10 Costa Rican Phrases
Every Traveler Must Know
Before Landing
You have studied Spanish. You can order coffee and ask for directions. But the moment you land in Costa Rica and a Tico says “mae, ¿qué es la vara?” — you will freeze. Here are the 10 phrases that will save you.
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. I have spent over ten years teaching Spanish to travelers, expats, and executives from the United States and Europe. And the single most common thing I hear from students after their first trip is some version of the same sentence:
“I studied Spanish for months. But nobody in Costa Rica speaks the way my textbook said they would.”
They are right. Costa Rican Spanish — what we call Tico Spanish — is one of the most distinctive dialects in all of Latin America. The slang is vivid, the expressions are uniquely local, and none of it appears in a standard Spanish course or a generic phrasebook.
This article gives you the 10 phrases that will make the biggest difference from the moment you step off the plane. Not the phrases your textbook taught you. The ones real Ticos actually use, every single day.
The 10 Phrases — One by One
If you learn nothing else from this article, learn this. Pura vida is the soul of Costa Rica in two words. Literally “pure life,” it functions as a greeting, a farewell, an expression of gratitude, and a general philosophy of living. Ticos use it dozens of times a day in contexts that would require completely different words in any other Spanish-speaking country.
The key insight: the meaning depends entirely on context. Answer the phone with it. End a meal with it. Use it when someone holds the door. You will never be wrong.
Mae is the most used word in Costa Rica after pura vida. It is the universal address between friends, colleagues, strangers, and acquaintances. Think of it as the Costa Rican equivalent of “dude” — except used far more frequently and by people of all ages and genders.
You will hear it at the start of sentences, in the middle, at the end, and sometimes standing entirely alone. It softens requests, adds warmth to greetings, and signals that you belong.
When something is good, impressive, or pleasing, it is tuanis. This is pure Costa Rican — you will not find it in any other Spanish-speaking country. It can describe a person, an experience, a place, or a plan. Use it freely and you will immediately sound like someone who has spent real time in Tiquicia.
When a Tico describes a person as tuanis, it means more than just “cool” — it means genuinely good-hearted and trustworthy. It is one of the highest compliments in Costa Rica.
Diay (also written idiay) is the ultimate Costa Rican filler word. It can express surprise, resignation, mild annoyance, agreement, or simply fill a conversational pause. It has no direct English equivalent — the closest translation changes depending entirely on tone and context.
The most important thing is to recognise it when you hear it. You will hear it constantly. And once you start using it naturally, Ticos will look at you differently.
Literally “what is the stick?”, this expression makes no sense if you translate it directly — which is exactly the point. Vara in Costa Rican slang means “thing” or “situation.” So ¿qué es la vara? really means “what’s the situation?” or “what’s going on?”
This is one of those phrases that immediately signals whether someone has learned real Tico Spanish or just textbook Spanish. Use it once and watch the reaction.
Literally “to the chili,” al chile is used to emphasise that something is true, or to express genuine surprise at what you have just heard. It can be a statement or a question — again, context and tone do all the work.
In standard Spanish, buenos días, buenas tardes, and buenas noches each have their specific time of day. In Costa Rica, buenas on its own covers all of them — from early morning to late at night. It is the informal all-purpose greeting you will hear in shops, on streets, and when entering any home or business.
Walk into a pulpería, a soda, or a neighbour’s house — the first word out of your mouth should be buenas. It signals respect and warmth instantly.
In most of Latin America, de nada is the standard “you’re welcome.” In Costa Rica, con mucho gusto — “with great pleasure” — is far more common and carries significantly more warmth. It reflects something real about the Tico character: genuine hospitality expressed through language.
When a Tico says con mucho gusto, they mean it. It is not a reflex — it is a small act of warmth. Respond in kind and you will make an immediate impression.
Costa Ricans are known across Latin America for their exceptional courtesy. Con mucho gusto is not just a phrase — it is a reflection of the pura vida philosophy. Hospitality here is not performance. It is identity.
In Costa Rica, you do not knock on an open door — you call out ¡Upe! It is the verbal equivalent of knocking: a way of announcing your presence at the entrance of a home, a shop, or a neighbour’s property without entering uninvited.
This one is deeply cultural. Using it correctly shows not just that you speak Tico Spanish, but that you understand how Ticos interact with each other’s spaces. It will delight anyone whose home you visit.
Literally “smooth one touch,” this phrase is used to ask someone to wait a moment or slow down. It is gentle and unhurried — appropriately so for a country whose entire philosophy is built around not rushing. You will use it in shops, at the market, and any time someone is moving faster than you can follow.
It is also a perfect phrase for language learners: if a conversation moves too quickly, suave un toque gives you a natural, native-sounding way to pause it.
Quick Reference — All 10 at a Glance
Screenshot this before your trip. Or better yet — get the full 101-phrase guide in the Tico Talk book.
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Pura vida! | POO-rah VEE-dah | Hello / Goodbye / Great / Thank you |
| Mae | My | Dude / Mate |
| Tuanis | Twah-NEES | Cool / Awesome |
| Diay | Dee-AY | Well / So / Come on |
| ¿Qué es la vara? | Kay es la VAH-rah | What’s going on? |
| Al chile | Al CHEE-leh | Seriously / For real |
| Buenas | BWEH-nahs | Hello (all day) |
| Con mucho gusto | Kon MOO-choh GOOS-toh | You’re welcome / My pleasure |
| ¡Upe! | OO-peh | Hello? (at a door) |
| Suave un toque | SWAH-veh oon TOH-keh | Hold on a second |
These are just 10.
There are 101 more.
Tico Talk is the complete guide to Costa Rican Spanish — 101 authentic words and phrases, phonetic pronunciation for every entry, six real conversations, cultural tips, and a cheat sheet. Written by a native Tica. $4.99 on Kindle.
amazon Get Tico Talk — $4.99Why These Phrases Matter More Than Grammar
Most Spanish courses spend 80% of their time on grammar and 20% on vocabulary. In real life, the ratio should be reversed. When a Tico speaks to you, they are not testing your subjunctive — they are using slang, idioms, and cultural expressions that no grammar lesson will ever prepare you for.
The phrases in this article are not peripheral curiosities. They are the backbone of daily conversation in Costa Rica. A traveler who uses pura vida, mae, and tuanis naturally will connect with locals in a way that a technically proficient Spanish speaker who uses only formal vocabulary never will.
Language is culture. And Costa Rican culture — warm, open, and deeply rooted in the pura vida philosophy — expresses itself most authentically through exactly these kinds of words.
The Fastest Way to Go Further
Reading a list of phrases is a start. But reading a phrase and using it confidently in conversation are two completely different things.
The fastest route from “I know these words” to “I can actually talk to a Tico” is private instruction with a native speaker who can hear exactly where you go wrong, correct you in real time, and give you the cultural context behind the language. No app, no course, and no phrasebook can replicate that experience.
In four to six sessions before your trip, you can go from recognising these phrases to producing them naturally — in the right context, with the right intonation, and with the cultural understanding that makes them land the way they should.
Learn these phrases
with a real Tica.
Private one-on-one Spanish lessons online with Gabriela Rivera — native Costa Rican teacher with 10+ years experience. Custom lesson plan for your trip, your level, and your schedule. No commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions travelers ask about Costa Rican Spanish before their trip.
In tourist areas — Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, San José city centre — many Costa Ricans working in hospitality speak English. But outside these zones, and in any genuine local interaction, Spanish is essential. More importantly, even in tourist areas, speaking a few phrases of real Tico Spanish will immediately transform how locals respond to you. The difference between being treated as a tourist and being treated as a guest is often just a few well-placed words of local slang.
Yes, significantly. While the grammar is the same, the vocabulary, slang, and expressions are uniquely Costa Rican. Words like tuanis, mae, diay, and vara are not used anywhere else in the Spanish-speaking world. The accent is also distinct — Costa Rican Spanish is generally considered one of the clearest and most pleasant accents in Latin America, which actually makes it easier to understand than many other dialects. The challenge is the vocabulary, not the pronunciation.
Faster than you think — if you focus on the right things. Four to six private sessions with a native teacher before your trip, focused specifically on travel vocabulary and Costa Rican expressions, will give you everything you need for a genuinely immersive experience. You do not need to be fluent to connect. You need to be real. The phrases in this article, used with confidence and genuine warmth, will take you further than months of grammar study.
A soda in Costa Rica has nothing to do with a soft drink. It is a small, family-run local restaurant — the equivalent of a neighbourhood diner — serving traditional Costa Rican food like casado (rice, beans, meat, salad), gallo pinto (rice and beans), and frescos (fresh fruit drinks). Sodas are where you eat like a local at a fraction of the price of tourist restaurants. Knowing the word — and knowing how to order at one — is one of the most useful things you can do before visiting Costa Rica.
Tiquicia is an affectionate nickname for Costa Rica, used by Costa Ricans themselves. It comes from Tico/Tica — the nickname for Costa Ricans — and carries a deep sense of national identity and pride. When a Costa Rican says Tiquicia, they are not just naming their country. They are expressing love for it. If you use this word in conversation, you will immediately signal that you have gone beyond the tourist surface.
The best place to start is Tico Talk — a guide to 101 essential Costa Rican Spanish words and phrases written by a native Tica. It covers pronunciation, real examples, conversations, and cultural context for every entry. Available on Amazon Kindle for $4.99. For a deeper and faster experience, private lessons with Gabriela will take you from knowing phrases to using them naturally — in four to six sessions before your trip.