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"Lo viejo funciona, Juan"

"Lo viejo funciona, Juan"

"El Eternauta" and a phrase that went viral.

Cynthia Vilaplana's avatar
Cynthia Vilaplana
Jun 12, 2025
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"Lo viejo funciona, Juan"
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A raíz del éxito de “El Eternauta”, la serie de Netflix basada en un cómic argentino de fines de los años ‘50, comenzaron a circular memes con una frase que dice uno de los protagonistas de la serie: “LO viejo funciona”.

Following the success of El Eternauta, the Netflix series based on an Argentine comic from the late 1950s, memes began to circulate featuring a phrase said by one of the show's main characters: 'The old stuff works.

Artículo de Infobae

¿Entendés la frase?

Do you understand the phrase?

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¿Qué significa LO en este contexto? LO es un artículo neutro que convierte a este adjetivo en un sustantivo abstracto: “las cosas viejas”.

-los autos viejos

-los cassettes

-las cámaras de fotos analógicas

-los libros de papel

-calentar la pava al fuego

What does 'LO' mean in this context? 'LO' is a neutral article that turns the adjective into an abstract noun: 'old things.'

-old cars

-cassette tapes

-analog photo cameras

-paper books

-heating the kettle over a fire"

El contexto dentro del comic

“Dentro del comic original, la frase se desarrolla en una situación extrema: un apagón generalizado y la desaparición repentina de cualquier tecnología moderna. La ciudad de Buenos Aires ha sido sorprendida por una nevada letal que transforma la normalidad en pesadilla. En medio del caos, los protagonistas necesitan desplazarse y descubren que solamente los autos antiguos son los que funcionan.”

*Infobae

In the original comic, the phrase comes up in an extreme situation: a widespread blackout and the sudden disappearance of all modern technology. The city of Buenos Aires has been struck by a deadly snowfall that turns normal life into a nightmare. Amid the chaos, the protagonists need to get around and discover that only the old cars still work.

Otras frases similares (Similar phrases):

Lo importante es divertirse. (The important thing is to have fun)

Lo barato sale caro. (You get what you pay for-Cheap things end up costing more)

Lo bueno de un feriado es poder descansar. (The good thing about a holiday is being able to rest)

Lo lindo de Buenos Aires son las calles de San Telmo. (The beauty of Buenos Aires is the streets of San Telmo)

Lo difícil no es llegar a ser famoso, sino mantenerse en el tiempo. (The hard part is not becoming famous, but staying famous over time.)

Lo viejo funciona, ¿qué es LO viejo que te reconforta hacer o usar? (The old stuff works. What is the 'old stuff' that comforts you to do or use?)

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