia” is also a subway stop on Line D. Pretty straightforward. You’re likely to notice some overlap with Botánico and Pacífico (see #11). 

9) Palermo Chico (between Av. del Libertador and the railroad tracks, Cavia and Tagle) – This is a very expensive part of Palermo where no normal person can afford to live (only TV stars and other assorted millionaires). You may sometimes hear it called “Barrio Parque” and this is another one of the original sub-neighborhoods of Palermo.

10) Palermo Pacífico (between Av. Santa Fe and Guatemala, Uriarte and Juan B. Justo) – Some say this area extends up to Av. Dorrego, others say it ends at the Puente Pacífico (thus the name) – you have probably never heard of this neighborhood and may never hear it called by this name. You’ll notice some overlap with Palermo Hollywood and SoHo on either side of Juan B. Justo.

11) Palermo Boulevard (Av. Juan B. Justo between Guatemala and Gorriti) – So named because of the towers built in this area – it’s also called “Palermo Centro” sometimes. Just like Pacífico, this is another neighborhood that I’ve never heard of.

12) Villa Freud/Palermo Sensible (between Av. Coronel Diaz and Av. Scalabrini Ortiz, Av. Santa Fe and Soler) – So named due to the high concentration of psychoanalysts in the area. Based on some brief market research, I think this name is only known to people who live in or near Palermo (which is my way of saying, your taxi driver may have no idea where you want to go if you say you want to go to “Villa Freud” – you’re better off saying Alto Palermo.

13) Zona Roja (around the Bosques de Palermo and along Godoy Cruz between Av. Córdoba and Av. Santa Fé) Sort of like the red-light district in other cities, this area is known as the place where transvestites work. During the day the area is full of people jogging and skateboarding, but at night it’s another story. You may not hear this as much during normal conversation, and most people are likely to say that they live in “Palermo SoHo” (or “Viejo” or “Pacífico”) before they say they live in the “Zona Roja”.

14) La Imprenta – It’s theoretically within Las Cañitas at Migueletes 800, and earned its name from the printing house (imprenta) of the Jockey Club. I’m fairly certain no one has said this or heard of it recently.

And finally, I would be remiss in my duties if I did not mention the Fake Palermos, which are not even in the official Palermo Neighborhood limits:

1) Palermo Queens – is actually in Villa Crespo. The name was made up by realtors hoping to make the property sound more desirable to foreigners.

2) “Palermo Dead” (sometimes also called “Chacalermo”), an area around the Chacarita cemetery. Which is in Chacarita and not, as you may have noticed, in Palermo.

3) “La Paternal” (near Chacarita) is sometimes nicknamed “Palermo Fatherhood” – but I have yet to find a reasonable explanation for tagging Palermo onto this one.

While I’m sure with some digging you might be able to come up with a few more (or to be honest, you can probably invent one and no one would know the difference) – this list should help you to maneuver your way around the many, many neighborhoods of Palermo!

Note: The title picture credit goes to renowned Argentine artist Miguel A. Repiso, from his book ‘Y Rep Hizo Los Barrios Buenos Aires Dibujada’. Look for it in a bookstore when you are in the city, it’d make an awesome souvenir! To see more of Rep’s signature work, visit his website at www.miguelrep.com.ar.

Here is a very artistic video of Buenos Aires

Anastacia (Vamos Spanish School Team)

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Popular Ghost Stories

Halloween is not widely celebrated in Argentina, so in Buenos Aires you probably won’t see children dressed up in costumes wandering the city streets, trick-or-treating at apartment buildings after buildings. However, we could still get you into the mood by telling you one of the famous ghost stories of Buenos Aires. It happened at the well-known Recoleta cemetery and is known as “La Dama de Blanco” (The Lady in White).

Also Read: Discovering the Recoleta Cemetery

The story goes like this a young man met a beautiful girl dressed in white at the corner of Vicente López and Azcuénaga (where the cemetery is located), and he took her out on a date. During the night, the girl felt cold so the young gentleman gave her his jacket, and she spilled some drink on it. The next day, when the young man went to her home to get his jacket, he met the girl’s mother who told him that the girl he was looking for had actually passed away for a long time and she was buried in the Recoleta cemetery. The young man couldn’t believe it so he went to the cemetery and found that his drink-stained jacket was draped over the crypt with the girl’s name on it. The young man went mad or killed himself.

This alleged lady in white was called Luz María García Velloso. She was only 15 years old when she died from leukemia in 1925. Her resting place can actually be found easily at the cemetery. It is close to the entrance, on the right side of the main path.

Another version of this story has it that young men claimed that they were seduced by a pretty blonde lady dressed in all white at the same street corner mentioned above. After a night of romance, they said goodbye. The men would follow her and found her returning to the cemetery and disappeared while walking among the tombstones. They realized then that they had been with a ghost. For years young porteños would avoid picking up girls at that street corner. Even an Argentine actor and film director Arturo García Buhr swore that he had met her.

This famous Buenos Aires urban legend has also been made into a movie called “Fantasmas de Buenos Aires” (Buenos Aires Ghosts) by Enrique Santos Discépolo in 1942.

Happy Halloween!

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What is Cumbia Music?

Cumbia is a type of music and dance style from Latin America. It began as a courtship type of dance mostly practiced among African countries to then later mixed with Amerindian, European and African instruments and musical characteristics. You have probably heard this music if you visited Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru among others in Latin America. Typically you see guys in the streets playing it from their phones. It is often said that the cumbia is the music of the lower class, although it became very popular during the years and now it’s been consumed by many other social groups.

In certain areas of Buenos Aires when you are invited to a house party, Cumbia is the preferred choice. 

To get a grasp of what I am talking about, take a look at this home made video. 

Also Read: The Sound of Music in Buenos Aires

It is relavan to mention that the lyrics are really not that rich and that the traditional topics in most of the songs arerelated to love, sex, sensuality, crime and alcohol.

The commonly used instruments used in cumbia are:

Electrical guitar, bass, electronic percussion, synthesizers and sometimes also wind instruments such as trumpet. The electronic percussion and the synthesizer are really what makes the rhythm of cumbia music special. I don’t think that I would listen to cumbia while been at home, but when going out, I love to go to places or concerts with Cumbia bands and live music.

Centro Cultural KONEX a great place to enjoy live cumbia bands and is located in Almagro area in Buenos Aires. Sometimes they have live Cumbia concerts shows, and these are truly fun with a atmosphere and people dancing and partying.

Another recommended place in Buenos Aires where you can enjoy live Cumbia is Ladran Sancho in Buenos Aires also in the Almagro area.

Learn more about our Spanish School in Buenos Aires and discover everything you need to learn about Latin America and Argentina

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By Mira Lundsgaard

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Americans traveling to Argentina will be able to enter without having to pay the Reciprocity Visa fee.

by Alex Olson, 24 March 2016

The President of the United States’ visit to Argentina has created a positive new correct between these two countries. For years the Argentine government has been charging American visitors a fee of US$160 for entering Argentina, this was called ”reciprocity fee”, due to the fact that the Argentine people have to pay when applying for an American visa”.

Starting on March 24th 2016 the Argentine National Immigration Agency or Dirección Nacional de Migraciones has issued through Law / Disposition 589/2016 that effective on March 24th the Reciprocity Fee will no longer be applicable for American Citizens and American Passport holders entering Argentina. This is clearly the beginning of a new era between Argentina and USA relations and without a doubt it will increase tourism between this two nations.

Also read about how to get a Visa from Brazil

United Stated of America, along with Canada and Australia were the only 3 major countries asking for Visas to Argentinian Citizens. Unfortunately residents from Australia and Canada will continue t0 pay the Visa Reciprocity fee.

Considering the relaunch of the diplomatic relationships between the US and Argentina is to be exacted that the US government will follow, allowing Argentines to enter the United States of America without having to visit the embassy to request a tourist visa.

Discover more about Argentina in our blog

Study Spanish in Buenos Aires

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There wasn’t a great deal of thought or planning behind my partner and myself choosing to move to Argentina. Quite simply we were both at points in our lives where an adventure was well overdue. Max’s birthday was shortly after we meet and I bought my new chef boyfriend an Argentine cookbook because he had been talking a lot about Latin American cuisine. He said he would love to learn the South American styles of cooking and my instant reaction was let’s go then! We saved for 18 months and hadn’t gotten sick of each other yet so we booked our tickets. We made Buenos Aires our first stop almost entirely because we each knew one person in the city. Hurray for friends! I was able to get a 12 months working holiday visa for Argentina which took the pressure off our savings. I then turned my attention to learning Spanish. I downloaded the app Duolingo and did it everyday. 

We arrived in Buenos Aires in late January, on a hot and sticky day much like all the days that followed until mid march. Anyone who has flown into New Zealand may understand my surprise at the casual nature of customs in the airport. New Zealand has some of the strictest biosecurity regulations in the world so to just walk on through no questions asked felt a tad strange. We managed to rent a room in a house in Palermo, which came with a beautiful terrace and two lovely local flatmates. We loved the house and location however Palermo accommodation can be pricey so we starting looking for something cheaper. This first month consisted of us being uncomfortably hot and bothered, drinking cheap beer and exploring the neighbourhood.

One of the biggest obstacles for me personally in this time was confidence. I found myself avoiding situations where I would have to speak Spanish. I would take the Subte rather than a bus, I would make sure to go to the supermarket so I wouldn’t need to ask for anything through the grate at a kiosco. The day I learned how to change the stereo on the TV to swap between English and the dubbed Spanish versions was a blow to my goal of learning the language. I wouldn’t say I was homesick, there was too much to do to miss home just yet but I wasn’t fully living here. It was like Buenos Aires was this big scary world with strange food and a strange language and I perpetually didn’t know what was going on. Step by step, as I began to orientate myself, my confidence grew as did my Spanish.

The second month brought about a lot of change. My boyfriend Max found work in a restaurant and I found my internship at Vamos Spanish Academy.

We also found a lovely house in Caballito that is less than half the rent of the first. We moved in with two local guys and two girls from Italy. The new neighbourhood is not as hip and happening as Palermo however I do love it and our house is close to a Subte station which is a real perk. I started taking classes at Vamos and my Spanish started to improve leaps and bounds.

Duolingo had given me tons of vocabulary, but the classes at Vamos were another level entirely. Learning how the grammar functions in Spanish meant I could start forming my own sentences. This completely boosted my confidence and I soon found myself venturing further and further afield exploring the city. This is when I also found myself starting to be able to follow along the conversations of my flatmates, even adding to it at times.

Here is a great Blog about: Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires as a absolute beginner

And that brings me to now, nearly 3 months into my year in Buenos Aires. It has gone so fast it is hard to believe that a quarter of my time here is already over. I’m still so glad we picked Buenos Aires, I love this city. Walking along the cobblestone streets, among buildings older than my home country New Zealand, leaves me in awe.

Check this Incredible blog about: Buenos Aires Architecture 

There is so much history here, it runs through the streets. I believe it is because of the people that I have grown to feel so at ease here, Argentinians are warm, friendly people and it reminds me of New Zealand. The weather on the other hand is far superior to my homeland. I’m a sun worshiper and not only does B.A. have a ton of sun it isn’t deadly strong like it is in New Zealand and Australia and won’t turn you into a lobster. I feel that living in a flatting situation with locals was the best thing we could have done to start creating a life here. It has exposed us to plenty of people, friends of friends around for dinner etc, and has been an essential part in forming new friendships. The little life I am building here is still a work in progress, there are still hard days, but already I’m positive saying goodbye will be harder.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog, please don’t forget to share it on your social media

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Earth Day Celebrations 

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Eight mounted horses ridden by men with five foot sticks and helmets, 300 yards of field and a solid ball. It sounds like the start of a medieval war but polo has been a rather posh sport in Argentina for centuries. Brought over by the British colonizers, who would enjoy the sport on the pampas fields. It now remains very much in the Argentine culture as an elitist sport for the upper class with money to support a horse.

The Argentina Open Final is just around the corner and the upper class are getting rather excited about the thought of seeing those dashing gents darting around on horseback once again. If you are anything like me, then you will be left wondering what all the fuss is about. So when the crowd is out pushing in the tufts of dirt perhaps you can hide under the champagne table and read this polo guide.

It seems that being a good polo player is one of those things that you are born into. There is a phrase that says, ‘Once a polo family always a polo family.’ The finances and the knowledge about horse raising, grooming and breeding, the key to success for all polo players is kept well within families. Training a horse for polo is a lifetime of dedication. Both the player and the horse have to be picked out at birth. A professional polo player said that it is 70% the horse, and how good the horse is is almost invariably depends on the amount of time and money invested into it. The standard of the players at the high levels is fairly uniform.

The Polo Rules

4 horses on a side. 4 men on horses. The idea is to hit the ball through the goals. The team with the most goals wins. After each goal, the teams change side to compensate for wind and other interferences. The boundaries are marked by six foot high wooden fences.

The polo game is divided up into parts known as chukkas (or chukkers) A game might have 4,6 or even 8 chukkas. In-between these chukkas, which last 7 minutes each, the players have a few minutes break to switch to fresh ponies. The poorer leagues will alternate between two horses. Each player could ride up to eight ponies in a game of eight chukkas.

Also Read: WHAT IS THE NATIONAL SPORT OF ARGENTINA?

Handicaps such as those used in golf are often incorporated into the games: all the riders’ handicaps (assigned individually based on previous performance) are combined for each team. The difference between them will be divided by 6 and multiplied by the number of chukkas of play in the game and that number will be given as the number of goals to the side with the weaker handicap. This is done even before the teams begin to play. And so the game begins, the two teams of four line up smartly, sticks in hand. They line up in the order of 1,2,3 and 4 all obediently facing the umpire in the centre of the field. There are also two unmounted (without horses) that stand on the sidelines avoiding being hit by the balls, sticks and horses. The start is marked by one of the umpires ceremonially throwing the ball in hard and fast between the two teams.

So hopefully if you do head down in your best clothes to the Argentina Open Polo Tournament Final on the 10^th and 11^th of December, you will know a little more about the perhaps little known sport of Polo.

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family on your social media below.

For more information about our Spanish Immersion Programs in Buenos Aires click here or visit us at Av. Coronel Diaz 1736 Buenos Aires Argentina +54-11-5984-2201

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Why is Vos used in Argentina?

By Alex  – May 16 – 2015

Many students get shocked in their first Spanish lesson when they found out that the only conjugations they felt confident about, don’t exist in Buenos Aires. I’m talking about their first contact with the “voseo”, the use of “vos” instead of the more familiar “tú” to address “you”.

Basically, in Spanish we have three different options for the second person singular “you”. “Usted” is mainly used in formal situations, when you’re addressing your boss, the doctor or an old lady in the street. We use “usted” in every Spanish speaking country in the planet. We use both “tú” and “vos” in informal contexts, but you will only hear the latter in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and some countries in Central America.

Also Read: My study abroad experience in Argentina

The origin of the pronoun “vos” dates back to Spain in the 4th century, when this form was used to address the emperor, and it implied high respect. Its use began to extend and spread in the next centuries and slowly lost its original meaning of authority until the 1800’s, when it became almost offensive and finally disappeared.

In the Americas, the countries more closely related to Spain, followed the European tendency and began to use only “tú”. In the south of the continent, where its influence was not so marked, we keep on using “vos” when talking to someone informally.

Also read: HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND LOCAL SPANISH IN BUENOS AIRES

Most importantly, there’s no need to panic when you arrive in Buenos Aires when you notice this! First of all, your teachers at Vamos Spanish will explain to you how to use both forms. Second, since the differences between “tú” and “vos” only occur in the Present Indicative and in the Imperative, the other conjugations are exactly the same! Finally, no matter which variation of Spanish you decide to learn and use, everyone will understand you wherever you go, the same way a New Yorker can perfectly communicate with someone from Dublin.

If you’d like to read more on this topic, here is an interesting recent article from our news media (in Spanish only), and Wikipedia has some good details too!

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family on your social media below. 

For more information about Vos, Tu and Argentine Spanish in general contact Vamos Spanish Academy or visit us at Av. Coronel Diaz 1736 Buenos Aires Argentina +54-11-5984-2201

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A British experience in Argentina

After finishing university in England earlier this year, I knew I wanted to do something a bit more challenging than following the usual route of finding a job in London. Above all, I wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone and explore a new country.  I have always wanted to learn another language and after being told numerous times that the best possible way to learn a language is by immersing yourself in the culture and actually going to the country. The next thing I knew I was booking my flight to Argentina.

Having never studied Spanish before and not being able to speak one word, I knew from the beginning that this was not going to be a walk in the park. The most common response I got when telling friends and family what I had decided to do (moving to a new city for a year without being able to speak the language), was how exciting it sounded but also how scary. Nervous and excited are the two words I feel best described my thoughts on coming to Buenos Aires.  So far, after a month of having been here now, I can confirm that both these feelings are still very much present (excitement more so than nerves). Even though I could have learnt Spanish in Spain, a country much nearer to home, it was the endless praise that I had heard about Buenos Aires regarding its amazing food, restaurants, bars, café culture, nightlife and parks, just to name a few, that made my decision a pretty easy one. And I can most definitely say I have not been disappointed so far!

I arrived on a Saturday morning at the beginning of September, which is the start of Spring in Argentina. Although it hasn’t been as warm as I thought so far, I have been assured that the heat is on its way (I can´t wait). I was nervous and exhausted but so excited to be somewhere I had never been before. It didn’t take long for the language barrier to be a problem however; I have found myself and the taxi driver not being able to communicate a single word. My first experiences in any shops were more of a game consisting of me pointing at what I wanted to buy and unable to actually say what I wanted. It was then that I knew the best thing to do was to actually sit down and learn Spanish if I was going to get anywhere on my adventure!

Also: Learn more about Vamos Spanish Spanish School in Buenos Aires

As an university graduate not being able to communicate with other adults is definitely a unique experience for me; going back to the very basics when you learn as a child, pointing and using your hands to express how you feel! Something seemingly as simple as asking for directions becomes hugely difficult. I am sure anyone who has visited a new country without speaking the language can relate to these feelings. While it can be extremely frustrating at times, there is nothing more rewarding than when you begin to understand what someone is saying to you. Whether it be as simple as being able to reply when someone asks “¿Cómo estás?” (How are you?), to recognising words in shops and restaurants, it was such a satisfying feeling. Also, I am sure many people who choose to go to a language school also share the same view that the idea of going “back to school” is initially quite daunting. However, you soon realize that for the very first time (for me, anyway), you are in lessons because you actually want to be there. And you truly want to learn. I can honestly say I have never felt such a desire to learn and understand something that right now seems so alien to me.

As geography has never been my forte, Buenos Aires’ grid system has made finding my way around that bit easier. Don’t get me wrong, I was constantly feeling lost when I first arrived but once you get to grips with the blocks, as we called them ‘cuadras’ here, it’s actually very straightforward. As I am starting to adjust to living in a new city, I also often find myself in situations that I did not plan to get into, again probably due to the language barrier I am constantly faced with. Just last week whilst exploring the city, I briefly popped my head into a museum just to have a quick browse but before I knew it I was suddenly on a private guided tour with a tour guide and a translator (who couldn’t really speak English) so my five minute detour turned into an hour and a half history lesson on Argentina. I definitely had not intended for this to be the outcome but was very appreciative of how friendly they were. This is one of the aspects that I have loved about my visit so far, every day offers something new and different, there are never two days the same.

Not long after this experience my Spanish (or lack of) failed me a second time when I thought I was ordering a mere slice of, as the waitress put it in English for me, “a cake sent to earth from God”, only to find that I had in fact agreed to buy much more than that – a whole 5lb cake full of dulce de leche, chocolate, cream, oreo cookies and merengue! Thankfully, I am living with 6 other people in a shared house so I knew if I took it home it would not last long at all, and I was sure the others would be extremely grateful of this decadent treat.

It’s been one extremely quick month since my arrival. I am just getting started to appreciate Buenos Aires city for its true beauty and the many incredible experiences it has to offer. I cannot wait to continue discovering its hidden gems over the next year and really pick up the Argentine Spanish language along the way.

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and  would like to ask you if you could share it on your social media below. Thank you!

Larna

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Visas for Argentina

As an american with his 90 day tourist visa running out I started to stress on how to extend this. After googling and failing to find time for a trip to colonia I found the best option was to deal with the Dirección Nacional De Migraciones. My Spanish in this first 90 day period improved but not nearly enough to be confident taking on this system, that so many others said was very tedious and more complicated than it should have been. I spent a few hours googling and found a few different websites giving instruction on how to do this but they were all a few years dated and upon trying it on my own I found that the system changed enough to warrant the help of a friend for my second journey in 2 days.

What you need:

• Valid passport
• Renewal tax; $ 600 (pesos).
• A copy of your passport, the page with your photo on it. I got asked for a copy of the page my first visa stamp was on, but this is unnecessary. (pretty sure the attendant I got was just lazy and did not want to copy it himself. But he had to, because I did not have it)

Getting to Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (Argentina Immigration)

I found that the easiest way to get there was by Subway (subte). I took linea C to retiro station (last stop on the C line going north/northeast). When you get off walk through the park to San martin take a left and cross some train tracks and take a right on Avenida Antártida Argentina (there is usually people selling empanadas and other random stuff along this street) the Dirección Nacional De Migraciones is on the left so cross the road. I highly recommend looking up the way before going… At the entrance there is a gate to the parking lot to the right and a covered street to the left. If you are confident in Spanish ask the guard at the gate where to go as they may have changed it, but if you are not I will do my best to guide you. To the left of this guarded gate to the parking lot is a building running parallel to the Avenida you walked down, walk down this building until you get to building (edificio) 3. There should be someone standing outside that will ask you for your passport and what you want to do (Extend your tourist visa for 90 more days). He will tell you to go to a certain line, I got pointed into the first line that was shorter and had other gringos. Now you are in and it is pretty straightforward what to do after this if you pay attention, but i will explain more of what I did.

Once you have waited and get to the window you will have to tell the attendant what you want to do again (Extend your visa for 90 more days) he will look at your passport and give you a number with a letter and tell you to go to building (edificio) 6. This will be a large stone building behind building 3 on the other side of a park. Once in this building there is about 20 windows but only 3-4 with the letter that´s on your ticket. You can go up to these windows if there is no one there and ask if you are in the right place and then you wait until your number is called.

Also Read 

American Visitors will no longer have to pay when entering Argentina

Once called explain what you want to do again. He will take your passport and copy of your passport and give you a receipt. You have to take this receipt to another window at the other end of the building and pay your 600 pesos (only cash). They will give you a receipt and take that back to your attendant. Your attendant might be processing another visa so wait until he calls you and present your receipt. He will give you your passport back and you´re done!

Well it went like that for me it will probably change depending on the day but probably not by much. I would highly recommend getting there at 8 if not earlier to avoid crazy lines. Translate a few words and research how to get there and other tips to make this a bit easier. You can only extend your visa once after your first 90 days. If you wish to stay longer than 180 days you will have to leave the country and come back (I suggest colonia express). Once you arrive back in the country you can extend your visa again after your new 90 day tourist visa expires. I found that this way was cheaper than going to colonia but that might change as argentina raises the prices of everything often.

Also Read

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Brazilian Tourist Visa in Buenos Aires

If you want more information about Argentine Visas or our Spanish School Vamos Spanish Academy visit us at Av. Coronel Diaz 1736 contact us at info@vamospanish.com https://vamospanish.com

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Practicing Spanish in Buenos Aires Argentina

As we are learning a foreign language, other than making sure we are grasping the grammar and applying them correctly in a classroom setting, we often feel like testing ourselves and trying to see how we actually fare in the real world. Able to interact with native speakers is definitely one of the best ways to achieve that. Having a language immersion experience like learning Spanish in Buenos Aires with us at Vamos Spanish Academy, will definitely allow you to have lots of these opportunities once you step out of the classroom and into the streets since you will be living the language.

For beginners, going about doing everyday chores like ordering at a restaurant, getting your take-out coffee, and buying fruits at a verdulería (vegetable/fruit stand) where it is not customary self-served here in Buenos Aires, would already give you lots of real life practice opportunity. For those who feel comfortable enough to carry a more in-depth conversation in Spanish, there are various language exchange events available in the city. One of them, which Vamos Spanish students frequent a lot, is Mundolingo. It is a free event where everyone will sticker their chest with country flags representing the languages you speak including the one you are learning, and using these stickers as indicators to find each other who want to practice your mother tongue and in exchange to help you with your Spanish. This is a great way not only to make new friends (local and international) but also to work on your Spanish speaking skills.

We actually have another suggestion which you could put your Spanish comprehension to test while you are here in Buenos Aires studying Spanish. It might sound a bit daring for some Spanish learners, and it is stand up comedy in Spanish! Generally we wouldn´t recommend typical Argentine stand up shows because they involve a lot of local slangs not to mention the comedians speak at a speed of light. It definitely won’t be a very encouraging experience unless you have already reached a very advanced level and also are familiar with the Argentine colloquial and local culture.

However, we have come across just the right one for you all Spanish learners out there. This particular stand up show in Spanish is done by Kristof Micholt, an European who has lived in Buenos Aires for many years. He speaks at a good speed and uses way less slangs and complicated words. Also, he shares his vast experience and interesting encounters being a foreigner in this city, which Spanish students who are also visiting Buenos Aires would probably find them very relatable and have a good laugh!

You can find his show “Un Belga en Argentina” every Thursday at 10PM at Paseo La Plaza (Corrientes 1660). More info at website: elbelgastandup.com.ar

Here is a taste of the show:

If you want more information about our Spanish School Buenos Aires visit us at Av. Coronel Diaz 1736 Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires Agentina or enter https://vamospanish.com – Vamos Spanish Academy

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The Slang and Lunfardo from Argentina

Spanish (or Castellano) in Buenos Aires is full of slang words and expressions.  When you first get here it can be difficult, and even frustrating, to understand locals due to all the slang that is used.  However, just learning the basic slang words will be very useful and help you in your everyday conversation throughout the city. Below is a list of some of the common words and phrases that I have learned and that have helped me to understand and communicate more effectively here in Buenos Aires.

Informal words commonly used by locals in Buenos Aires:

Che:  You will hear this multiple times everyday.  It is most commonly used as “hey”
Boludo:  Used between friends like “dude/mate”.  Che boludo = “Hey dude”.  Can also be an insult so don’t say it to people you don’t know.
Quilombo:  Used to describe something as a mess.  It literally means whorehouse so it can also be used inappropriately. A good example will be “¡Qué quilombo el tránsito!” = The traffic is such a mess!
Chino:  A chinese person or supermarket (a lot of them are owned by Chinese immigrants here).  Sounds like a bad thing to say but it is used all the time without any negative connotations.
Cana:  The police
Gordo/a:  Used as a term of endearment.  You can call your girlfriend or boyfriend gorda/gordo and instead of getting slapped it is an acceptable greeting.
Chamuyero:  Smooth-talker, pick-up artist.  Derived from the verb chamuyar: “To sweet-talk”
Mala muerte:  “Bad death”, used to describe a place as really bad.
Chupamedias:  Translates literally as “suck my socks”.  It means that someone is sucking up to another.  It is a noun and I still have a hard time using this one easily.
Birra:  Beer
La Posta:  Used to describe something as “The best”. For example: “El vino en Argentina es la posta!”
Mina o pibe:  Mina = Woman,  Pibe = Man/Dude/Boy
Previa:  Drinks and a small gathering before going out.  Pregame.
Boliche:  Argentine term for the late-night dance clubs. ‘Discoteca’ is the but definitely considered too nerdy to use.
Pelotudo:  “Idiot”
Frutilla:  “Strawberry”, everywhere else in the Spanish speaking world they are called fresas
Porteño/a:  Name of the local people from Buenos Aires,  which is el puerto (the port)
Dale:  Means “okay” as a form of agreement.  Same as ‘vale‘ which is commonly used in Spain.
Un montón:  Means “a lot” or a bunch of something (think mountain), used very frequently. For example: “Hay montón de gente en el subte.”
Plata:  Name for money.  “No tengo plata” = “I don’t have money”
Re- : Used before adjectives to emphasize them.  It is like adding “very/really” before something in English.  “Estoy re feliz.” = “I am really/very happy.” Argentines love to prolong the ‘r’ pronunciation to further emphasize the extent of ‘really’, like “rrr” = “reeeeaally”, “rrrrr” = “super”, “rrrrrrrrrrrrr” = “super duper” etc.
Capaz:  Maybe/perhaps.
Copado:  Another way to say “cool”.

Useful colloquial phrases and expressions for your everyday conversation in Buenos Aires:

Estar en el horno: to be in a stressful situation
Medio pelo: Average, mediocre
Me chupa un huevo: I don’t care
Estar en pedo:  To be really drunk
Ni en pedo:  As derived from the above phrase it means “I wouldn’t have done it if I were drunk”, so in short “No way!”. For example, A: ”
(tener) Buena onda:  Good vibe, good energy, cool.  It can be used to describe a person, a place or an event. Like, “Mi nuevo compañero Felipe parece una persona buena onda. Nos vamos a llevar bien.” = “My new colleague Felipe seems to be a cool guy. We are going to get along fine.”
Mira vos:  literally means “Look at you!”.  Used more loosely like “Check it out” or “wow” when you are impressed with something.
O sea:  “I mean”
Puede ser:  “It could be”, “We will see”
Tal cual:  “Exactly (that)”. Used to agree with someone.
Viste:  literally means “you saw?”, but used more loosely like “you see?”/”you know?”

Learning new colloquial words and expressions is definitely part of the fun while living and Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires. When you are in town, take advantage of the opportunity and don’t be shy to strike up a conversation with locals. Argentines are very friendly people and always eager to teach you one or two things about their speaking style.

Learn more about our Spanish School in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

For more Information about this blog come visit us at Av. Coronel Diaz 1736, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires Argentina 1425 or call us 1-888-808-1242 or +54-11-5984-2201 https://vamospanish.com info@vamospanish.com

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 Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish 

Study Spanish in Buenos Aires

In order to learn any language, you need to spend some time understanding basic grammar and while it is not the most exciting aspect of learning a new language, it is important.  One essential element of Spanish is the article.

What is an article?

An article is a word that is used with a noun (person, animal, thought or thing) to help define it.  In English the articles used are typically ‘the’ is referring to something specific or ‘a’ if in general.  The same concept applies in Spanish however you need to remember gender, because the gender of the article must match the gender of the noun.

As in English, Spanish has a definite and an indefinite article.  The concept remains the same, but the words are different.  The articles are Definite and Indefinite.

Definite articles

The definite article is used to refer to something specific.  In English the article would be ‘the’. In Spanish, you have 4 options depending on the gender and the number.

Examples

1.       Quiero la naranja – I want the orange.  In this instance, we are referring to one orange, so we use the singular form and naranga is feminine, so the correct definite article to use is ‘la’.
2.       El cielo es azul – the sky is blue.  In this case we are referring to the sky as a whole and therefore use the singular for and cielo is masculine, so the correct definite article is ‘el’.
3.       Los libros son rojos – the books are red.  In this instance we are still talking about something in particular, but there is more than one so we use the plural form of the noun and the corresponding plural form article, so the correct definite article is ‘los’. Note also that the adjective rojo changes from singular to plural to correspond with the noun.
4.       Las camisetas son negros – the shirts are black. Again, here you see we are talking about more than one short so we use the plural form of the noun and corresponding plural form of the article, ‘las’.

Of course, most rules have exceptions and this rule is no different.

When a feminine and singular noun begins with a stressed á, a, or ha, the masculine definite article is used instead, to aide in pronunciation. When the same noun is plural, the regular feminine article is used.

When you use the indefinite article, you are not referring to a specific person or thing. The English indefinite articles are ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘some’ and as with the definite article, you have 4 options depending on the gender and the number.Indefinite articles

Examples

1.       Quiero una galleta – I want a biscuit.  In this instance, it’s not a specific biscuit.  It could be any sort of biscuit and I only want one.  Galleta is feminine, so we use the ‘una’ as the indefinite pronoun.
2.       Quiero leer un libro – I want to read a book. ‘Un’ is the indefinite article as libro is singular and masculine.
3.       Mi novio me dio unas floras – My boyfriend gave me (some) flowers. ‘Unas’ was used because floras are plural and feminine.
4.       Necesitos unos bolígrafos para mis clases –I need (some) pens for my classes.  ‘Unos’ was used because boligrafos  is plural and masculine.
5.       

Watch out!

The definite article ‘el’ is different to the pronoun ‘él’ which means he.  Take care to look out for the accent as it not only changes the pronunciation, but also the meaning of a word.

In this blog we have spoken about nouns and their gender.  If you want to know more, check out our blog post to help you get it straight.

These grammar concepts (and much more) are taught at Vamos Spanish Academy.  Take a look at our website and we will be happy to help your on your way to learning Spanish.

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Spanish Grammar Series

One of the trickiest things to come to terms with for a native English speaker attempting to learn Spanish, is the key role that gender plays.  In English, gender is not important unless you are speaking about a living object, ie, a person or an animal.  However, in Spanish, all nouns (person, place, thing or idea) have a gender.

If you have already studied one of the other Romance languages – a language derived from Latin – this concept will be familiar to you.  If not, take a look below to help you understand how gender works in Spanish.

The gender of the noun is important because the adjective and articles must also be masculine.  The adjective must match the noun in terms of the gender and the number, singular or plural.

How to remember what is male or female?

Thankfully there are some rules to follow to help you decide whether the noun takes the masculine or feminine form.

Masculine Nouns

Feminine Nouns

Exceptions

All rules have exceptions and the Spanish language is no different.  Typically you will need to memorize these exceptions as there is no logic that is immediately apparent. A few are listed below, but this list is not exhaustive.

El dia – Day

El mapa

El sofa

La mano

La radio

To avoid doubt, it is always best to learn not only the verb but also the article (el, la, los, las, un, una, unos, unas) as it is the article which will confirm the gender of the noun.

Finally, it’s important to remember just because you think something may typically refer to a man, it does not necessarily follow that the noun is masculine, eg la barba – the beard.

Grammar may not necessarily be the most exciting aspect of learning a new language, however, it is fundamental. Without a strong grasp of grammar you won’t be able to communicate effectively, which let’s face it, is often the reason learn another language.

“According to Vamos Spanish Academy” Learning a language is a huge challenge. When you have spent hours not making any real progress and fumbling your speech, it is easy to wonder if this is really such a good idea.
But bilingualism is a valuable tool where the rewards will easily make up for the effort. Remember the reasons why you decided to practice that language and the fact that requires constant, long practice. Fluency is only a matter of time and effort. If you make a true effort to immerse yourself in the language, understand the culture, and practice as much as you can, you will find yourself knowing a language which can enrich your life and teach you new perspectives”

These grammar concepts (and much more) are taught at Vamos Spanish Academy.  Take a look at our website and we will be happy to help your on your way to learning Spanish

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