Vocab
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Spanish If You're So Inclined
The people at Travel Costa Rica Now pride themselves on telling the ‘real deal,’ the way things really are; and we’re hoping you appreciate it. That said, if you’re coming here to learn Spanish, this doesn’t apply to you, if you know more Spanish than the typical beginner, this also doesn’t apply to you. If you’re backpacking around the country and will be in rural Costa Rica, this also doesn’t apply to you. This applies to the people coming over to Costa Rica for a couple weeks, hanging out at the typical tourist destinations, such as Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, or all inclusive high-end hotels, etc. You don’t need to learn ANY Spanish. Yeah, I said it, zilch, zero, nada- with the possible exception of one universal Costa Rican phrase- Pura Vida (Pure Life). You can use Pura Vida to say ‘hello,’ ‘good-bye,’ and respond in like when asked how things are going. If someone bumps into you, “Pura Vida” is still applicable. When asked if you had a good time- “Pura Vida.” When in doubt, “Pura Vida, Pura Vida, Pura Vida."
The thing is, if you learn a few basic phrases; that’s nice, but what about when they respond in Spanish. They speak quickly here, and even if you know the words, they’ll say them so fast you won’t recognize them. So you may be able to say, “¿Dónde está el banco?” but unless ‘the bank’ is in close proximity, you better learn to read hand gestures. Furthermore, in most touristy places, they normally only speak English that pertains to their particular job. At a restaurant they know the menu, but ask them what they plan on doing for the holidays….I’m sure you see what I’m saying.
And maybe the most embarrassing, you’re trying to speak your Spanish, whether you’re talking too slow, or maybe screwing the words up, they’ll switch to almost perfect English- talk about deflating.
We're glad you didn't let the above scare you off. So, here’s some good stuff to start with:
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English |
Spanish |
Pronunciation |
Useful Statements
| It is… It isn’t… I have… I don’t have… I want… I need… I like it. Ok/that’s fine I’m lost. We’re looking for… How far is it to…? from…. to…. highway street Here it is There is/are There isn't/There aren't It’s important. Don’t worry I’m not sure I don’t know I didn’t know I think so I’m hungry/thirsty I’m tired I’m ready Just a moment It’s cheap/expensive It's too much That’s all You’re right You’re wrong Thanks for your help It’s beautiful Is everything all right? It doesn’t matter With pleasure Do you speak English? I don’t speak Spanish I speak a little Spanish Please speak slowly Please write it down | Sí es… No es… Tengo… No tengo… Quiero… Necesito… Me gusta Está bien Estoy perdido Estamos buscando… ¿A cuanto está…? de…….. a…… la carretera la calle Aquí está Hay… No hay Es importante No se preocupe No estoy seguro No sé No sabía Creo que sí Tengo hambre/sed Estoy cansado Estoy listo Un momento Es barato/caro Es demasiado Es todo Tiene razón No tiene razón Muchas gracias por su ayuda Es bonito ¿Todo bien? No importa Con mucho gusto ¿Habla ingles? No hablo español Hablo un poco español Habla despacio, por favor Por favor escríbamelo | see es no es ten-go no ten-go kee-e-ro ne-es-see-to me goos-ta es-ta bee-en es-toy pair-dee-tho es-ta-mos boos-kan-do a kwan-to es-ta de a la kar-re-te-ra la ka-llye a-kee es-ta eye no eye es eem-por-tan-te no se pre-o-koo-pe no es-toy se-goo-ro no se no sa-bee-a kre-o ke see ten-go am-bre/sed es-toy kan-sa-do es-toy lees-to oon mo-men-to es ba-ra-to/ka-ro es de-ma-see-a-do Es to-do tee-e-ne ra-son no tee-e-ne ra-son moo-chas gra-see-as por soo a-yoo-da es bon-nee-to to-do bee-en no eem-por-ta kon moo-cho goos-to ab-la een-gles no ab-lo es-pan-yol ab-lo oon po-ko es-pan-yol ab-la des-pa-see-o por favor por fa-bor es-kree-ba-me-lo |
Emergencies/Health
| Help! Fire! I’ve been robbed. Go Away! Get Lost! Call…! the police a doctor an ambulance It’s an emergency. Can you help me? Where are the toilet? I’m sick. I need a doctor. Where’s the hospital? I’m pregnant. I’ve been vaccinated. I’m allergic to… antibiotics nuts penicillin I’m… asthmatic diabetic epileptic I have… a cough diarrhea a headache nausea | ¡Socorro! ¡Fuego! Me han robado. ¡Déjeme! ¡Váyase! ¡Llame a…! la policía un medico una ambulancia Es una emergencia. ¿Puede ayudarme? ¿Donde están los baños? Estoy enfermo/a Necesito un medico. ¿Dónde está el hospital? Estoy embarazada. Estoy vacunado/a Soy alérgico/a los antibióticos las fruta secas la penicilina Soy… asmático/a diabético/a epiléptico/a Tengo… una tos diarrea un dolor de cabeza náusea | so-ko-ro few-go me an ro-ba-do de-khe-me va-ya-se ya-me a la po-lee-see-a oon me-dee-ko oo-na am-boo-lan-sya es oo-na e-mer-khen-sya pwe-de a-yoo-dar-me don-de es-tan los ba-nyos es-toy en-fer-mo/a ne-se-see-to oon me-dee-co don-de es-ta el os-pee-tal es-toy em-ba-ra-sa-da es-toy va-koo-na—do/a soy a-ler-khee-ko/a los an-tee-byo-tee-kos las froo-tas se-kas la pe-nee-see-lee-na soy… as-ma-tee-ko/a dya-be-tee-ko/a e-pee-lep-tee-ko/a ten-go oo-na tos dya-re-a oon do-lor de ka-be-sa now-se-a |
Numbers
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 30 31 40 41 50 51 60 70 80 90 100 101 200 500 700 1,000 2,000 5,000 1,000,000 | uno dos tres cuatro cinco seis siete ocho nueve diez once doce trece catorce quince dieciséis diecisiete dieciocho diecinueve veinte veinteuno treinta treinta y uno cuarenta cuarenta y uno cincuenta cincuenta y uno sesenta setenta ochenta noventa cien ciento uno doscientos quinientos setecientos mil dos mil cinco mil un millón | oon-o dos tres kwa-tro seen-ko says sye-te o-cho nwe-ve dyes on-se do-se tre-se ka-tor-se keen-se dye-see-says dye-see-sye-te dye-see-o-cho dye-see-nwe-ve vayn-te vay-tee-oo-no trayn-ta trayn-ta ee oo-no kwa-ren-ta kwa-renta-ee-oo-no seen-kwen-ta seen-kwen-ta-ee-oo-no se-sen-ta se-ten-ta o-chen-ta no-ven-ta syen syen-to oo-no do-syen-tos kin-yen-tos se-te-syen-tos meel dos meel seen-do meel mee-llyon |
Shopping & Services
| I’d like to buy… I’m just looking. May I look at it? I don’t like it. I’ll take it. Do you accept…? dollars credit cards traveler’s checks less more large small I’m looking for the… ATM bank bookstore exchange house general store laundrymat market pharmacy post office supermarket tourist office What time does it open/close? What’s the exchange rate? I want to call… | Quisiera comprar… Sólo estoy mirando ¿Puedo verlo/a No me gusta. Lo llevo. ¿Aceptan…? dólares tarjetas de crédito cheques de viajero menos más grande pequeño/a Estoy buscando… el cajero automatic el banco la librería la casa de cambio la tienda la lavandería el mercado la farmacia la officina de correos el supermercado la oficina de turismo ¿A qué hora abre/cierra? ¿Cuál es el tipo de cambio? Quisiera llamar a… | kee-sye-ra kom-prar… so-lo es-toy mee-ran-do pwe-do ver-lo/a No me goos-ta Lo ye-vo. A-sep-tan… do-la-res tar-khe-tas de kre-dee-to che-kes de vya-khe-ro me-nos mas gran-de pe-ke-nyo/a es-toy boos-kan-do… el ka-khe-ro ow-to-ma-tee-ko el ban-ko la lee-bre-ree-a la ka-sa de kam-byo la tyen-da la la-van-de-ree-a el mer-ka-do la far-ma-sya la o-fee-see-na de ko-re-os el soo-per-mer-ka-do la o-fee-see-na de too-rees-mo a ke o-ra a-bre/sye-ra Kwal es el tee-po de kam-byo kee-sye-ra lya-mar a… |
Time & Dates
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What time is it? |
¿Qué hora es? |
ke o-ra es |
Transportation
| What time does…leave/arrive? the bus the ferry the minibus the plane the train the airport the bus station the bus stop A ticket to…please. What’s the fare to…? car 4WD motorcycle bicycle pickup truck truck Where’s the gas station? Fill it up, please. oil tire puncture Is this the road to…? Where do I pay? I need a tow truck. I need a mechanic. I have a flat tire. I’ve had an accident. I’ve run out of gas. The car won’t start. | ¿A qué hora…sale/llega? el autobus el barco la buseta el avión el tren el aeropuerto la estación de autobuses la parade de autobuses Un boleto a ….por favor. ¿Cuánot cuesta hasta…? un auto/carro un todo terreno una motocicleta una bicicleta camioneta camión ¿Dónde hay una bomba? Lleno, por favor. aceite llanta aguijero ¿Por aquí se va a…? ¿Donde se paga? Necesito un remolque. Necesito un mecánico. Tengo una llanta desinflada. Tuve un accidente Me quedé sin gasolina. La carro no arranca. | a ke o-ra… sa-le/ye-ga el ow-to-boos el bar-ko la boo-se-ta el a-vyon el tren el a-e-ro-pwer-to la es-ta-syon de ow-to-boo-ses la pa-ra-da de ow-to-boo-ses oon bo-le-to a… por fa-vor kwan-to kwes-ta a-sta… oon ow-to/ka-ro oon to-do te-re-no oo-na mo-to-see-kle-ta bee-see-kle-ta ka-myo-ne-ta ka-myon don-de ai oo-na bom-ba ye-no por fa-vor a-say-te yan-ta a-goo-khe-ro por a-kee se va a… don-de se pa-ga ne-se-see-to oon re-mol-ke ne-se-see-to oon me-ka-nee-ko ten-go oo-na yan-ta des-een-fla-da too-ve oon ak-see-den-te me ke-da seen ga-so-lee-na la ka-ro no a-ran-ka |
Typical Tico Words & Phrases
Birra- slang for beer.
Boca(s)- Literally means “mouth,” but also a small appetizer. Always ask for the Boca’s menu- it’s usually cheaper.
Bomba- Slang for “gas station.”
Brete- Work, or job.
Casado- Literally means “married,” but this is a tico staple served in sodas and restaurants which consists of a combination of beans, rice, small salad, plantain and a piece of either, chicken, fish, pork/beef.
Chapa- Derogatory way to call someone stupid or clumsy.
Chepe- Slang term for the capital city, San José. Also a nickname for someone named José.
Choza- Slang for house or home.
Chunche- A knickknack or “whatchamacallit.”
Con mucho gusto- With pleasure.
De hoy en ocho- In 1 week’s time.
Detrás del palo- Literally means, ‘behind the tree.’ Somewhat derogatory, meaning you’re ‘slow’ to understand.
Goma- Hangover.
Hijo de puta (hijueputa)- Literally means "son of a whore," Pronounced ‘ee-way-puta’ cause they say it fast and slur it- here, it’s their ‘fuck’ word and said constantly.
La sele- Short of la selección, the Costa Rican national soccer team.
Macha or machita- A blond woman.
Mae- Translates like “dude” or “man,” used by many Costa Ricans, but especially the younger crowd.
Maje- A lot like mae, but with a slightly derogatory meaning.
Maricón- Another derogatory word for ‘gay,’ but also used to describe a ‘crybaby.’
Mierda- In the United States, we would say ‘shit.’
Mejenga- A pick-up of game of soccer.
Mota- means 'pot' like the drug
Pachanga or pelón- Both used to mean a big party.
Playo- Like ‘fag’ in the United States. This is highly derogatory.
Ponga la maría, por favor- Means, “Please turn on the meter Mr. Taxi man.” Well, not the Mr. Taxi man part.
Pulpería- Small market or corner store.
Pura Vida- Translates to “everythings great,” and used for just about any greeting or departure.
Puta- Highly derogatory word, basically meaning ‘slut.’
Qué torta- What a mess; what a screw-up.
Si Dios quiere- God willing; you’ll hear Ticos say this frequently.
Soda- A small, informal restaurant serving cheap Tico meals. Think old-style Diner, without the walls.
Tico- Costa Rican. This is NOT a derogatory term.
Tiquicia- Costa Rica
Tuanis- Means the same as pura vida, but is used by a younger crowd. The opposite of tuanis is ‘agüebado,’ which pretty much means un-cool.
Una teja- 100 colones
Un rojo- 1,000 colones
Un tucán- 5,000 colones
Upe!- When doorbells are not present, this is what they yell (and even if they are).
