Costa Rican Spanish
“Pura vida” literally means “pure life” — but in Costa Rica it's a hello, a goodbye, a thank-you, and a whole way of looking at the world. Here are the expressions you'll actually hear on the street, at the beach, and in the soda, with pronunciation and real examples.
Costa Rica's signature expression. It works as hello, goodbye, thank you, you're welcome, and “all is well”. Tone decides the meaning — it's more a feeling than a phrase.
—¿Cómo estás? —¡Pura vida!
—How are you? —Couldn't be better!
The Tico way to say “dude” or “bro”. Friends use it constantly. It's casual — save it for people your age or younger, never for formal situations.
Mae, ¿vamos a la playa?
Dude, are we going to the beach?
Cool, great, nice. If something is tuanis, it's good. You'll hear it everywhere from surf shops to sodas (local diners).
¡Qué tuanis ese lugar!
What a cool place!
“What's up?” — the greeting you'll hear among friends. Variations include “¿Qué es la vara?” (“What's the thing?”).
¿Qué micha, mae? ¿Todo bien?
What's up, dude? All good?
Not a drink — a small family-run restaurant serving casados (rice, beans, plantains, salad, and a protein) at local prices. Eating at sodas is how you eat like a Tico.
Almuerzo en la soda de la esquina.
Lunch at the little diner on the corner.
The classic Costa Rican lunch plate: rice, beans, sweet plantains, salad, and your choice of chicken, beef, fish, or pork. The name jokes that it's what a married man eats at home.
Me da un casado con pescado, por favor.
I'll have a casado with fish, please.
What Costa Ricans proudly call themselves. It comes from their habit of adding “-tico” as a diminutive — “un poquitico” instead of “un poquito”.
Los ticos son muy amables.
Costa Ricans are very kind.
The warm Tico way to say “you're welcome” — and also how people accept an offer. Much friendlier than the standard “de nada”.
—Gracias por todo. —¡Con mucho gusto!
—Thanks for everything. —My pleasure!
The polite local way to ask for something in shops and restaurants. Nobody expects a gift — it just sounds softer than “give me”.
¿Me regala la cuenta, por favor?
Could I have the check, please?
An all-purpose filler meaning “well…”, “so…”, or “huh”. Ticos drop it at the start of sentences when thinking or mildly surprised.
Diay, no sé qué decirte.
Well, I don't know what to tell you.
To pamper or spoil someone with affection — a very Costa Rican word. A grandmother chinea her grandchildren; a host chinea their guests.
Mi abuela siempre me chinea con café y pan.
My grandma always spoils me with coffee and bread.
To leave or go. “Jalamos” means “let's get out of here”. You'll hear “¡Jalá!” when someone heads home.
Ya es tarde, mejor jalamos.
It's late, we'd better head out.