On the subject of cabeceo, I came to the conclusion while in BA that it works best in it’s purest form, between people who already know each other. I already knew enough about it not to even attempt to cabeceo a portena/local. It “worked” with foreign women in BA and works (somewhat) in the US with women I don’t know. I can use a more subtle, more natural version of it with women I already know. Basically you just have to make eye contact.

Thank you so much!!!

I opted to edit the post instead of creating a new one with the correction to avoid further spreading of the wrong spelling. Cabeceo makes more sense even to my limited spanish. I actually tried to find a spanish encyclopedia but failed to find a free one to confirm once more the word/verb…

once again, thank you very much!

Please allow me, in a kind, hearted manner, to correct you. I’m a native spanish speaker, and I can assure you that the right spelling for this word is CABECEO. As I wrote a while ago in my own blog, there is a running misunderstanding by non-native spanish speakers about this word. Unfortunately this mistake is spreading like the plag through blogs, Tango-L and other discussion groups (that includes Igor Polk’s comment, I’m afraid), which are spreading a mistaken, non-existent word and distorting my beautiful native Castellano:

http://tangoloveandotherdevils.blogspot.com/search/label/Tango%20Glossary

The expression CABECEO comes from the verb CABECEAR (to move or shake the head, to make the dance invitation). This is derived from the word CABEZA, which means, literally HEAD.

Please, please. I thank you so much that you care about this. Help me preserve this word the way it should be preserved, and spread the right spelling for it–as well as as it very important meaning for the Tango culture.