We explain what is disturbing, the various theories that exist about the origin of this term and the different meanings it has.
What is tormenting?
The term atorrante is a lunfardesca voice that was incorporated into the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy. According to this, it means street, lazy, homeless and generally lives as a beggar.
The origin of this term cannot be known exactly, however, there are several theories that try to explain its beginnings, one of the most used and which has been spreading from word to word is that during the year 1860 in Buenos Aires.
See also: Oligarchy
Theory on the origin of the word tormenting
This was because construction work had to be done to pipe running water for this it was necessary to use enormous drainage pipes that were located in the coastal areas of this province. In these pipes, “vagabonds” began to become increasingly present, settling there to have a place where they could be at least a few hours a day.
The most important fact is that The drain pipes had a mark inscribed on them called «A.Torrant», That's where the term atorrante comes from and the meaning was given to those lazy people who wandered around those places. It is important to note that it is a rumor that spread over the years and it is not possible to know if it is really true or not.
Many writers and historians confirm that there has never been a company called A.Torrent that was linked to the water works of the city of Buenos Aires.
The word atorrante is not cited by authors of the last century who were in charge of studying laziness and other terms related to it. Some claim that it is only a one hundred percent Buenos Aires expression and that he does not have many more explanations to add.
Meanwhile, the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy recognizes this word as typical of Argentina and Uruguay, where its meaning is lazy, lazy, etc.
Another explanation that emerged is that at the time of the slavery in the Río de La Plata They had their workers roast coffee seeds, correctly said, this activity was called “roasting.”
In this way, when the slaves decided to take a break, it was said that they were “torrando”, a form through which the term atorrante would later emerge, which would refer to those who did not want to work and did not fulfill their obligations.
Other uses of “torrante”
On other occasions, the word atorrante, used as an adjective, means to refer to feel hot, that something is very hot. However, this expression is not usually used widely by people and authors, that is, no one expresses themselves with “the sun is too overwhelming”, it is commonly said “the sun is very strong or atrocious.”
Many conclusions have been known and one of them is that the term tormenting has its origin in Spain and that it was taken to America by Spanish immigrants.
Despite all the meanings that have passed throughout history, most people, especially in Argentina and Uruguay, use the word atorrante to refer to a lazy, lazy person who has no desire to work, much less to support himself. .
It is also common to call a tormentor someone who He turns out to be with several women at the same time someone who is considered a liar and who usually attends many parties.
This word is not always taken as something negative. Many times an individual is classified as a tormentor because possess a certain level of charisma and cunning which is why he would not be referring to someone as a vagabond or lazy person.
There are several songs where this expression is mentioned, one of them, very well known, is the one that the well-known singer Joaquín Sabina dedicates to his great friend Joan Manuel Serrat. The song is titled “Atorrante Universal.” According to the author's explanations, he tells of the great admiration he feels for his friend.