When visiting Costa Rica, you may overhear locals using Spanish words which you may have never heard in other Spanish countries. Common words such as “pulperia,” “Tico” and “pura vida” may confuse people who are learning Spanish and even some native Spanish speaking people. We at Tips for Costa Rica have compiled a list of the top 9 Costa Rican slang words to help you on your visit.
1. Pulperia: (Pool-pa-ree-a) A Pulperia is a small corner store, usually family run which sells basic food items and occasionally items one would expect to find at a bazaar. There are thousands across the country, and they are in close proximity to all major tourist areas, cities, small towns and even in most rural areas.
2. Tico/Tica: (Tee-ko, Tee-ka) A Tico or Tica is another name for a Costa Rican born male of female (respectively). This term is ONLY used to refer to a person born in Costa Rica, not Spanish countries in general.
3. Tuanis: (Twan-ees) A slang word for “cool” or “neat,” Costa Ricans use this word quite often without realizing it.
4. Que Chiva: (Kay-Chee-Ba) Similar to “tuanis,” “que chiva” is used as a slang word for “how cool” or similar words.
5. Mae: (My) Usually translated as “buddy” or “man,” this word is often used to start or end sentences. “¡Pura Vida Mae!”
6. Pura Vida: (Poo-ra Vee-da) As Costa Rica’s official slogan, tourists may hear this term very often. Directly translated it means “pure life,” although Costa Ricans use it in a plethora of different contexts. For example, locals use it to replace the word goodbye, you’re welcome, and thank you. It is also a common response to many questions (for example “how are you?” or “how was your day?”) and it translates to “awesome” or “great.”
7. Rojo: (Ro-ho) A rojo in Costa Rica is another word for a 1000 colones bill. Rojo (meaning red) is the color of the bill, hence the name. If you are at the pulperia and they tell you the cost of your items is “dos rojos,” your cost is 2000 colones.
8. Teja: (Te-ha) A teja is a 100 colones coin. For example if you purchase an ice cream at the pulperia and the cost is “tres tejas,” you need to give them three hundred colones.
9. Toucan: (Two-can) A 5,000 colones bill is also called a “tucan” as there is a picture of a toucan on the bill.
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