Costa Rica Language Guide: Slang, Greetings & Local Etiquette Tips

One of the most beautiful parts of travel is experiencing different cultures, and different cultures often include different languages. Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country, so of course, when you visit Costa Rica, you will be exposed to the language, the local slang, and the cultural bedrock that forms through the foundation of language.

But do you need to know how to speak Spanish in order to enjoy visiting Costa Rica? No, not necessarily.

It’s always helpful to learn a bit of the local language before you visit any foreign country, as the show of effort goes a long way, even if your pronunciation is lacking. People appreciate the effort of trying, and it shows that you bothered to read up a bit on the language, the culture, and the people themselves.

While you don’t need to be fluent in Spanish, knowing a few phrases and basic ways to communicate goes a very long way to enriching your trip to Costa Rica. You can get around quite well with English, as many Costa Ricans are bilingual, especially those who work in the tourism industry.

In this communication guide, we’ll go over a few key phrases and words to help you get the most out of your Costa Rican vacation.

What Language Is Spoken in Costa Rica?

Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica and is the language used by the government and the majority of the people living there. While there are a few indigenous languages still spoken—Bribri, Cabecar, Maleku, Guaymí (Ngäbere), and Buglere—these languages are not widely spoken, like Spanish.

Another unique language element in Costa Rica is found in the Limón Province, where the local Limonese people speak Limonese Creole, or Mekatelyu, blending English and Spanish, and sounding more like Jamaican Patois than Costa Rican Spanish.

And while not an official language, about 10 to 15% of Costa Ricans speak fluent English, with another 40% speaking some basic English. Most of these English-speaking Costa Ricans are concentrated in the GAM (Greater Metropolitan Area of San Jose), Heredia, and Alajuela, where educational standards are higher and access to higher education is better. And many Costa Ricans who work in tourism have a very good command of English since they interact with so many tourists.

Other Languages Spoken in Costa Rica

Throughout the country, indigenous communities still speak their native languages, and local government buildings even offer translation services to help better serve remote communities.

• Bribri — spoken in the Talamanca Mountains in the Limón Province and the southern parts of Costa Rica
• Cabécar — the largest indigenous community in Costa Rica, Cabécar people live in the Talamanca Mountains, extending into the provinces of Puntarenas, San José, and Cartago
• Maleku — spoken in the northern part of the country, in Alajuela Province, about an hour from La Fortuna, in the Guatuso Indigenous Reserve
• Limon Creole English — spoken by the Afro-Caribbean people of Limón, this unique language derives from Jamaican Patois
• Immigrant Languages — due to Costa Rica being a popular destination for immigrants from many countries, small communities of Italian, Chinese, and German-speaking populations exist throughout the country.

Can You Travel in Costa Rica Without Speaking Spanish?

It’s entirely possible to travel all over Costa Rica without speaking Spanish. While learning a few phrases will definitely make things feel more manageable, one of the most memorable parts of visiting a new place is feeling a little lost in translation. Most Costa Ricans are very friendly and helpful, so even if you have to struggle through some hard-to-understand situations, you’ll still have a great time.

Learning a few phrases and some vocabulary will really help you feel more confident during your Costa Rican vacation.

Costa Rica Slang You’ll Hear Everywhere

While Spanish is the official language, Costa Rica has its own unique style of Spanish and colloquial terms and slang to go with it. Just like English spoken in Scotland sounds very different from English spoken in Boston, Costa Rican Spanish is different from Spain’s Spanish, or Mexico, Colombia, or Argentina for that matter.

Here are some common Costa Rican phrases that you’ll likely hear but probably weren’t taught in your high school Spanish class.

Costa Rica Greetings and Etiquette

Costa Rican culture may feel more formal to some, as it’s a culture that still prides itself on traditions. While the population grows each year, much of Costa Rica is still made up of small towns, where everyone knows everyone, and this small town culture permeates throughout the country, even in larger cities.

Costa Ricans enjoy small talk. Mention the weather, chat about how good the food is, how fresh the coffee tastes, and take time to indulge in simple pleasures. Costa Ricans rarely dive right into business, so slowing down and having a chat before discussing the price of a tour or service will go a long way in winning favors as a visitor.

It’s very important in Costa Rican culture to greet others. A smile, an acknowledgement, a Buenas when walking into a room full of strangers is the Tico way. When Costa Ricans enter any establishment, they will usually give a general greeting that is often returned by most in the room. When Costa Ricans enter a restaurant, they will typically announce Buen provecho!, wishing that everyone is enjoying their food. This communal form of greeting is what keeps the culture so knitted together; strangers act like friends, friends act like family, and family is everything.

Ditch your big city attitude and embrace the friendly and welcoming way of the Ticos.

Greetings You’ll Actually Use & When to Use Them

Gestures for Greeting Someone

Because Costa Rican culture is very warm and welcoming, it’s not uncommon when meeting people to be greeted with a handshake or even a kiss on one cheek. Usually, women will kiss other women on the cheek, and women might kiss men they know on the cheek. This tends to be in more casual and familiar settings, but if you get invited along to a family gathering or are spending time volunteering with host families and the like, be prepared.

Normally, a firm handshake paired with Mucho gusto will do the trick for a polite and proper Costa Rican greeting.

Saying Thank You

Of the most well-known Costa Rican expressions is Pura Vida, which translates literally to pure life. This expression can be used in many ways, and one of the common ones is as a substitute for Thank you or You’re welcome.

While it’s very correct to say Gracias or Con gusto, for Thank you and You’re welcome, you’ll often hear Ticos say Pura Vida more often than not. It’s up to you which phrases you test out, but knowing the different uses for Pura Vida will make some interactions less confusing.

Costa Rica Gestures & Cultural Tips Travelers Should Know

Asking for the Check

One thing that can feel odd to visitors to Costa Rica is that servers won’t drop a check as soon as the meal is finished. Unlike high-turnover restaurants in the United States, in Costa Rica it’s totally acceptable to sit at a table after the meal is finished without continuing to order. This means that when you are ready to pay, you must ask for the check. You can do so by using the international gesture for check, or by saying, Me regalas la cuenta, por favor?

Thumbs Up?

If you’re in the habit of throwing a thumbs up around back home, not to worry, the gesture here means the same as it does in Canada and the United States. While some countries in the Middle East and Africa interpret a thumbs up as a negative gesture, it’s all good in Costa Rica.

Personal Space

Because Costa Ricans are a friendly and welcoming culture, often acting like someone they just met is an old friend, their idea of personal space can feel different from some visitors’ ideas. Ticos typically are close, and touching someone on the arm while chatting isn’t uncommon. If you ride on public buses, you’ll feel very up close and personal with the stranger sitting next to you, and the Costa Ricans won’t have any problem with this.

Part of this comes from family members living together in smaller houses, where privacy is a luxury, not a given. When you grow up with shared rooms, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles all under one roof, you get used to having limited personal space. The other part of this is the friendly nature of Costa Ricans.

It might feel different to have strangers be so close, and new people act like they’ve known you for years, but do your best to be open to their culture as you are the visitor in their land.

Eye Contact & Smiling

Costa Rica is known as one of the happiest places in the world, and happy people smile. Thanks to the warm and friendly nature of Ticos, making eye contact and smiling because you mean it are embedded in the culture. This is not a culture that shies away from chit-chat and a catch-up. In fact, don’t be surprised in smaller towns when cars stop in the middle of the road so that the driver can have a chat with their friend who’s out for a walk. Blocking traffic to say hello is normal, and everyone waits patiently for the interaction to take place.

Social webbing and networks are very important in Costa Rica. This might even have Hollywood beat on it’s not about what you know but who you know. Keeping in good standing with friends, families, and social connections is what makes Costa Rica go round, so when you visit, be sure to slow down, take the time to shake hands, smile, and meet people for a true moment of connection.

Costa Rican Pronunciation Made Easy

No one expects you to speak Spanish perfectly with a Costa Rican accent, especially on your first visit. Just trying to say some common phrases will earn you major points with Ticos that you meet. And most Ticos will be happy to help you improve your Spanish skills over a café or cerveza.

The trick to learning any new language—or anything new at all for that matter—is being willing to make mistakes and be vulnerable. Don’t take yourself so seriously and just try your best!

Some of the trickier pronunciations of Spanish are as follows:

Useful Spanish Phrases for Travelers

Directions

Whether you’re planning to drive in Costa Rica or not, knowing the basics of directions is important. Asking for directions in Spanish is usually the easy part. Understanding the answer is where most people get lost!

At the Hotel

Most hotel staff, especially in major tourist destinations, will speak at least some English, but it’s still nice to know a handful of expressions. If you stay in smaller towns, or off-the-beaten-path locations, using a few of these phrases will be very helpful.

Ordering Food / Restaurants

Again, restaurants in major tourist destinations tend to have menus in English and often waitstaff who speak English. But if you find yourself eating in smaller sodas, or traveling to more remote locations, you might only find menus in Spanish. One of the most valuable things to understand about Costa Rican food and, specifically, restaurants and the Spanish language is the word Casado.

Casado translates to married, but in food it means a typical plate. Each soda will serve something slightly different, but a casado will always come with beans, rice, a type of meat (or veggies for vegetarian options) and some kind of “salad”. The salad might be a green salad, pasta salad, potato salad, or some kind of cooked vegetables. Sometimes you even get French fries! Casados often include a natural fruit juice beverage as well.

Shopping

As you’re on vacation, you’ll do some shopping for souvenirs or even just groceries and personal items along the way. A few words can help make that experience feel less intimidating.

Emergencies

While Costa Rica safety is generally pretty high for travelers, being prepared is important. Hopefully you don’t need any of the following words during your Costa Rican vacation, but in case you find yourself in an emergency situation and in need of help, it’s important to know how to communicate the basics. Also, 9-1-1 is the emergency number to call in Costa Rica, just like in the United States. Say English when they answer and wait for an operator who speaks English should you need emergency services.

Experience the Real Costa Rica

There are vacationers, and there are travelers, visitors who want to know a place and the people who live there. It’s one thing to visit Costa Rica; it’s another to know Costa Rica. If you want to visit and know this wonderful country, filled with friendly and warm people, let us help make that happen. At Costa Rica Escapes, we create an experience for you to experience the real Costa Rica, not just the resorts and the tourist hot spots.

If you’re ready to start exploring the possibilities of discovering Costa Rica, the people, the language, the food, the customs, and the culture, contact us today to start planning your dream Costa Rican vacation.

John Rabenau

John Rabenau has been working in the eco-tourism & adventure travel industry in Costa Rica since 2002. He has worked in a variety of capacities from Outdoor Educator & Principle Guide to Itinerary Design Manager & Business Owner for numerous organizations. He has grown Costa Rica Escapes into one of the most reputable Costa Rica travel agencies since its creation in 2006, hosting more than 5,000 people with custom vacation itineraries.