noun General Slang

Chanta

/ˈtʃanta/ · noun · slang

A con artist, bluffer or all-talk fraud, a beloved insult in porteno life.

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Definitions

1

A con artist, fraud, or unreliable bluffer, someone who promises much and delivers nothing. The source is often linked to Genoese 'ciantapuffi' (a debtor who skips out, lit. 'plant-debts').

“Ese tipo es un chanta. (That guy is a total con man.)”
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2

As an adjective, describing something fake, half-baked or done sloppily.

“Hizo un trabajo muy chanta. (He did a really shoddy job.)”
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3

Used affectionately-exasperated for a friend who's all talk.

“Sos un chanta, nunca cumplis. (You're so full of it, you never follow through.)”
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Chanta In A Sentence

No le compres nada a ese chanta. (Don't buy anything from that fraud.)
The pitch sounded great but the guy was pure chanta.
Prometio todo y no hizo nada, un chanta. (Promised everything, did nothing, a total bluffer.)

Origin & Usage

Lunfardo from early-1900s Buenos Aires, documented by the Academia Portena del Lunfardo; commonly derived from Genoese 'ciantapuffi' (one who plants debts and absconds), though the link is debated.

Variants chantunchantadachantapufi
Tags #lunfardo#spanish#argentine#tango#argot#people

People Also Ask

What does chanta mean?

It means a con artist, fraud, or all-talk bluffer.

Where did chanta come from?

It's usually traced to Genoese 'ciantapuffi', a debtor who skips town.

Can chanta describe an object?

Yes, as an adjective it means fake, shoddy, or half-baked.

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