Ticos, as Costa Ricans are known, go beyond a PURA VIDA in their daily talk. Within the most used words of the ticos we can hear some like "mae", "que tuanis" and "compa", and even expressions like "que rajado" and “que me dice".
Costa Rica besides being an ecotourism destination worldwide, is also identified by the peculiar PURA VIDA. This expression means as many things as we can imagine. Even so, ticos have a variety of words or phrases with which they refer to everyday things, emotions, and ways of being. Ticos are what they themselves define as "dicharacheros" a kind of talkative. They use lots of nicknames and popular non-official words. Most of these words only the ticos can understand. Within a common conversation of a tico, can be heard phrases or words used to call objects or ways to describe situations.
The Costa Ricans or Ticos are known to be friendly people, but also talkative. When you visit Costa Rica you will observe and listen to use words to call people or things in diminutive.
It is posible to hear words like “el parquecito” means little park, “la ranita” means little frog, “el chiquito” means child, “el perrito” means little dog or puppy, and many more.
Traveling is to meet people and cultures. Costa Rica is a destination where is easy to exchange culture experiences. The travelers could be part of the daily life very quickly because Costa Rican people are so friendly and warm with their visitors. Besides its nature flora and fauna, Costa Rica has a cultural wealth, based on its people and its history.
Some of the most popular and colloquial words and phrases a tourist can hear are,
Acharita: indicates sadness
Más agarrado que mono en ventolero: selfish person, stingy person
Que aguevado: boring person, something is boring
Amarrar el perro: don´t pay debts
Aplanchar la oreja: go to bed, go to sleep
Ando a pata: don´t have car so must walk
Troliada: walk a lot, many kilometers
Yodo: coffee
Tiene cachos nuevos: have new shoes
Se armó la gorda: a fight starts
Carne molida: person who makes many mistakes
Chunche: anything, a book is a “chunche”, a spoon is a “chunche”
Colgar los tenis: to die
Que tuanis: nice, wonderful, awesome
Those words are a few examples what a traveler can expect in a trip around Costa Rica. This is part of the essence of ticos and show their good sense of humor.
Now you know, when you visit Costa Rica do not lose an afternoon in the park of the town. You will be surprised!
If you’re looking for a trip that won’t break the bank, then consider an affordable family vacation in Costa Rica. You can experience adventures for all ages when you bring your family to Costa Rica.
Guanacaste is the perfect combination of beautiful beaches, National Parks with great diversity of flora and fauna, and its folklore that delights in every celebration its visitors and residents.
Tortuguero National Park is a paradise for research and ecotourism. It is possible to observe three of the five sea turtles species of Costa Rica, as the Green, Leatherback, and Loggerhead turtles.
