Speaking Spanish in Costa Rica!

While travelling in Costa Rica you no doubt will find yourself engaged in conversations with the locals at some point. The 'Tico' language or Pachuco can differ quite a bit from standard Spanish, and therefore, to avoid misunderstandings....please have a look at the list below! Armed with this vocabulary you hopefully will enjoy your stay in paradise even more!

Have fun and good luck!  

Ahorita:
Between now and never

Birra:
Beer

Bomba:
Gas station

Brete:
Work, job. Example: Estoy ahora en el brete.

Casado:
Typical plate in Costa Rica, menu of the day. Also: Married!

Chepe:
San José

Chunche:
Thing

Cien metros:
One city block

Diay:
Popular expression with broad meaning. It is the most used tiquismo. It can be used as a greeting, as a critic, but also as a pues, or bueno.... The best way to understand it, is by looking at the following examples for its application:

In a conversation:

Juan: Diay!, pura vida!!!

Luis: Todo bien. Y vos?

Juan: Diay, mas o menos...

Luis: Diay..y por que mas o menos?

Juan: Diay, no ve que me puse a jugar de vivo en la fiesta de mí hermano y diay,
me golpearon y aca voy donde el doctor porque no aguanto el dolor.
Luis: Diay, quién te tiene jugando de vivo!!!

Echarse un trago:
Take an alcoholic drink

Fiestero:
Person that likes to go out and party a lot

Fría:
A cold beer

Gallo Pinto:
Typical plate containing rice, beans and herbs. You can eat it at any time of the day; however it is eaten most commonly as breakfast with eggs.

Gringo(a) :
Western looking boy or girl; literally (American)

Guachiman:
Guard, man or woman, that looks after cars in the street or after houses in a neighbourhood

Guaro:
Typical alcoholic drink made of sugar cane

Jale or Hale:
It means the same as 'vamos'; it is a request to accompany someone. On the contrary, it also means that you should go, that they don't want you there. To make sure in which sense they are using the expression, listen to the tone of voice of the one speaking to you.

Juepucha!:
What a barbarity!

Jupa:
Head. Example: me duele la jupa.

Maje/Mae:
1) man
2) woman (more often used amongst young men)

Macho(a):
Boy or girl with blond hair (with Western appearances)

Pulper?a:
Little store where they sell food, drinks and other day- to-day use articles

Pura vida:
1)super, very good (literally pure life, used every second phrase), 2) OK

Qué dicha!:
That is nice!

Que vaina!:
What a pity

Soda:
Little store where you can drink something or eat a snack or meal (casado)

Tuanis:
Cool!