Engage Your Visitors!

Click here to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Call To Action

Costa Rican Glossary

¡Upe!

OO-peh!
A common call to see if anyone is home or to get someone's attention at a house or small business. It's more polite than shouting 'hello?'

In a sentence: "He walked up to the pulpería and called out, '¡Upe!'"

¿Al chile?

al CHEE-lay?
A slang phrase meaning 'Really?', 'For real?', or 'Seriously?'. Used to express disbelief or to ask for confirmation.

In a sentence: "Q: 'I saw a jaguar on the trail.'
A: '¿Al chile?'"

Birra

BEE-rrah
Slang for 'beer.' Borrowed from the Italian word.

In a sentence: "It's hot today, I need a cold birra."

Bomba

BOHM-bah
Literally 'bomb.' In Costa Rica, this refers to a gas station.

In a sentence: "We need to stop at the next bomba to fill up the tank."

Brete

BREH-teh
Slang for 'work' or 'a job.'

In a sentence: "I have to go to brete early tomorrow morning."

Buena Nota

BWEH-nah NO-tah
Literally 'good note.' A phrase used to describe a person who is cool, kind, or has good vibes. It can also mean 'cool' or 'right on.'

In a sentence: "The surf instructor was really buena nota."

Cacique

kah-SEE-kay
Costa Rica's most popular brand of guaro, a clear liquor made from sugarcane. It's the go-to spirit for many local mixed drinks and shots.

In a sentence: "Can you make me a chili-guaro with Cacique?"

Casado

kah-SAH-doh
Literally 'married man.' It's the quintessential Costa Rican lunch plate, consisting of rice, black beans, a salad, fried plantains, and a choice of protein (fish, chicken, beef, or pork).

In a sentence: "I'm hungry, I'm going to order a casado with chicken."

Chepe

CHEH-peh
colloquial and affectionate nickname for the capital city, San José.

In a sentence: "We're heading to Chepe for the weekend to visit the museums."

Chunche

CHOON-cheh
A catch-all word for 'thing,' 'stuff,' or 'what-cha-ma-call-it.' Used when you can't 1remember the name of an object.

In a sentence: "Can you pass me that chunche from the table?"

Colones

co-LOH-nays
The Costa Rican Colón (₡), named after Christopher Columbus, is the official currency of Costa Rica, recognized for its vibrant banknotes that celebrate the nation's rich wildlife.

In a sentence: "Excuse me, how many colones is the casado con pollo?"

Empanada

em-pah-NAH-dah
A savory pastry, typically fried, filled with ingredients like cheese, beans, potatoes, or shredded meat. A popular and quick snack or breakfast item found in sodas and bakeries.

In a sentence: "I'll grab a cheese empanada and a coffee for breakfast."

Gallo

GAH-yo
Literally 'rooster.' In Costa Rican food culture, a 'gallo' is a small snack, similar to a soft taco. It's typically a corn tortilla topped with a small portion of a filling like shredded meat, potatoes, or picadillo.

In a sentence: "I'm not very hungry, I'll just have a gallo de papa (potato gallo)."

Gallo Pinto

GAH-yo PEEN-toh
The national breakfast dish of Costa Rica. It's a mix of rice and black beans, often cooked with onions, sweet peppers, and cilantro. Usually served with eggs and sour cream.

In a sentence: "I could eat gallo pinto for breakfast every day."

Guaro

GWAH-roh
The generic term for alcohol, but most often refers to Cacique, the national sugar-cane liquor of Costa Rica.

In a sentence: "Let's do some shots of guaro!"

Macho / Macha

MAH-cho / MAH-chah
Slang for a light-skinned or blonde person (macho for male, macha for female). It is not derogatory.

In a sentence: "My friend with the blonde hair is often called 'macha' by the locals."

Mae

my
The Costa Rican equivalent of 'dude' or 'bro.' Used informally and very frequently between friends, mostly by men.

In a sentence: "Mae, let's go grab a beer."

Pulpería

pool-peh-REE-ah
small neighborhood convenience store or corner shop that sells basic groceries, snacks, and drinks.

In a sentence: "I need to go to the pulpería to buy some eggs."

Pura Vida

POO-rah VEE-dah
Literally 'Pure Life.' The national motto of Costa Rica. It's a greeting, a farewell, and a way of life meaning everything's great, life is good, and you're thankful for what you have.

In a sentence: "Q: How are you? A: Pura Vida!"

Salado

sah-LAH-doh
Literally 'salty.' Used to describe someone who has bad luck or is in a tough situation. It means 'too bad' or 'you're out of luck.'

In a sentence: "You missed the last bus? ¡Qué salado!"

Soda

SOH-dah
A small, family-run, traditional Costa Rican restaurant. Sodas serve local dishes like 'casado' at very affordable prices. This is the best place for an authentic meal.

In a sentence: "We had lunch at a soda on the way to the beach."

Tico / Tica

TEE-ko / TEE-kah
A colloquial term for a native Costa Rican man (Tico) or woman (Tica). It comes from the local tendency to add '-ico' to the end of words to form a diminutive.

In a sentence: "The local Ticos are very friendly to tourists."

Tuanis

TWAH-nees
slang word meaning 'cool,' 'awesome,' or 'great.' Believed to be derived from spelling the English words 'too nice' in Spanish.

In a sentence: "That surf spot is tuanis!"

Leading the World in
Living Green!

Conservation & Sustainability

Eco-Sustainability

Reforestation ♦ Eco-Tourism ♦ Renewable Energy

Explore Costa Rica’s lush rainforests, diverse wildlife, and thriving green energy while experiencing a country that has embraced ecotourism and redefined sustainability.

The Great Reversal

Once facing catastrophic deforestation, Costa Rica is one of the only tropical nations to have reversed it.
Visionary environmental policies have transformed the nation’s landscape and future.

60%
Forest Cover Today

From a low of just 40% in 1987, the nation’s commitment to reforestation has yielded incredible results, with forests now covering nearly two-thirds of the country.

Pillars of Green Success

Once facing catastrophic deforestation, Costa Rica is one of the only tropical nations to have reversed it.
Visionary environmental policies have transformed the nation’s landscape and future.

National Parks & Protected Areas

A cornerstone of Costa Rica’s strategy is its extensive network of protected lands, which safeguard an incredible 5% of the world’s total biodiversity.

Payment for Environmental Services

Pioneered in 1997, the PES program pays landowners to conserve forests, turning environmental protection into a viable economic activity for rural communities.

Ecotourism: A Green Economy

By marketing its natural beauty, Costa Rica has built a thriving tourism industry that directly funds and incentivizes further conservation efforts across the country.

Renewable Energy Champion

Costa Rica is a world leader in clean energy, demonstrating that a modern economy can thrive without relying on fossil fuels for its electricity needs.

Pillars of Green Success

Once facing catastrophic deforestation, Costa Rica is one of the only tropical nations to have reversed it.
Visionary environmental policies have transformed the nation’s landscape and future.

National Parks & Protected Areas

A cornerstone of Costa Rica’s strategy is its extensive network of protected lands, which safeguard an incredible 5% of the world’s total biodiversity.

Payment for Environmental Services

Pioneered in 1997, the PES program pays landowners to conserve forests, turning environmental protection into a viable economic activity for rural communities.

Ecotourism: A Green Economy

By marketing its natural beauty, Costa Rica has built a thriving tourism industry that directly funds and incentivizes further conservation efforts across the country.

Renewable Energy Champion

Costa Rica is a world leader in clean energy, demonstrating that a modern economy can thrive without relying on fossil fuels for its electricity needs.

Road Map

The Road to a Carbon-Free Future

Not content to rest on its laurels, Costa Rica has an ambitious plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, tackling challenges in transport, industry, and agriculture.

Sustainability Roadmap
Rainforest

Eco-Sustainability Experiences

From organic coffee farms to protected wildlife sanctuaries, the eco-friendly tour lets you witness how Costa Rica’s landscapes, agriculture, and renewable power work together to preserve paradise for generations to come.

Scroll to Top