Scenario lesson

Rioplatense Work Small Talk

Talk casually about work, stress, and ongoing projects without sounding too formal.

es-AR argentina A2 / B1 worksmall talk

Work comes up quickly in small talk. You need phrases for stress, projects, and short follow-up questions.

Dialogue

A

Como viene la semana en el laburo?

B

Intensa. Estamos cerrando un proyecto grande.

A

Uf, te entiendo. Yo ayer terminé re tarde.

B

Bueno, por lo menos ya falta poco.

Phrase Bank

laburo

work / job

Register
casual
Region
Very common in Argentina.
Use when
You talk informally about work.

re tarde

really late

Register
casual
Region
`re` intensifies adjectives.
Use when
You strongly emphasize something.

Tense Map

PhraseTenseWhy it worksWatch out
estamos cerrandoestar + gerundioCurrent ongoing project.Not for general habits.
terminé re tardepretérito indefinidoCompleted action yesterday.Good for concrete past references.

Regional Notes

  • laburo is informal and strongly Rioplatense.
  • re is a typical intensifier: re bueno, re tarde, re dificil.

Speaking Prompts

work

Say how your work week is going.

past

Say when you finished yesterday.

Practice In LingFitPro

Practice this dialogue for relaxed conversations with colleagues.