

(of a man) to pursue women in order to make sexual conquests (often followed by around): He tomcatted around before settling down. ' In response to 'thank you,' it's common to hear variants of mucho gusto in Costa Rica instead of de nada, the standard reply in other Spanish-speaking countries.Ī woman-chaser. (Con) mucho gusto / mucho, mucho gusto / muchísmo gusto: All these phrases mean 'with great pleasure. What does Mucho Gusto mean in Costa Rica?Īlso, when someone tells you “gracias” you can also respond by saying “mucho gusto.” Costa Rica is one of the only countries that regularly uses “mucho gusto” as both “you're welcome” and “nice to meet you.” What does gusto mean in Costa Rica? “Pure life” or “simple life” are the literal translations of this saying but Ticos use it in a number of ways. This isn't just an expression – it's a way of life here. Pura Vida - /POOR-ah VEE-dah/ Pronounced “poo-rah vee-dah”, this is the most widely used phrase in Costa Rica. What is the most popular phrase in Costa Rica? It's the national motto of Costa Rica and often used as a greeting, or as a response to a greeting. This is the expression you'll hear the most. For example, “gato” (cat) becomes “gatito” (little cat), and “jugo” (juice) becomes “jugito” (little juice). The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE, Spanish: Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía) is a ministry or department of the government of Costa Rica.Ĭosta Rican locals are known as “ticos” and Spanish in Costa Rica is called “tico Spanish.” The language is characterized by its use of diminutives, which are added to the end of words. It is more casual and works in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Buenas = Shorthand way of saying hello, any time of day. If you're referring to cool weather, the word is fresco. How do you say “cool” in Costa Rica? Qué chiva is a Costa Rican Spanish phrase often used to mean something is “cool,” nice, pretty. This comes from a tendency to make things diminutive by adding the suffix -tico. This is a word that means “Costa Rican.” A Tico is a Costa Rican man and a Tica is a Costa Rican woman. pura vida mae!Ĭhico (Spanish pronunciation: ) means small, boy or child in the Spanish language.ġ. Example: “Vamos ticos!” (Lets go Costa Ricans! – which could be chanted at a soccer match) or “Los Ticos son los mejores!” (Costa Ricans are the best!).

Tica in Costa Rican Spanish means a Costa Rican woman, and tico – a man. “Tico” and “tica” (male and female) are colloquial terms that Costa Ricans gave themselves, due to their linguistic tendency to add the diminutive “tico” to the end of words. What is a Tica slang?Ĭosta Ricans are usually called ticos by themselves as well as by people of other Spanish-speaking countries. In Peru they say “chela” in Costa Rica they say “birra”–both mean beer. Macha means lesbian or woman with a tough demeanor, but in CR it means blonde. But in Panama means someone really cheap. For example: Cochino in CR = pig, someone really dirty or smelly. Some slang words have a totally different meaning within Latin America. In respect to Nicaragua, it could very well mean someone is rich. I have absolutely never in my life heard it used for mixed-race couples. La tiene tiene muy chiniada = She's really babied/loved. But when we say it's like acknowledging a child is overwhelmingly loved. I've rarely heard it in negative way, except in the context of saying someone's child is a little spoiled or undisciplined. It's the most fun I've ever had.Ĭhiniar is to spoil (positive way), to baby someone, to show affection for a child or loved.

I was born here but my entire family was born in San Jose, Costa Rica and I go back to visit family every few years & I'm pretty familiar with most of the slang.
