1. Mae (Pronounced: “my”)

Meaning: Dude, bro, man, friend — basically everything.

Without exaggeration, this is the most used word in Costa Rica. In fact, you’ll hear it everywhere.

For example:

• “Mae, ¿todo bien?”
• “Mae, qué calor.”
• “Diay, mae…”

It’s extremely casual. Therefore, use it with friends.
However, skip it with your immigration officer.

2. Diay (or “Idiay”)

There’s no exact English translation. Instead, the meaning depends on the moment.

It can mean:

• Well…
• So…
• What happened?
• Obviously.
• What did you expect?

For instance, the power goes out again. You shrug and say, “Diay…”

At that point, everyone understands.

3. Tuanis

Meaning: Cool, good, nice.

This is classic Costa Rican slang. Many people believe it came from “too nice.”

You might hear:

• “Todo tuanis.”
• “Está tuanis.”

It’s friendly and positive. As a result, it’s easy to use without sounding awkward.

4. Qué chiva

Meaning: How cool! / That’s awesome!

Here, “chiva” describes something fun or exciting.

For example:

• “¡Qué chiva ese lugar!”
• “La fiesta estuvo chivísima.”

If you want to sound more natural, this phrase helps. Still, don’t overuse it.

5. Cerveza

Meaning: Beer.

In Costa Rica, people usually say cerveza. It works everywhere — from a roadside soda to a beachfront bar.

You may hear someone say birra. However, cerveza is more common and always safe.

For example:

• “Vamos por unas cervezas.”
• “Una cerveza fría, por favor.”

Simple. Direct. Effective.

6. Ahorita

This word can test your patience.

Technically, it means “right now.” In reality, it could mean five minutes, thirty minutes, or even tomorrow.

If someone says, “Llego ahorita,” don’t panic. Instead, relax.

Time works differently here.

7. Plata

Meaning: Money.

Unlike some other Spanish-speaking countries, Costa Ricans usually say plata.

For example:

• “No tengo plata.”
• “Es mucha plata.”

Because you’ll talk about money often, this word matters.

8. Teja

Meaning: 100 colones.

At first, this sounds confusing. However, it’s simple once you understand it.

• 1 teja = 100 colones
• 10 tejas = 1,000 colones

So, if someone says, “Vale cinco tejas,” they mean 500 colones.

After a while, it becomes second nature.

9. Upe

Pronounced “OO-peh.”

Traditionally, this is how you announce yourself at someone’s home. Instead of knocking quietly, you call out:

“¡Upe!”

Then, someone responds:

“¡Pase!”

It’s respectful and very Costa Rican.

10. Despiche

Small warning — this one’s slangy.

Meaning: A mess. Chaos. A disaster.

For example:

• “Qué despiche.”
• “Hay un despiche en la carretera.”

Use it carefully. Nevertheless, you will hear it.

Final Rule: Don’t Try Too Hard

Here’s the key.

If you say “mae” five times in one sentence, people will notice. Instead, keep it natural.

The goal isn’t to sound like you were born in San José. Rather, it’s to:

• Understand conversations
• Connect comfortably
• Respond without freezing

Start small. Then build from there.

And yes, you can still say “Pura Vida.”

Just not every 30 seconds. 😎