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English Costa Rican Spanish Dictionary

PHRASES
The ATM ate my card! ¡El cajero automático se comió mi tarjeta!
When does it open? ¿A qué hora abre?
When does it close? ¿A qué hora cierra?
What is the exchange rate? ¿Cómo es el tipo de cambio?
What is the commission? ¿Cuál es la comisión?
How much do you charge? ¿Cuánto cobra?
How much does ___ cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta ___?
Where should I sign? ¿Dónde firmo?
Where can I exchange traveler checks? ¿Dónde puedo cambiar cheques de viajero?
Where can I exchange money? ¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero?
I am looking for (Could you please help me find…) a bank Estoy buscando un banco (por favor)
I am looking for (Could you please help me find…) an ATM. Estoy buscando un cajero automático (por favor).
I want to exchange traveler checks. Quiero cambiar cheques de viajero.
I want to exchange money. Quiero cambiar dinero.
I would like some change (coins). Quisiera unas monedas.
Is there room for my car? ¿Habrá espacio para mí carro?
Where is the restroom? ¿Dónde está el baño?
Which way to immigration? ¿Qué camino a la migración?
Where is baggage claim? ¿Dónde está reclamo de equipaje?
I am a tourist Soy un turista
I have nothing to declare No tengo nada que declarar
Where are the official taxis? ¿Dónde están los taxis oficiales?
I would like to go to ____ please Me gustaría ir a ____ por favor
I don’t need a taxi, thank you No necesito un taxi, gracias
My driver is waiting Mi chofer está a la espera
I cannot locate my driver No puedo localizar a mi chofer
WORDS
English Spanish
acid guava cas Costa Rican acidic guava, small and tart but remarkably refreshing with sugar and ice in a refresco.
ackee ackee Small pink-skinned fruit of Jamaican origin
anchors anclajes rock climbing
apple manzana Apples are a traditional Christmas treat, and most of what you find in Costa Rica have been imported from the United States.
ATM cajero automático automatic teller machine
avenue avenida Avenues run east/west in Costa Rica. Odd numbers are north of Avenida Central, even numbers are south.
avocado aguacate
banana banano
banana plátano
beans and rice gallo pinto Literally painted/spotted rooster. Black beans and white rice are cooked together with a hint of onion, red pepper, cilantro and broth to create this ubiquitous national dish. Along the Caribbean coast, coconut milk is sometimes added.
beef soup olla de carne Literally pot of meat. A rich soup of beef stock with yuca (root), chayote (squash), ayote (pumpkin family), and other more familiar vegetables.
beer cerveza There are several respectable lagers brewed in Costa Rica. The most popular is Imperial (una águila, after the eagle on the label), followed closely by Pilsen, Bavaria, Tropical and Heineken (brewed locally under license). Rock Ice is a newcomer gaining popularity with an extra two-tenths of a percent alcohol content. Especially in Guanacaste a tall glass of ice often accompanies the bottle, and yes, you are supposed to pour the beer in the glass. These brews are priced from $0.75 to $3.00US depending on where you are drinking. Imported beers are available in most upscale hotel and resort bars, casinos and restaurants.
below abajo
black bean soup sopa negra Black beans and chicken stock are the base for this rich soup which often contains a hard-boiled egg. In Guanacaste, you may find it in the spicier Cuban version.
black pepper pimienta negra
blackberry mora
bribe chorizo Also mordida.
bribe mordida Also chorizo.
cancel (to) cancelar One usage of this cognate is the reverse of what you may be used to. When paying a bill, the paperwork will be stamped with a flourish and the enthusiastic announcement -¡está cancelada!- Not to worry. This means that the debt has been canceled, not your prepaid tour reservation or the repair work to get your rental car back on the road.
cantaloupe melón
cashew fruit marañón
Central Plateau Meseta Central Refers specifically to the geographic region around San José.
Central Valley Valle Central Refers specifically to the geographic region around San José
cents centimos one hundredth of a colon (no longer in use as currency)
ceviche ceviche Seafood (corvina-sea bass, conchas-shellfish, langostinos or camarones-small lobster or shrimp) marinated with lime or lemon, onion, garlic, cilantro (coriander leaves) and red peppers and served ice cold. Although we have never experienced any intestinal difficulties ceviche is raw, and seafood (especially shellfish) can be a source of several nasty bacteria. Corvina is more common, and generally safer than the other varieties.
chalk magnesio rock climbing
chan chan Naturale made from seeds that look like frog eggs and taste little like really sweet iced tea
cheap barato, barata inexpensive
cherry cereza
Christmas bonus aguinaldo
Civil Guard Guardia Civil a civilian controlled national police force
clams ostiones
climbing gym gimnasio de escalada
climbing walls paredes
coconut coco
coconut water pipa The water in the center of a young coconut. Most often drunk with a straw from a plastic bag or straight out of the shell. Found at stands along the road or beach.
coffee café If you enjoy coffee, you are aware that Costa Rica produces some of the finest high-altitude shade grown coffee in the world.
coffee and cream liqueur Café Rica Similar to Mexican Kalhlúa. The same distillery produces an undrinkable sugary orange flavored concoction that makes excellent ice cream topping.
coffemaker chorreador Traditional coffee making apparatus consisting of a wooden frame, cloth filter, and stainless steel pot.
coins menudo pocket change
colón caña slang for the unit of Costa Rican currency
colón peso slang for the unit of Costa Rican currency
colón colón Costa Rica’s unit of currency.
commercial moonshine guaro Greece has its ouzo, Louisiana white lightning , and Mexico mescalalcoholic beverages that seem to have stupefying capabilities beyond their proof and an aftermath beyond imagination. In Costa Rica it is guaro. Distilled from fermented cane juice it costs about $0.40 for a generous shot and is available in bulk from some establishments if you want to fill your canteen. It can be rendered drinkable by the addition of cola or fruit juice, and if you keep the average juice content high enough the natural antioxidants and vitamins might even trim a little of the edge off of the inevitable hangover.
convenience store pulpería A corner store that often doubles as an informal tavern. The term tienda is more common in other Latin American countries and sometimes seen in Costa Rica.
convenience store tienda A corner store that often doubles as an informal tavern. The term pulpería is more common in Costa Rica.
corn beer chicha A beverage fermented from corn, commonly found at fiestas in Guanacaste and Nicoya.
corn on the cob elote Best when charcoal roasted (elote asado), but also found boiled (elote cocinado).
corn pancakes chorreados Usually accompanied by natilla (sour cream) and commonly sold by vendors at fiestas and other events.
corn pancakes pupusas Similar to chorreados, but with the El Salvadoran inspired addition of cheese.
Costa Rican Tico Much more common than the formal Costarisense.
Costa Rican Tica Much more common than the formal Costarisense.
Costa Rican Cititzen Costaricense Tico/Tica is much more common than this formal term.
costal reedbed carrizal litoral Composed of reeds, sedges, and rushes common where water is brackish and flooding is seasonal
cowboy sabanero
crab cangrejo
credit card tarjeta de crédito
currency exchange (exchange rate-tipo de cambio) cambio
currency exchange rate (exchange-cambio) tipo de cambio
custard apple anona
debit card tarjeta débito
debt jarana
deserts postres
dictator caudillo
dollar U.S. dolár
downpour aguacero
drink bebida
driving license carnet
drizzle, light rain temporal especially associated with winter storms of the Atlantic
drizzling rain garua
dulces sweets
embrace abrazo Greeting, embrace with a pat on the back or grasped forearms, usually between close male friends.
eskimo roll esquimo roll kayaking
expeditor tramitador A local often a youth who knows the ropes and will speed your transactions through the system and wait in line while you enjoy a leisurely lunch. Sometimes unofficially required at border crossings.
expensive caro, cara
fig higo
fish pescado This is the term that is used for fish on a menu or in the market. Live fish are el pez.
ford vano Crossing a river or estuary in a vehicle without benefit of a bridge
freshwater swamp pantano herbaceo Composed of grasses, sedges, and herbs (good examples along the Río Sierpe and the northeast Atlantic side)
fruit drink batido Also called refrescos, or naturales, refreshing blenderized shakes. Refrescos can be made con agua (with water) or con leche (with milk). In addition to most fruits, refrescos are made with cas (acid guava), horchata (cinnamon corn meal), zanahoria (carrots), tamarindo (tamarind) and cebada (barley).
fruit drink naturale Sometimes called batidos, or refrescos refreshing blenderized shakes. Naturales can be made con agua (with water) or con leche (with milk). In addition to most fruits, refrescos are made with cas (acid guava), horchata (cinnamon corn meal), zanahoria (carrots), tamarindo (tamarind) and cebada (barley).
fruit drink refresco Sometimes called batidos, or naturales refreshing blenderized shakes. Refrescos can be made con agua (with water) or con leche (with milk). In addition to most fruits, refrescos are made with cas (acid guava), horchata (cinnamon corn meal), zanahoria (carrots), tamarindo (tamarind) and cebada (barley).
fruits frutas
garlic ajo
gear equipo
give me regala me Regala me una cerveca por favor, literally-give me a gift of a beer please.
grape uva
greedy platero money hungry person
Gringo gulch Gringo gulch The area around the low odd numbered calles and avenidas in downtown San José
guaba guaba The white pulpy flesh that coats the seeds inside and elongated fruit pod of the Inga tree.
guava guayaba
harness arnes rock climbing, canopy tours
heart of palm palmito An 18-foot (5 meter) pejibaye palm tree (Bactris gasipaes) yields a 4 foot by 1 inch (120cm by 2.5cm) heart, about enough to fill a dozen cans.
heart of palm salad ensalada palmito
helmet casco for kayaking, canopy tours or biking
hold agarres rock climbing
hole hueco kayaking
ice hielo
ice cream cone. cono
ice cream. helado
identification identificación other identification-otra identificación, driving license-el carnet
iguana gallina de pallo Literally chicken of the tree, no not tuna that climbs, but an iguana. The reference is because, what else…they taste like chicken.
insufficient funds los fondos insuficientes
ketchup salsa de tomate typically very sweet
knots nudos
lemon limón There are dozens of varieties of citrus that take the moniker limón. The familiar yellow oblong, green ones that look just like limes but have a distinct flavor, the ones the size of large grapes with bright orange flesh are often squeezed into cerveza and the large warty limón dulce which are best as lemonade.
life guard guardaviva
life jacket chaleco
lime lima
little summer veranillo Also veranillo de San Juan, relatively dry period in July and/or August in the northern Pacific.
lobster langosta
mamone mamone These resemble small limes, crack like eggs, have flesh like grapes and a seed like an almond.
mango mango two varieties are common. The smaller are masculinemangos and the larger femininemangas.
mangrove swamp manglar
marsh marisma Composed of salt tolerant plants.
mass turtle nesting arribada Also known locally as salida de flota.
mayonnaise mayonesa
mist, misty rain pelo de gato literally cat fur
money dinero
money (slang) harina
money (slang) plata
mountain range cordillera e.g. Cordillera Central to the east and south of San José
mountaineering montañismo
mustard mostaza
nice person wicho
North American Gringo
nuts nuez
octopus pulpo
orange naranja It may be a unique experience for you to pluck an orange from the tree, but be careful the ones in front of your hotel are often ornamental varieties that are better not eaten.
Organization of Judicial Investigation OIJ The police force arm of the Supreme Court, like the U.S. F.B.I.
out of order fuera del servicio
paddle remo kayak, canoe, raft
palm kernel pejibaye Golf ball sized yellow to red fruits that grow in large clusters on the pejibaye palm tree (Bactris gasipaes). The fruit is boiled and the starchy nutty flesh eaten cold.
papaya papaya There are two main varieties of papaya in Costa Rica: the smaller, round, yellow amarilla, and the oblong, red-orange cacho.
passion fruit granadilla aka maracuya
passion fruit maracuya aka granadilla
passport pasaporte
peanut maní
pear pera
pensioner pensionado Retiree
permenant resident pensionado rentista Permanent resident status in Costa Rica, pre-retirement requires proof of $1,000 per month income.
permenant resident rentista inversionista Permanent resident status in Costa Rica, based on an investment of $50k in an approved tourism or export business, $100k in reforestation, or $200k in any other type of business.
permenant resident residente pensionado Permanent resident status in Costa Rica, based on having a pension of $600 or more per month.
phone card tarjeta de teléfono
pineapple piña
plains llanura
plantain patacones Sliced thin and deep fried. A common Caribbean side dish.
popcorn pálomitas de maíz
potato snack gallo de papas Spiced potatoes wrapped in a tortilla
pothole hueco
pulleys poleas rock climbing, canopy tours
put-in entrada del río kayaking
raisin pasa
raspberry frambuesa
reciept recibo
residency papers cédula
rice and chicken arroz con pollo If it were Chinese it would be chicken fried rice. Shredded or chopped chicken fried with rice and a variety of chopped vegetables.
rice and shredded beef arroz con carne see arroz con pollo
rice and shredded pork arroz con cerdo see arroz con pollo
rice and shrimp arroz con camarones see arroz con pollo
rock climbing escalada
roof racks barras aka canastas-kayak, bike rack
roof racks (kayak, bike) canastas aka barras-kayak, bike rack
rude or ill behaved mal educado literally, poorly educated
S.P. S.A. (sociedad anónima con acciones al portador) Anonymous society with stocks owned by the bearer. This is the abbreviation you often see in place of Inc. or Ltd. in the name of Costa Rican companies. It is a company that is fully owned by the anonymous holder of the paper stock certificates.
salad ensalada
salad ensalada ruso Similar to coleslaw but the vegetables may vary from cabbage and carrots.
Salsa Lizano Salsa Lizano Secret ingredients make up this addictive bottled sauce. Its availability in the duty free shops at the international airport is a testament to its unique delicious character. Have you ever seen ketchup displayed between the Gucci and Sony cases?
salt sal
sapodilla plum sapodilla Fruit of the Achras zapota tree, rough brownish skin and very sweet brownish pulp.
sapodilla plum sapota Fruit of the Achras zapota tree, rough brownish skin and very sweet brownish pulp.
savory pastries enchilada Usually stuffed with meat, potatoes, cheese, and/or beans.
sea bass corvina
seafoods mariscos Costa Rica, the “rich coast” was named with expectations of deposits of gold and silver. The mineral riches are minimal, but the two coasts support a thriving fishing industry harvesting the riches of the Caribbean and Pacific. Most of the riches are exported, and prices reflect the value at the Fulton St. markets in NYC. Excellent seafood is common but more costly than other meals.
set meal casado Literally married man. This refers to a set meal that usually includes some combination of rice, black beans, plantain, cabbage, salad, and meat. For example a casado pollo frito might be one large or two small pieces of fried chicken, a small salad of tomatoes and palmitos and a side of rice and beans.
severe earthquake terremotos tremblor
shrimp camarone
signature firma
small earthquake temblores tremblor
snack boca The one word translation while apt, falls short of a full description. Bocas are a cultural item as much as a food item.
snack gallo
snacks boquitas see boca
snapper pargo
snatch theives chapulines Literally grasshoppers. Used colloquially to describe groups of kids who swarm over an unsuspecting adult to distract or unbalance them while one snatches jewelry and wallets.
soursop guanábana Large dark green fruit with fleshy spines covering white flesh.
spray skirt en agua kayaking
squatter precaista
star fruit carambeloa
strawberry fresa
street calle Streets run north south in Costa Rica. Odd numbers are east of Calle Central, even numbers are west.
sugar azucar
summer verano December to May in Costa Rica
swamp carrizal Freshwater tule swamps of bullrushes and reeds ~ 1 meter high (best example at Palo Verde).
swamp forest mezquital Unique swamp forest of acacia, prickly pear cactus, mesquite, and divi-divi just inland of the mangroves in dry northwestern Costa Rica
takeout salida del río kayaking
tamale tamale Pork, chicken or potatoes with chilies or corn folded into cornmeal and steamed in a banana leaf. A Christmas tradition.
tamarind tamarindo The sour fruit of the tamarind tree makes an excellent refresco with a little sugar.
taxi meter maría
tomorrow mañana
tortilla tortilla Corn flour dough rolled flat then fried on a dry griddle.
traffic cop trafico highway patrol
transact (to) tramitar
traveler checks cheques de viajero
tuna atún
turnover empañada Dough stuffed with meat, potatoes, cheese, and/or beans.
umbrella paragua Black umbrella carried by men (ladies carry colorful sombrillas).
umbrella sombrilla Colorful umbrella carried by ladies (men carry black paraguas)
unit of currency colón (colones, pl.)
United States citizen Yankee
up arriba
uphill cuesta arriba
vara vara Archaic unit of measure based on a long walking stride.
very small earthquake sacudidos shake-up
view, overlook mirador
watermelon sandía
wave ola
wine vin Costa Rica is not great grape country, and at least some of the few local vintages are fermented from imported grape juice or other fruits. Your best bets for a quality vintage at a reasonable price are Chilean and Argentine imports. French, German and Californian wines are available at a price.
winter invierno May to November in Costa Rica.
1,000 colones note rojo after the color (currency changed appearance in 2013 so this is pretty colloquial)
5,000 colones note tucán after the image (currency changed appearance in 2013 so this is pretty colloquial)

Dar por la nuca – Pagar mucho dinero por algo.

Dar un yeyo – Dar un bajón ( ej presión arterial)

Despapayar – Romper, caer

Cabanga – Nostalgia, tristeza

Carga – Alguien que hace cosas admirables.

Carreta – Lento

Chiva – Muy bueno

Chochosca – Dinero.

Chueca – Torcida, desviada

Chuzo – Automóvil

Colocho/a – De pelo rizado

Estar arratonado – Tener dolores musculares

Fachudo – Estar mal vestido

Ir en carreras – Ir con prisa

Jalea – Mermelada

Juega de vivo – Engreído

Majar – Pisar

Mandado – Recado

Manudo – Aficionado al equipo de fútbol La Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, más conocido como La Liga

María – Taxímetro

Mejenga – Partido de fútbol entre amigos

Morado – Aficionado al equipo de fútbol Deportivo Saprissa

No hay de piña – No hay de lo que buscas

Pepiado – Muy enamorado

Qué rajao – Expresión de asombro

Toque – Momento

Tuanis – Muy bueno

Vacilón – Gracioso, divertido

Zarpe – El último trago de la bebida

Ray & Sue

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  • Potential Health Problems
  • Discount Travel Websites
  • On Your Own
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