Language in Costa Rica
Essential Costa Rican Spanish phrases and slang (Tico Spanish).
Do I need to speak Spanish in Costa Rica?
You can get by with English in major tourist areas, but learning basic Spanish will significantly improve your experience. In rural areas and government offices, English is rarely spoken. Costa Rican Spanish ("Tico Spanish") has its own unique slang and expressions.
The Magic Word: Pura Vida
"Pura Vida" (pure life) is the quintessential Costa Rican expression. It is used as a greeting, a farewell, a way to say "thanks," "you're welcome," "everything's great," and more. Use it liberally and you will immediately connect with locals.
Greetings & Basics
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pura vida | Pure life / Everything's great / Hello / Goodbye / Thanks | POO-rah VEE-dah | The quintessential Costa Rican phrase. Used as a greeting, farewell, and expression of satisfaction. |
| Mae | Dude / Bro | MAH-eh | Extremely common informal address, similar to 'dude'. Used between friends. |
| Tuanis | Cool / Awesome | too-AH-nees | Slang for something good or cool. |
| Tico/Tica | Costa Rican man/woman | TEE-koh / TEE-kah | What Costa Ricans call themselves. |
| Con mucho gusto | With much pleasure / You're welcome | kohn MOO-choh GOO-stoh | Used instead of 'de nada'. The standard Costa Rican way to say 'you're welcome'. |
| Buena nota | Cool / Good person | BWEH-nah NOH-tah | Describes someone who is nice or something that is cool. |
| Diay | Well / So / What's up | dee-AH-ee | Filler word used constantly. Can express surprise, resignation, or start a sentence. |
| ¿Cómo amaneció? | How did you wake up? (How are you?) | KOH-moh ah-mah-neh-see-OH | Common morning greeting. |
Practical Phrases
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| La cuenta, por favor | The check, please | lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR | Asking for the bill at a restaurant. |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | KWAHN-toh KWES-tah | Essential shopping phrase. |
| ¿Dónde queda...? | Where is...? | DOHN-deh KEH-dah | Asking for directions. |
| ¡Upe! | (Announcing your presence at someone's home) | OO-peh | Said when arriving at someone's house instead of knocking. Unique to Costa Rica. |
Usted vs. Vos vs. Tu
Costa Ricans primarily use "usted" (formal you) in everyday conversation, even with friends and family. This is unusual in Latin America. "Vos" (informal you) is also used among close friends and younger people. "Tu" is understood but rarely used by Ticos. When in doubt, use "usted" — it is always polite.