Tico Phrases

Sound like a local

Pura vida

poo-rah VEE-dah

The national motto. Hello, goodbye, thank you, no worries, all good.

Mae

MAH-eh

Dude, buddy. Ticos sprinkle it into every sentence.

Tuanis

too-ah-NEES

Cool, nice, awesome.

Con mucho gusto

kon MOO-choh GOOS-toh

The tico way to say you're welcome: with great pleasure.

¡Qué chiva!

keh CHEE-vah

How cool! Great for sunsets and macaw sightings.

Soda

SOH-dah

A small family restaurant with hearty, cheap local food.

Casado

kah-SAH-doh

The classic lunch plate: rice, beans, plantain, salad and a protein.

Birra

BEE-rah

Beer. Una birra bien fría, por favor.

Al chile

al CHEE-leh

Seriously, for real.

Diay

dee-AY

Well... / so... The all-purpose tico filler word.

¿Cuánto cuesta?

KWAN-toh KWES-tah

How much is it?

La cuenta, por favor

lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR

The check, please.