The name is derived from the Latin argentum (silver). The first use of the name Argentina can be traced to the voyages of the Spanish conquerors to the Río de la Plata. The explorers who shipwrecked in Juan Díaz de Solís' expedition found native communities in the region who gave them silver presents.
Was Argentina ever called Argentina?
Then on October 8, 1860, President Santiago Derqui decreed the official name to be República Argentina. In common speech, the country is referred to as "la Argentina" (the Argentine) in Spanish, bypassing the noun in any of the above expressions ("the Argentine [land]", "the Argentine [Republic]", etc.).
When did Argentina get its name?
The name Argentina was first used extensively in Ruy Díaz de Guzmán's 1612 book Historia del descubrimiento, población, y conquista del Río de la Plata (History of the discovery, population, and conquest of the Río de la Plata), naming the territory Tierra Argentina (Land of Silver).
Why did Argentina get its name from the Latin word silver?
Silver is unique among elements in giving its name to a country - Argentina, so named by the Spaniards because it was a rich source of the metal. The chemical symbol Ag, derives from the Latin word for silver, argentum, from the Indo-European root, arg, meaning 'white' or 'shining'.
Is Argentina a first world?
According to the definition from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Argentina is a developing country because of its lower economic performance.
Was Argentina Spanish or Portuguese?
While Argentina's official language is Spanish, Argentina has enjoyed so much international migration that Arabic, Italian, German, English, and French are also spoken—at least in pockets throughout the country. There are also over one million speakers of various tribal languages, including Quecha and Guaraní.
Was Argentina a French colony?
Background: Spain colonized Argentina in the 16th century; it declared its independence in 1816 and emerged as a democratic republic in the mid 19th century, but has since then periodically fallen under military rule.
Who originally owned Argentina?
United States Recognition of Buenos Ayres, 1823. The United States recognized the Government of Buenos Ayres (predecessor of Argentina) on January 27, 1823, when Caesar Rodney was appointed as American Minister Plenipotentiary to that government. Buenos Ayres had declared independence from Spain on July 9, 1816.
Who lived in Argentina before the Spanish?
Along with numerous nomadic tribespeople, two main indigenous groups existed in Argentina before the European arrival. In the northwest, near Bolivia and the Andes, was a people known as the Diaguita, while further south and to the east were the Guarani.
What does Argentina mean in English?
From Spanish, from Italian: literally “made of silver, silver colored” (equivalent to argento “silver” + -ino adjective suffix), shortening of Terra Argentina “Land of Silver,” or Costa Argentina “Coast of Silver”; ultimately a derivative of Latin argentum “silver”; see also -ine1.
When did the Argentine become Argentina?
After Argentina gained independence from the Spanish in 1816, the nation was paralyzed by tension between Centralist and Federalist forces.
What was Argentina before 1816?
The territory of modern Argentina was part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, with its capital city in Buenos Aires, seat of government of the Spanish viceroy.
Who was in Argentina before Spain?
Along with numerous nomadic tribespeople, two main indigenous groups existed in Argentina before the European arrival. In the northwest, near Bolivia and the Andes, was a people known as the Diaguita, while further south and to the east were the Guarani.
Is Argentina a rich or poor nation?
The World Bank classifies Argentina as a high-income nation. The country's economy is driven by manufacturing, agricultural exports, natural resources and the services industry, which includes a thriving tourism industry. [Explore the top universities in Argentina.]
Why is Argentinian Spanish so different?
You may wonder why Spanish in Argentina developed a different intonation. The main reason for this lies in the country's history of immigration. Between 1870 to 1960, approximately two million Italians immigrated to Argentina, undoubtedly influencing and altering the accent of Spanish in Argentina.
Which European country first settled in Argentina?
1516: Spanish explorer, Juan Diaz de Solis became first European to reach Argentina discovering Rio de Plata. 1536: Spaniards founded a short-lived settlement on the bay.
What is Argentina famous for?
Argentina is known for its passion for soccer, Mate culture, and love for Tango. With stunning natural landscapes in Patagonia to vibrant city life in Buenos Aires, the country offers a unique experience for travelers. Argentina is also famous for its quality wine, delicious food, and world-renowned landmarks.
Why do Argentines sound Italian?
It sounds a whole lot like Italian to the untrained ear, and that's because it comes from Italian. Since the 1800s, there have been quite a few waves of immigrants from Italy who ended up settling in Buenos Aires. Their Italian accents rubbed off on the locals, and thus the intonation that you can still hear today.
Are Argentinians from Italian descent?
Italian is the largest single ethnic origin of modern Argentines, surpassing even the descendants of Spanish immigrants.
How did Argentina get so rich?
Argentina possesses definite comparative advantages in agriculture because the country is endowed with a vast amount of highly fertile land. Between 1860 and 1930, exploitation of the rich land of the pampas strongly pushed economic growth.
Why did Argentina leave Spain?
Answer and Explanation: Argentina, like other South American colonies, desired independence from Spain due to the economic exploitation that Spain had engaged in for centuries.
What percent of Argentina is German?
Roughly 1% of the population in Argentina speaks German, which is around 500,000 people. A total of over 3 million can claim German ancestry. The country became a refuge for about a thousand Nazi leaders after the end of the Second World War.
What do you call a person from Argentina?
Ar·gen·tine ˈär-jən-ˌtīn. -ˌtēn. plural Argentines. : a native or inhabitant of Argentina : argentinean. Argentine adjective.
What happened to the natives of Argentina?
Their territories expropriated over decades and their chiefs militarily defeated, the indigenous nations were incorporated as subjugated peoples and insecure occupiers of their own lands; they were forced to adopt a foreign religion and way of life.
What is slang for cool in Argentina?
Copado/a means cool or awesome. You can slide in a “qué copado” in any instance to sound more local.
Did France colonized Argentina?
Spain colonized Argentina in the 16th century; it declared its independence in 1816 and emerged as a democratic republic in the mid 19th century, but has since then periodically fallen under military rule.
