If you are lucky enough to visit Costa Rica, you will need more than a camera and a bathing suit. Spanish around Latin America is very diverse and rich in culture, so much so that, even if you are a native Spanish speaker, you’d probably have some trouble trying to understand Costa Rican slang. But don’t panic! If you read this post carefully and thoroughly, you’ll have an idea of what people are saying around you, and you never know, this can become extremely handy when you meet with the most happiest people in the world. Before reading, I also got the Costa Rican voice actress from Gritty Spanish Parte II to read each of the ten lines in a real sentences! So you can check out the video as well to hear what they sound like!

1. Pura Vida

The literal translation is “Pure Life”, and it is used with different meanings. People in Costa Rica are known for that particular expression all around the world, and it has become like their own motto or signature, it’s like a brand. It’s an awesome Costa Rican Slang Word, because those two words reflect the way ticos (Costa Rican natives) see and live life. Always positive, always happy, always thankful — Always ¡Pura Vida!

Here are a few ways you can use this helpful Costa Rican word…

To describe something or somebody is doing Good:

For an example, if someone asks you the following:

“¿Cómo te fue en el examen?”

“How was your test?”

You answer :

“¡Pura Vida!”

To Say Thank You as in this Example:

“Te guardé un pedazo de pastel!”

“I saved this piece of cake for you!”

You answer should be :

“¡Pura Vida!”

To Salute somebody:

“¿Pura vida?”

“How it going”

¡Pura Vida!

“It’s going great!”

2. Mae

This means “Dude”, this can be used among friends or also refer to anyone else. When you walk around the streets of Costa Rica, you’ll hear “mae” a thousand times in a single conversation.

Examples:

“Mae, ¡jale al cine!

“Dude, let’s go to the movies!”

“Ese mae toca guitarra”

“That dude plays the guitar”

The Costa Rican Voice actress who is repeating those sentences appeared in Gritty Spanish: Parte II, said, “There is a joke my dad always said about the way ticos use mae and how many times this can be repeated in one sentence.”

Like in this example:

“¡Qué mae más mae ese mae!”

“Dude!! What a dude that dude is!”

3. Tuanis

This is used to describe when something is good or now nice.

Examples:

“Qué tuanis mañana no trabajo”

“It’s so nice that I am not working tomorrow”

“Fui a lavar el carro y se ve tuanis”

“I washed the car and it looks good”

4. Brete, Bretear

This word refers to “Work”. This can be also refer to the Office.

Examples:

“Tengo que bretear toda la semana”

“I have to work all week long”

“Estoy en el brete”

“I am in the Office”

5. Al chile

This is a way to ask “really?”. You can be a little confusing because Chile is also red peppers or the Country in South America… But when you hear “ ¿Al Chile? ” with a question mark, they are just asking… really? Or affirming something. It also can be used to tell somebody that something is “true” or “real”.

Examples:

“¡Están regalando pizza en la casa de al lado!”

“They are giving some free pizza next door!”

“¿Al Chile?”

“Really?”

“Al chile que está haciendo mucho frío”

“It’s true, it’s very cold out”

6. Harina

Even if this word literally means Flour, you know, the flour used to bake cakes or when you are ready to make some waffles or bread? This is also used as slang for “money”.

Examples:

“Mae, no puedo pagar, no tengo harina”

“Mae, I can’t pay, I don’t have money”

“Tengo que trabajar para poder tener harina para ir a la playa”

“I have to work so I can have money to go to the beach”

7. Chunche

Always remember this word, because if you don’t know the word for something, you just have to call it “chunche”. Chunche can be any object, any “thingy” around.

Examples:

“Hey, necesito ese chunche de ahí”

“Hey, I need that thing over there”

“Este chunche me tiene harta”

“I’m sick of this thing”

8. Birra

Common name to say “beer” in Costa Rican Slang. It’s not too far off from our word, “Beer” right? “Birra-Beer”.

Example:

“¡Vamos a tomarnos unas birras!”

“Let go drink some beers!”

¡Quiero la birra michelada!

This needs special attention. You can ask for a michelada in a Pub, and the bartender will serve you a ice cold beer, with some lime juice and some salt around the glass. This is very common in Mexico too, but the Costa Rican version of a michelada comes with no spicy peppers (The Mexican version is served with peppers and Spices.)

If you happen to be a beer lover, which I know you are, then you have to try Imperial, the most popular beer in Costa Rica!

9. Catrinearse

This is used when somebody look handsome or beautiful for a special event. So when the person is dressed for the occasion, he or she looks Catrineado or Catrineada.

Examples:

“¿Ay pero para dónde va tan catrineada?”

“Hey but where are you going so beautiful?”

“Me voy a catrinear para ir con mi novio!”

“I am going to get dressed and ready to go out with my boyfriend”

10. Jalarse una torta

This is used when somebody make a mess or do something wrong and gets in trouble.

Examples:

“Manuel se jaló una torta cuando quebró una ventana”

“Manuel got in trouble because he broke a window”

“¡Cuidado se jala una torta con ese bate de béisbol!”

“Be careful and don’t make a mess with that baseball bat!”

And there is also another big meaning for this phrase… Imagine you are at your girlfriend’s house and her daddy is sitting just in front of you… suddenly, after a very awkward silence you say…

“Me jalé una torta”

“I made a mess”

Meaning that you got your girlfriend pregnant and now, somebody will become a grandpa!!!

So now you know it! I always say that the better way to learn a different language and its slang, is simply going out and talking to people. You will be surprise of how quick and easy all those weird words would stick to your tongue, talking tico like a native. And the best of all, at the end, you also will finish by loving the people, the most precious thing Costa Rica has to offer.