rioplatense

Rioplatense refers to the Rio de la Plata region in southeastern South America, notably the Buenos Aires area of Argentina and the Montevideo area of Uruguay. The term is used to describe the geography, peoples, culture, and linguistic sphere associated with this river basin.

Rioplatense Spanish is the regional dialect most closely linked to the area. It features voseo, the use of the pronoun vos with verbs conjugated accordingly (for example, tenés, sos), rather than the tú form. It is also known for distinctive intonation and, in many speakers, zheísmo or sheísmo in the pronunciation of ll and y. In formal speech, ustedes is commonly used for the second person plural, while vosotros remains rare.

Culturally, the region centers on Buenos Aires and Montevideo and has a global cultural footprint. Rioplatense culture is associated with tango and milonga, literature, cinema, and a cosmopolitan urban life shaped by European immigration, particularly Italian, along with strong port and commercial traditions. The cuisine emphasizes beef and pasta dishes, along with regional pastries and wines.

Historically, the area developed as a major port and commercial hub within the Argentine and Uruguayan territories and played a significant role in the broader South American urbanization of the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, Rioplatense identity is tied to the urban, riverine, and Atlantic heritage of the Plata basin, with a continued linguistic and cultural influence that extends beyond national borders.