TICO-TALK OR COSTARRIQUEÑISMOS
At CPI you will
learn a standard, universal form of Spanish that is used throughout
the Latino world. But since each Spanish speaking country
has its own slang, you can also learn some modismos (slang
words) from Costa Rica. If you want to speak Spanish like
a Tico, you will need to learn at least a few of these expressions. After
you have mastered the basics of Spanish, it's fun to show off
your knowledge of Costa Rican sayings and slang!
COSTARRIQUEÑISMOS
|
achará |
What a pity! |
írsele la
onda |
to forget |
|
agarrado |
miser |
jale |
let's go |
|
agüevado |
bored |
joder |
to bother |
|
andar de tanda |
bar-crawling |
lancear |
to seduce |
|
batear |
to make wild guesses |
llegar a la
hora del burro |
to arrive late |
|
brete |
work |
mae |
dude |
|
cada muerte
de obispo |
once in a blue moon |
meter la pata |
to put one's foot in it |
|
carajada |
thing or situation |
meter una
yuca |
to tell a lie |
|
con toda la
pata |
in good form |
miche |
fistfight |
|
¡Cierre
el pico! |
Shut up! |
no darle la
gana |
to not want to |
|
choque ese
hueso |
shake my hand |
no entender
ni papa |
to not understand anything |
|
choza |
house |
no es vara |
it's not a lie |
|
chunche |
stuff |
ojalá |
if only / god granted |
|
¡diay! |
hey |
pasar la brocha |
to have an ulterior motive |
|
dolor de jupa |
headache |
pinche |
stingy |
|
embarcarse |
to take a risk |
por si las
moscas |
just in case |
|
empuncharse |
to work hard |
pura vida |
perfect, wonderful |
|
estar de chicha |
to be angry |
¡Que
tirada! |
What a mess! |
|
estar de goma |
to be hung over |
sacarse el
clavo |
to get it off one's chest |
|
estar hecho
leña |
to be in a bad state |
suave |
wait |
|
estar en la
luna |
to daydream |
salado |
too bad |
|
fregar |
to bother |
ser chineado/a |
to be spoiled |
|
grosero |
rude |
¡Soque! |
Hurry up! |
|
güila |
kid |
tirito |
just a moment |
|
hablar paja |
to talk nonsense |
¡Tome
chichi! |
Take that! |
|
hacerse el
chancho |
to not pay attention |
|
|
|
