73 Basic Spanish Phrases for Your Next Trip to Costa Rica 🌴☀️🇨🇷

¡Hola, amigos! 😄 Are you ready to embark on a life-changing journey to the tropical wonderland of Costa Rica? 🏝️ Before you pack your bags and set off on this Central American adventure, let's arm you with a collection of indispensable Spanish phrases that will make your trip an absolute breeze! 💨

Now, I know what you might be thinking: "But I already know some Spanish from my high school days!" Well, let me tell you, the Spanish spoken in Costa Rica is as unique as the country's breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture. 🐒🦜 From the way they greet each other to the slang they use, Costa Ricans have their own flavorful twist on the language that will leave you craving more! 🌶️

So, sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into 75 essential Spanish phrases that will have you embracing the "pura vida" lifestyle in no time! 🙌

Greetings and Pleasantries 👋

1. ¡Hola! (OH-lah) - Hello!
2. ¡Pura vida! (POO-rah VEE-dah) - Pure life! A versatile phrase used to express positivity and good vibes. 🤙
3. ¡Buenos días! (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs) - Good morning!
4. ¡Buenas tardes! (BWEH-nahs TAHR-dehs) - Good afternoon!
5. ¡Buenas noches! (BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs) - Good evening/night!
6. ¿Cómo está usted? (KOH-moh ehs-TAH oos-TEHD) - How are you? (formal)
7. ¿Cómo estás? (KOH-moh ehs-TAHS) - How are you? (informal)
8. Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted? (MOO-ee bee-EHN, GRAH-see-ahs. Ee oos-TEHD?) - Very well, thank you. And you? (formal)
9. ¡Tuanis! ¿Y tú? (twah-NEES, ee TOO?) - Cool/Great, and you? (informal)
10. Mucho gusto. (MOO-choh GOOS-toh) - Nice to meet you.
11. Con mucho gusto. (kohn MOO-choh GOOS-toh) - With pleasure.
12. ¡Que tenga un buen día! (keh TEHN-gah oon bwehn DEE-ah) - Have a nice day!

Getting Around 🚌🚕

13. ¿Dónde está...? (DOHN-deh ehs-TAH...) - Where is...?
14. el aeropuerto (ehl ah-eh-roh-PWEHR-toh) - the airport
15. el hotel (ehl oh-TEHL) - the hotel
16. la playa (lah PLAH-yah) - the beach
17. el restaurante (ehl rehs-tow-RAHN-teh) - the restaurant
18. ¿Cómo llego a...? (KOH-moh YEH-goh ah...) - How do I get to...?
19. ¿Cuánto cuesta el taxi? (KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah ehl TAHK-see) - How much does the taxi cost?
20. Lléveme a... (YEH-veh-meh ah...) - Take me to...
21. Aquí, por favor. (ah-KEE, pohr fah-VOHR) - Here, please.
22. Pare aquí, por favor. (PAH-reh ah-KEE, pohr fah-VOHR) - Stop here, please.

At the Restaurant 🍜🍛

23. Una mesa para [number], por favor. (OO-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah [number], pohr fah-VOHR) - A table for [number], please.
24. El menú, por favor. (ehl meh-NOO, pohr fah-VOHR) - The menu, please.
25. Quisiera... (kee-see-EH-rah...) - I would like...
26. el desayuno (ehl deh-sah-YOO-noh) - breakfast
27. el almuerzo (ehl ahl-MWEHR-soh) - lunch
28. la cena (lah SEH-nah) - dinner
29. ¿Qué me recomienda? (keh meh reh-koh-mee-EHN-dah) - What do you recommend?
30. Un gallo pinto, por favor. (oon GAH-yoh PEEN-toh, pohr fah-VOHR) - A gallo pinto (traditional rice and beans dish), please.
31. Un casado, por favor. (oon kah-SAH-doh, pohr fah-VOHR) - A casado (typical Costa Rican meal), please.
32. Una cerveza, por favor. (OO-nah sehr-VEH-sah, pohr fah-VOHR) - A beer, please.
33. Un batido, por favor. (oon bah-TEE-doh, pohr fah-VOHR) - A smoothie, please.
34. La cuenta, por favor. (lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-VOHR) - The bill, please.

Costa Rican Cuisine 🥘🍲

When dining out in Costa Rica, be sure to try some of the country's delicious traditional dishes:

• Gallo Pinto: A hearty breakfast dish made with rice, beans, and spices. 🍚🫘
• Casado: A typical lunch plate featuring rice, beans, salad, plantains, and your choice of meat. 🍛🥩
• Sopa Negra: A savory black bean soup often served with a hard-boiled egg. 🥚🥣
• Patacones: Fried plantain slices that make for a tasty side dish or snack. 🍌
• Chifrijo: A delectable combination of rice, beans, pork, and pico de gallo. 🍚🫘🐷🍅

Shopping and Bargaining 🛍️💸

35. ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? (KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah EHS-toh) - How much does this cost?
36. Es muy caro. (ehs MOO-ee KAH-roh) - It's very expensive.
37. ¿Puede hacer un descuento? (PWEH-deh ah-SEHR oon dehs-KWEHN-toh) - Can you give a discount?
38. ¿Acepta tarjetas de crédito? (ah-SEHP-tah tahr-HEH-tahs deh KREH-dee-toh) - Do you accept credit cards?
39. ¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero? (DOHN-deh PWEH-doh kahm-bee-AHR dee-NEH-roh) - Where can I exchange money?
40. Me lo llevo. (meh loh YEH-voh) - I'll take it.
41. Gracias, pero voy a pensarlo. (GRAH-see-ahs, PEH-roh voy ah pehn-SAHR-loh) - Thank you, but I'll think about it.

Emergency Situations 🚑🆘

42. ¡Ayuda! (ah-YOO-dah) - Help!
43. Necesito un médico. (neh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh) - I need a doctor.
44. Llame a una ambulancia, por favor. (YAH-meh ah OO-nah ahm-boo-LAHN-see-ah, pohr fah-VOHR) - Call an ambulance, please.
45. ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? (DOHN-deh ehs-TAH ehl ohs-pee-TAHL mahs sehr-KAH-noh) - Where is the nearest hospital?
46. Me robaron. (meh roh-BAH-rohn) - I was robbed.
47. Perdí mi pasaporte. (pehr-DEE mee pah-sah-POHR-teh) - I lost my passport.
48. ¿Puede llamar a la policía? (PWEH-deh yah-MAHR ah lah poh-lee-SEE-ah) - Can you call the police?

Making Friends 👥👫

49. ¿Quieres ir a...? (kee-EH-rehs eer ah...) - Do you want to go to...?
50. la playa (lah PLAH-yah) - the beach
51. el parque nacional (ehl PAHR-keh nah-see-oh-NAHL) - the national park
52. las cataratas (lahs kah-tah-RAH-tahs) - the waterfalls
53. ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? (kwahl ehs too NOO-meh-roh deh teh-LEH-foh-noh) - What's your phone number?
54. ¿Tienes planes para el fin de semana? (tee-EH-nehs PLAH-nehs PAH-rah ehl feen deh seh-MAH-nah) - Do you have plans for the weekend?
55. ¡Vamos a pasear! (VAH-mohs ah pah-seh-AHR) - Let's go for a walk/stroll!
56. ¿Te gustaría probar un trago típico? (teh goos-tah-REE-ah proh-BAHR oon TRAH-goh TEE-pee-koh) - Would you like to try a typical Costa Rican drink?

Costa Rican Slang 🗣️💬

57. Mae (MAH-eh) - Dude, buddy, or pal; a casual way to address friends. 👥
58. Tuanis (twah-NEES) - Cool, awesome, or great. 😎
59. Pura vida (POO-rah VEE-dah) - Pure life; a versatile phrase used to express positivity and good vibes. 🤙
60. Brete (BREH-teh) - Work or job. 💼
61. Chunche (CHOON-cheh) - A thing or object when you can't remember the proper name. 🤔
62. ¡Qué chiva! (keh CHEE-vah) - How cool or awesome! 🙌

Nature and Wildlife 🌿🦜

63. ¡Mira el perezoso! (MEE-rah ehl peh-reh-SOH-soh) - Look at the sloth!
64. ¿Viste el tucán? (VEES-teh ehl too-KAHN) - Did you see the toucan?
65. Hay muchos monos aquí. (ai MOO-chohs MOH-nohs ah-KEE) - There are many monkeys here.
66. ¡Qué hermosa la cascada! (keh ehr-MOH-sah lah kahs-KAH-dah) - How beautiful the waterfall is!
67. Vamos a hacer senderismo. (VAH-mohs ah ah-SEHR sehn-deh-REES-moh) - Let's go hiking.
68. Me encantan las playas de Costa Rica. (meh ehn-KAHN-tahn lahs PLAH-yahs deh KOH-stah REE-kah) - I love the beaches of Costa Rica.

Wrap-up and FAQ ❓✅

¡Felicidades, amigos! 🎉 You're now equipped with 75 essential Spanish phrases that will make your Costa Rican adventure truly unforgettable! Remember, don't be afraid to practice your new language skills with the friendly locals – they'll appreciate your effort and help you along the way. 💪

Frequently Asked Questions

1. 🌎 Is it necessary to speak Spanish in Costa Rica? While many Costa Ricans in the tourism industry speak English, learning some basic Spanish phrases will help you connect with the locals and show respect for their language and culture.
2. 💰 What currency is used in Costa Rica? The official currency in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican Colón (CRC). However, U.S. dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas.
3. 🔌 What type of electrical outlets are used in Costa Rica? Costa Rica uses the same electrical outlets as the United States (Type A and B), so you won't need an adapter if you're coming from the U.S. or Canada.
4. 🚰 Is the tap water safe to drink in Costa Rica? In most tourist destinations, the tap water is safe to drink. However, if you have a sensitive stomach, it's always a good idea to stick to bottled water.

Now, armed with your newfound Spanish skills and knowledge about Costa Rica, you're ready to embark on the trip of a lifetime! ¡Pura vida, amigos! 🌴☀️🇨🇷