Che
casual, Argentina
The classic Argentine way to say "hey" is Che. It gets someone's attention or opens a conversation. Ey works too, and hola is the neutral option.
Meaning: casual way to get attention (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Che | casual, Argentina |
| Ey | casual |
| Hola | neutral |
Che, ¿viste esto? means "hey, did you see this?" It can also appear at the end of a sentence, as in Vamos, che.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Che is the best known sign of Argentine speech. The revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara got his nickname from it.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Use che only with people you know or in a casual setting. With a boss or an older stranger, say disculpe instead.
Did you know?
- Ernesto Guevara was nicknamed el Che because he used the word che all the time.
Examples in context
- Che, ¿me das una mano?Hey, can you give me a hand?
- Ey, esperame un segundo.Hey, wait for me a second.
Example conversation
Franco calls his friend Martín across a street in Buenos Aires.
- Franco¡Che, Martín!Hey, Martín!
- Martín¿Qué hacés, Franco?What are you up to, Franco?
- FrancoVení, tomemos algo.Come, let's have a drink.
