In Argentina, to fall for a fake-out or a bluff, to be misled by a false move. Originally from soccer, where the amague is a feint that fools the opponent, the phrase jumped into everyday speech to describe any moment of being deceived.

Testicle. This word spawns dozens of expressions: 'tener huevos' (to be brave), 'huevón' (lazy or dumb), 'a huevo' (hell yeah/mandatory). It's the foundation of vulgar Spanish vocabulary.

A payment card, either debit or credit. In Mexico, asking for the terminal to pay with card is normal in most stores and restaurants, although markets, street stalls, and neighborhood taquerías still prefer cash. Always carry both, because half the city runs on plastic and the other half doesn't.

In Argentina and Uruguay, to get completely absorbed in a phone call and lose all track of time. What was supposed to be a quick check-in turns into two hours without noticing. Very common when catching up with someone you have not spoken to in a while.

A sports field or court where you play soccer, tennis, basketball, or any sport. Used across all of Latin America. In Argentina, "cancha" also means having real world experience or street smarts, someone with "cancha" has been through it all and knows how to handle any situation.

To wish for luck or hope something goes well, accompanied by the gesture of crossing the index finger over the middle finger. Used across the Spanish-speaking world for those moments when you have done everything you can and all that is left is to hope for the best.

An orderly line of people waiting their turn with varying degrees of patience. Standing in fila is the most common patience exercise in urban life, where you learn to control your anger while inching forward.

A passionate community of fans of an artist, show, game, franchise, or celebrity that organize on social media. Fandoms are powerful cultural forces.

A large rural cattle ranch on the Argentine and Uruguayan pampas where cows and horses are raised. It's the River Plate equivalent of the Mexican ranch and the classic image of South American countryside with gauchos and asados.

To get emotionally stuck on someone, unable to stop thinking about them even when you should move on. It's when someone lives rent-free in your head and you can't evict them no matter how hard you try.

To lose a match you already had in the bag because of a stupid mistake or bad decision. Throwing is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory when nobody else could beat you.

Emotional or behavioral boundaries that one establishes to protect their well-being. The key word in all modern therapy.

A friendly, likeable person who's easy to get along with and you click with instantly. It also describes a situation that gives good vibes and makes you feel comfortable.

To make a massive mistake, royally screw up, or completely ruin something. When someone does something so badly there's no going back and everyone finds out about the disaster.

To lose everything at once: job, money, and home. In Argentina and Uruguay, "quedar en la calle" describes the worst economic fall, a total collapse that leaves someone with nothing. The phrase gained especially heavy weight during the 2001 Argentine financial crisis.

In Argentina and Uruguay, someone who is a bit eccentric, unpredictable, or marches to their own beat, not in a dangerous way, just in a delightfully odd one. With a chabeta around, you never quite know what is going to happen next, but it is rarely boring.

A cunning, sharp, street-smart person who knows how to get an advantage out of any situation in Argentina. The pájaro has a radar for opportunities and is always one step ahead of everyone else.

To snitch on someone, rat them out to the authorities or the boss about what they did wrong. Being a soplón is one of the most socially punished things, nobody likes a tattletale.

A neighborhood corner store in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that sells groceries and everyday essentials. The owner usually knows you by name, may let you buy on credit until payday, and always has what you need. Think of it as the Southern Cone version of a bodega or corner shop.

To interfere in something that doesn't concern you, to stick your nose in where it's not invited. In Argentina, 'to put your fingers in' is the way to describe unnecessary interference in other people's affairs.

To share or repost content online so it reaches more people. When someone "rutea" a post, they are amplifying what already exists without creating anything new, the fastest way to expand something's reach. Used across Mexico, Argentina, and Spain.

When a reply to a tweet or post gets more likes than the original, causing public digital humiliation. To ratio someone is to destroy them online by proving your take has more support than theirs.

To aggressively advance as a team toward an enemy position in a video game, going all-in on the attack without looking back. Pushing requires coordination and guts, if it fails, everyone gets wiped.

Everything that gets posted on social media: videos, photos, memes, text. "Creating content" became a real profession and now everyone wants to be a content creator.

An expression of laziness or unwillingness to do something, that anticipated dread that hits you just thinking about the task ahead. It's the universal Latin American complaint when something requires more effort than you want to give.

A self-centered person who thinks the world revolves around them, a total narcissist. The expression 'thinking you're the belly button of the world' perfectly captures that insufferable attitude of someone who can't see beyond themselves.

A connected series of social media posts that develops a topic in depth over multiple parts. The thread is the long-form format of the internet age: a way to tell a full story, break down a complex issue, or drop receipts one post at a time without writing an actual article.

To use drugs habitually or in excess. From "falopa" (Buenos Aires lunfardo for drugs), falopear in Argentina describes problematic or frequent substance use that is visible to everyone around the person.

To barely have enough time to do something without any margin for error. This phrase is often used to describe someone who consistently arrives just in time, indicating they didn't plan well.

Herb and spice sauce originally from Argentina, now used across South America to dress grilled meats. Chimichurri, parsley, garlic, vinegar, oil, is the flavor that says 'asado' is ready. An Argentine without chimichurri at a barbecue is practically a national emergency.