Survival Spanish for Patagonia
The phrases I used every day, and the local words nobody teaches in apps.
My Spanish before the trip was limited to ordering coffee. By the end I could hold a slow conversation, mostly thanks to bus drivers and estancia cooks.
Everyday essentials
Greetings, numbers, asking for directions and the bill. Learn to understand the answers, not just the questions — that is the hard part.
Chilean and Argentine words
In Chile, “¿cachai?” means “you know?”, and you will hear it constantly. In Argentina, “che” is a friendly way to get someone's attention, and vos replaces tú.
Food vocabulary
Cordero (lamb), empanadas de pino (beef, onion and olive), completo (a heavily loaded hot dog) and, of course, mate — which is a ritual more than a drink.
Tip: People appreciate any effort. A few clumsy sentences open far more doors than perfect English.