Language (Costa Rica)

The official national language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish, but it is spoken in their own way, style and mannerisms so it may sound slightly different.

Costa Rican Spanish, often referred to as "Tico" Spanish, has a distinct and friendly flair that reflects the country's relaxed and warm culture. The term "Tico" itself is a colloquial nickname for Costa Ricans. Locally, you might hear phrases like "pura vida," which translates to "pure life" but is used as a greeting, farewell, or to express that everything is going well.

In some of the main cities English is spoken. Please see the Spanish & Portuguese Phrasebook for a list of common words and phrases that might be useful to learn before your trip to Costa Rica.