Sidebar #40 - Costarriqueñismos

This sidebar is a little different, I like to joke that although I majored in Spanish in college, speaking “Tico” is a different language for me. So, for this blog, I’m simply going to share a few of my favorite words and phrases that are unique and ubiquitous in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida = “Pure Life”, “Great”, “Whatever”, “All Good”, etc


Si Dios Quiere = “If God wants it”, usually means “Yes” or “Maybe”


Gracias a Dios = “Thank God”


Por Dicha/Que Dicha = Luckily/Thankfully/How Fortunate


¡Qué Chiva! = How cool!


Tuanis = Awesome/Cool


Mae = Bro/Dude


Tico/Tica = Costa Rican


Chepe = San José 


Mejenga = Informal soccer game


Yodo = coffee


Chunche = thing


Pila = sink


Choza = house


¿Cómo amaneció? = “How did you dawn?”, Good Morning


¡Qué vacilón! - How funny!


There are a bunch more - several inappropriate for a public-facing blog, but this list would be a great starter set to try out the next time you’re in Costa Rica!

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