Swearing Translated – Part 4, At the Soccer Stadium

Whether their team is winning or losing, Argentines never have a shortage of insults, curses, and profane chants ready to shout in unison with their fellow fans. If you get the chance to go to a football match in Buenos Aires, here is a list of the swears you should learn before heading to the stadium in order to participate more fully in the Argentine fútbol experience or at least understand what swears are being hurled about.
 

For the Referee

 
These swears can be heard by the fans at pretty much any stadium on game day and are often directed at the referee after a bad (read: unpopular) call.

For the opposing team and fans

 
Within only Buenos Aires there are over 36 football stadiums with teams rising and falling in the leagues each season. So to say Argentina is obsessed with soccer is an understatement. There are 5 major Argentina league teams dubbed the “Big 5” all based in Buenos Aires and when these teams play each other, especially in big Rivalry games, larger crowds turn out and the insults become more heated. While all these words themselves aren’t necessarily offensive, these insults have their own specific back stories and attempt to poke a fingers into old wounds.

*This insult has been associated with River Plate ever since they were unexpectedly demoted to the B league in 2011, however it can also be used against any team in the B league.

Interested in a private city tour with an Argentine football theme? Or stadium tours of the lesser known pitches? Here is our main stadium tour to start, but feel free to email us with special requests!

For more Argentine swearing, check out part 1, part 2, or part 3 where we break down some of the most traditional and creative Argentine curses.