So you think you can speak Spanish? Then why can’t you understand half the things that Ticos are saying? At some point you might even start asking yourself, does Costa Rica speak Spanish?

Lol!

Well, that’s because half of what Ticos say isn’t Spanish, it’s Pachuco — Costa Rican slang. Some of the phrases have literal translations that seemingly have nothing to do with the slang meaning while others just leave you scratching your head. 

Thus, officially the language of Costa Rica is Spanish. But to truly talk like a Tico you’ll have to learn Costa Rican Spanish slang, which can almost feel like a whole other language in itself.

Let’s dive in a learn a few common Costa Rican Spanish phrases that you can use to impress the locals when you come to visit!

A Medio Palo

At half stick

To leave something without finishing it

Bajarle los humos

To bring down the smoke

To disappoint or demotivate someone

Cagarse de la risa

Poop yourself laughing

Laugh very hard at something

Cada muerte de obispo

Every time a bishop dies

Every once in a great while

Comerse a una person

To eat a person

Talk bad about somebody

Como está el arroz

How is the rice?

What is the situation?

Como las vacas

Like the cows

To be completely confused/not understand anything

Echarse el agua

To throw water on yourself

To motivate yourself to do something

Estar como una uva

To be like a grape

To feel really good

Estar como todo los diablos

To be like all the demons

To be super angry

Estar podrido/cagado en plata

To be rotten/pooped with money

To be super rich

Estar vineando

To be coming

To be paying attention to your surroundings

Estar hecho leña

To be made firewood

To be sick or feel bad, to be depressed or frustrated

Estirar la pata

To stretch the paw

To die

Feo para la foto 

ugly for the picture

A person about to get into a heap of trouble

Gallo Pinto

Painted Rooster

A delicious dish made from rice and beans, salsa Lizano, sweet chile, onions, and cilantro. It is eaten almost daily for breakfast.

Gastar cerebro

To waste the brain

To think about something

Gastar pólvora en zopilotes

To waste gunpowder on buzzards

To waste your efforts on something that will never work

Gato encerrado

A locked-up cat

Things are not what they appear to be

Hablar paja

To talk straw

Make trivial conversation

La mamá de Tarzán

Tarzan’s mother

A know-it-all, someone who believes they are smart, superior

Meter la pata

To put the paw

Make a big mistake, mess something up badly

Metiche

N/A

A person who sticks their nose where it doesn’t belong

Ni Hablar

Not to talk

Well done, perfect, looks great

Pegar el gordo

To hit the fat one

To win the lottery

Pelar las guayabas

To peel the guavas

Be alert, keep your eyes open

Sacarse el clavo

To pull the nail out of yourself

To get vengeance for something

Ser (o tener) chispa

To be (or have) a spark

To be intelligent or have good ideas

Sin un cinco

Without a five

Flat broke, has no money left

Teja

Roof tile

100 colones, the type of money used in Costa Rica

A Vibrant Culture and Language

Language is always evolving. That’s why you can go to different areas or countries and you’ll find that they use different words. 

There are over 500 million Spanish-speaking people in the world. Many of them, like Costa Ricans, have their own rich heritage and culture that has little to do with Spain — other than the fact that they borrowed their language. 

I can tell you from personal experience that you experience the culture of an area differently when you can speak the language. So if you’re looking to master Spanish on your trip to Costa Rica, I suggest you chat with my friends over at Manuel Antonio Spanish School. Not only will you learn Spanish but also you’ll get a unique look at the culture as you are immersed in it. 

For the rest of you, I hope you enjoyed this list of Costa Rican Spanish phrases. Check back often as I plan to keep updating it! 

And if you’re on the lookout for unique Costa Rican souvenirs, be sure to take a spin around my souvenir shop!

Until next time…

Cara