| 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