True Costa Rican Immersion Through Language
Heading to Costa Rica? Get ready to immerse yourself in the local culture, starting with the language. Understanding the slang, or “Tico Talk,” can help you connect better with locals, understand what they are talking about, and maybe, just maybe, find the confidence to join in!
Tico Talk 101: The Essence of Pura Vida and Ticoisms
You'll hear Pura Vida (poo-rah vee-duh) a lot. More than just “pure life” in its literal English translation, it's the quintessential Costa Rican phrase. It's a lifestyle, a feeling, a perspective, encapsulating how Costa Ricans cherish life's simplest pleasures and find joy in the little things.
In summary, use it to say hello, goodbye, or to express that all is well.
Example: “¿Cómo está?” “Pura Vida!”- How are you? I’m Pura Vida!
33 Tico Slang Words to Enrich Your Trip
Check these expressions and see how many you hear people around you saying them while in Costa Rica.
Share Your Excitement!
- ¡Qué chiva! (keh CHEE-vah): “How cool!” or “Awesome!”
Example: “¡Qué chiva ese abrigo!” - That jacket is so cool! - Rajado (rah-HAH-doh): Similar to amazing, used for something impressive.
Example: “¡Qué carro más rajado!” - What an amazing car! - A cachete (ah kah-CHE-teh): When something is just right.
Example: “Este zapato quedó a cachete.” - This shoe fits perfectly. - Tuanis (TWAH-nees): Something superb.
Example: “¡Qué tuanis esta soda! Los papas fritas son muy buenas.” - This soda is great! The fries are excellent. - Por dicha (pour DEE-tchah): A casual expression of luck or fortune. Literally, it means ‘by bliss’!
Example: “Por dicha, no llegué tarde a cenar.” - Luckily, I wasn’t late for dinner. - Qué dicha ( keh DEE-tchah): Equivalent to thank goodness.
Example: “Qué dicha que estés bien.” - Thank goodness you're okay.
Addressing The Locals (and Each Other)
- Tico (tee-koh): A Costa Rican. This is how locals refer to themselves and their fellow citizens.
Example: “En Costa Rica, los ticos beben la cerveza Imperial.” - In Costa Rica, the locals drink Imperial Beer. - Mae (mah-eh): Equivalent to a gender-neutral “dude” or “guy/gal.”
Example: “Ese mae siempre usa un gorro rojo.” - That dude always wears a red hat. - Buena nota (BWEH-nah NO-tah): Used for ‘good people’, to say that someone is nice.
Example: “Qué buena nota es ese mae.” - That guy is really nice. - Güila (GWEE-lah): A term similar to “kid,” used to refer to a young person, typically a child or a teenager, in a friendly or affectionate manner. Sometimes, used very informally to refer to one’s girlfriend.
Example: “Esa güila apenas tiene diez años.” - That kid is only ten years old.
Out-and-About Phrases
- Guaro (GWAR-oh): Technically, a term for alcohol made from sugar cane, but it can also be used to refer to any kind of alcohol, kind of like the word “booze” in English.
Example: “Quiero tomar guaro hoy” - I want to drink some booze today. - Zarpe (SAR-peh): The “last” drink–though often not the last! It's quite common, and often joked about, to order multiple “zarpes” in an evening).
Example: “Echemos el zarpe, para ya irnos.” - Let's have our last drink before we leave. - Tapis (TAH-peas): Drunk.
Example: “Mae, estoy tapis.” - Dude, I'm drunk. - Goma (GOH-mah): Literally, glue, but used to say you have a hangover.
Example: “Después de la fiesta, tenía mucha goma.” - I had a big hangover after the party. - Soda (SOH-dah): A local Costa Rican eatery.
Example: “Vamos a la soda” - Let's go to the diner. - Michelada (mee-cheh-LAH-dah): A refreshing beer cocktail. It is composed of fresh lime juice, traditional beer, and salt around the rim of the glass and can be ordered practically anywhere!
Example: “Con este calor, una michelada estaría perfecta” - In this heat, a michelada would be perfect.
… And More!
- Vara (VAH-rah): A thingamajig. This is a term you use when you can’t remember what something is called.
Example: “¿Qué era esa vara que usted usaba para cocinar huevos?” - What was that thingamajig you used to cook eggs? - Chunche (CHOON-tcheh): Stuff or things. Like ‘vara’, you can use “chunche” for anything you can't find a name for right away.
Example: “Este chunche no me sirve.” - This thing isn't working. - Suave un toque (SWAH-veh oon TOH-keh): Hold on a second, take it easy, give me a second.
Example: “Suave un toque, casi estoy listo” - Hold on a second, I'm almost ready. - Chinear (chee-neh-ARE): To spoil, pamper, or “baby” someone.
Example: “El marido chineado” - The spoiled husband. - ¡Upe! (OOP-eh): Used to get someone’s attention. Often used when you are knocking on someone’s door, to make your presence known.
Example: “¡Upe! ¿Hay alguien en casa?” - Hello! Is anyone home? - Mejenga (meh-HENG-ah): Street soccer.
Example: “Juguemos una mejenga en la noche.” - Let’s play soccer tonight. - ¡Diay! (DEE-eye): A very common expression used as a filler word (like well, so, or ummm), but can also be used to express surprise (like oh my God, wow, etc). The meaning changes depending on the tone and intonation. It is often shortened to “di” (dee) and sometimes said like “diey” (DEE-ay).
Example: “¡Diay! ¿En serio ganaste la lotería?” - Wow! You really won the lottery? - ¡Al chile! (all CHEE-leh): An informal way to say “seriously.”
Example: “Al chile, eso nunca me ha pasado.” - Seriously, that's never happened to me. - Qué pereza (keh peh-REH-sah): Used to express laziness or annoyance, like ‘what a pain’ in English.
Example: “Qué pereza limpiar la casa un domingo” - Cleaning the house on a Sunday is such a pain. - Hablar paja (ah-BLAHR PAH-hah): Talking nonsense, rubbish. This is a term used to refer to someone who is saying things that are not serious, meaningful, or perhaps not true. Essentially, idle or frivolous talk.
Example: “Deje de hablar paja” - Stop talking nonsense. - Salado (sah-LAH-doh): Used to describe a stroke of bad luck or an unfortunate situation. Literally, it translates to “salty.”
Example: “Salí salado, perdí mi cartera hoy” - I had bad luck, I lost my wallet today. - Qué torta (keh TOR-tah): “What a mess.” It expresses trouble.
Example: “Qué torta armamos en la cocina” - What a mess we made in the kitchen. - Agüevado (ah-gweh-VAH-doh): A term used to describe when you are feeling sad or depressed.
Example: “Me siento agüevado después de esa película triste” - I feel down after that sad movie. - Manda güevo (MAHN-dah GWEH-voh): Used like “c’mon!”
Example: “Manda güevo, ¡otra vez llegamos tarde!” - C’mon, we’re late again!? - Necio (NEH-syo): Someone being very persistent and/or annoying.
Example: “¡Deje de ser tan necio!”- Stop being so annoying! - Bomba (BOM-bah): Costa Rican for “gas station.” Often, sodas and bombas are located very near to one another!
Example: “Necesito ir a la bomba. No tengo gasolina.” — I need to go to the gas station. I don’t have any gas. - ¡Qué jeta! (keh HEH-tah): Most commonly used to mean something like “Yeah, right!”, “No way!” or “Wow.” “Wow” is probably the closest equivalent, since you can also use inflection and context to give it different meanings. It’s often used to express disbelief at something that sounds like or is an exaggeration.
Example: “¿Ganaste el concurso? ¡
Basic Spanish for Travelers
Here are some basic phrases to start you off right, while you build up the confidence to start using the slang words:
- Buenos días (boo-EHN-ohs DEE-as): Good morning, good day.
- Buenas noches (boo-EHN-as NO-chess): Good night, good evening.
- ¿Me puede prestar el baño? (meh poo-EH-deh preh-STAR ell BAH-ño): Can I use your bathroom?
- Muchas gracias (MOO-tchas GRAH-see-as): Thank you
- Con mucho gusto (con MOO-tchoh GOOSE-toh): You're welcome
- ¿Cómo está? (COME-oh ess-TAH): How are you?
- ¿Me podría ayudar? (meh poh-DREE-ah ah-you-DAHR): Can you help me?
- Disculpe (dees-COOL-peh): Excuse me.
- ¿Cuánto es? (KWAN-toh ess): How much is it?
- No hablo Español muy bien (no AH-bloh ess-pah-ÑOL moo-ee bee-EHN): I don’t speak Spanish very well.
- ¿Habla Inglés? (AH-blah een-GLEHS): Do you speak English?
Cultural and Linguistic Sensitivities to Avoid
When it comes to slang, it's all about timing and trust: most slang words are used in confidence with close friends. Remember, context is key. While some phrases like “Pura Vida” are universally accepted, others might be better reserved for closer relationships. For example, words like “mae” or “güila” might not go over well with everyone. So, here's the deal: pay attention to how people around you talk. In short, when in doubt, listen first, then talk. It's all about fitting in without stepping on any toes. Embrace the lingo, but do it wisely!
Pura Vida: Linguistic Diversity of Costa Rica
We've had a great time exploring Costa Rica's slang, haven't we? Now that you know these cool phrases, it's time to use them! Chat with locals, order food, make friends, and try throwing in some of this slang. It'll make your conversations more fun and help you feel more connected to the place and its people. Remember: talking and connecting with others is what makes a trip special. Every Pura Vida you say—every Qué chiva—is getting you closer to the real Costa Rica.
Don't worry about getting it perfect. It's okay to make mistakes—that's part of the fun. Talk, laugh, make mistakes, and talk some more. This is what Pura Vida is all about: enjoying life, being happy, and sharing it with others.
So, when you visit, try to use these new words when you talk to people in Costa Rica. Go ahead, talk like the locals, and see how your trip becomes even more exciting. Embrace these expressions to truly connect with the Costa Rican way of life. ¡Pura Vida!
