9 Spanish words that make Ticos smile
For guests · · 3 min read
You can get through a week on this coast in English. Plenty of people do. But a handful of words, said badly and with a smile, changes how the whole trip feels. Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos, and these are words they use every day.
The nine
Pura vida. Literally, pure life. It means hello, goodbye, thank you, no problem and all is well. If you learn one thing, learn this.
Buenas. The all-purpose greeting, short for good morning, good afternoon and good evening. Say it when you walk into a shop, pass someone on a path or get into a taxi. Walking in without a greeting comes across as cold.
Con gusto. With pleasure. It is what Ticos say where other Spanish speakers say de nada, and you will hear it after every gracias.
Upe. What you call out at someone's gate or front door instead of knocking.
Soda. Not a drink: a small family restaurant serving home cooking at local prices.
Casado. The lunch plate at a soda: rice, beans, salad, plantain and a choice of meat, fish or egg. The word means married.
Mae. Mate, or dude. You will hear it in every sentence between friends. Understand it; you do not have to use it.
Tuanis. Cool, great. Good things are tuanis.
La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please. In Costa Rica the bill is not brought until you ask for it, so without this phrase you can wait a long time.
Three that solve problems
¿Cuánto cuesta? How much is it? No entiendo: I do not understand. And ¿me ayuda, por favor? Can you help me, please? Costa Ricans mostly address each other as usted, the polite form, so the polite version is always the right one.
Why bother
Because the effort is what counts. Nobody expects grammar. A buenas at the door and a con gusto in reply open more doors here than any guidebook.
Frequently asked questions
- Do people speak English in Uvita?
- Many people who work with visitors do, and you can manage in English. In sodas, small shops and with taxi drivers, a few words of Spanish help a great deal.
- What does pura vida mean?
- Literally, pure life. Costa Ricans use it as a greeting, a goodbye, a thank you and a way of saying all is well.
- What is a soda in Costa Rica?
- A small, usually family-run restaurant serving traditional home cooking. The classic order is a casado: rice, beans, salad, plantain and meat, fish or egg.
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