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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!"

Ready to Check
Out the Town?

Local City Buses

Very Inexpensive ♦ City-Wide Network ♦ Cultural Experience

When you need to get from your hotel to the beach, the national park, or checkout out the downtown, the local city bus is your ticket to an authentic and affordable experience.

While it might seem confusing at first, navigating the bus system is surprisingly simple once you know the basics.

Ground Transportation
Taxis & Rideshares
Private Shuttles
Rental Cars
Local City Buses
City-to-City Buses

How to Ride Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

Navigating the local bus is all about a few simple steps.

Finding Your Route

This is the most important part. The number one way to know where a bus is going is to read the big sign in the front windshield. It will list the final destination and often key stops along the way. In big cities like San José, you might see route numbers, but the destination name is what you should always look for.

Local Tip: The easiest way to find your route is to just ask! Costa Ricans (“Ticos”) are incredibly friendly. Ask your hotel host or a local shopkeeper, “¿Qué bus para [your destination]?” (Which bus for…?). In San José, an app like Moovit can be a lifesaver for figuring out routes and stop locations.

City Bus Stop

Find the Bus Stop (Parada)

In bigger cities, you’ll find official bus stops, sometimes with a bench and a shelter. In smaller towns and along roads, a “bus stop” might just be a specific patch of sidewalk or a signpost. If you’re not sure, look for a small group of people waiting—chances are, it’s a bus stop.
Local Tip:  Don’t just stand there! As the bus approaches, flag it down by sticking your arm out. This signals to the driver that you want to get on. If you don’t, they might just drive right by.

Bus Fare

Catching the Ride & Paying

Once the bus stops, hop on through the front door. You pay the driver directly as you board.
This is where the most important rule comes in: Cash only, and only in Costa Rican Colones (CRC). Have small bills and coins ready. The fare will be incredibly cheap, and the driver will not be able to break a ₡10,000 or ₡20,000 note (let alone US dollars) for a ₡400 ride. Hand the driver your coins, and find a seat.

Getting Off at Your Stop

When you’re getting close to your destination, you need to signal to the driver that you want to get off. Look for a button on the poles or a pull-cord running along the top of the windows. Press or pull it about a block before your stop, and the driver will pull over at the next official parada.
Local Tip: If you have no idea where your stop is, tell the driver where you’re going when you get on. Just say, “Me avisa en [your destination], por favor?” (Can you let me know at…?). They’re usually happy to help you out.

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