Uruguay, in English
Uruguay is small — about three and a half million people — and talkative. This page is the English-language door to it; the Spanish page for Uruguay is the one written for Uruguayans.
How it works, in one paragraph
Open the chat, allow your camera, press start. A random stranger appears; if the conversation is good, keep going for as long as you both like, and if it is not, one click brings the next person. There is no account, no app to install and no fee. Nobody can look you up afterwards, because there is nothing to look up. The details are on the how it works page.
A note on mate
If the person on the other side is Uruguayan, there is a fair chance a mate gourd and a thermos are somewhere in the frame. Uruguayans carry them everywhere — on the bus, to the beach, to the office — and asking about it is the most natural icebreaker you will find. Football is the second. Weekend social plans, usually involving an asado, are the third.
Why talk to Uruguay at all
Because it is easy to overlook. Uruguay sits between two giants, Argentina and Brazil, and many people abroad could not place it on a map. Uruguayans know this and tend to enjoy explaining their country: the beaches of Punta del Este, the old town of Colonia, the fact that they won the first football World Cup in 1930. If you are learning Spanish, it is a relaxed place to practise; if you are not, most younger Uruguayans will switch to English for you.
Timing
Uruguay runs on UTC-3 all year. Montevideo holds roughly half the population, so evenings there set the rhythm; Salto and Paysandú, up the river on the Argentine border, keep similar hours, and Ciudad de la Costa fills up in summer. Remember that the queue is global: you may be matched with someone in Uruguay, or with someone on another continent.
Keeping it pleasant
- Do not share your surname, address or social handles early on.
- If someone pushes you to move to another app, decline and skip.
- Use the report button for anything that breaks the rules; the site has active moderation.
Other pages: alternatives, FAQs, Argentina, Brazil.
Frequently asked questions about Chaturro in Uruguay
Is the Spanish different in Uruguay?
A little. Uruguayans use vos instead of tú and share many expressions with Buenos Aires. Most people will happily explain one.
Does it cost anything?
No.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes, in the mobile browser. No download.
What if I only want to type?
You can start with text and turn the camera on when you are ready.
Start a Uruguay video chat
Press start, and maybe ask what is in the gourd.