Costa Rica Spanish for expats and tourists: Part 3

A cachete: Means something is really good. A cachete inflado is a variation of the same expression.

Buchón: A person who wants everything for himself, or a hog. There is an expression: Cada buchón muere pelón ... People who want everything for themselves die bald.

Chante: One’s house or home. Choza (literally, a shack) is also used, but the more common Spanish word for home is casa or hogar.

Dar pelota: This term literally literally means to give someone a ball. It is used here when expressing the idea of paying attention to someone or taking them into account.

Gallo Pinto: A traditional breakfast dish consisting of rice, beans, cilantro, Lizano sauce and spices.

Jama: Food, and can refer to just about any meal or snack. Comida is the more common Spanish word for food.

Por aquello: This phrase means “just in case” and is used frequently in conversations. En caso de que also means “just in case.”

Por dicha: Fortunately or luckily. Por suerte or afortunadamente are other ways of expressing the same idea.

Presa: Literally means a “dam” or “prey.” In Costa Rican slang, it can mean a traffic jam or backlog of anything. Un presón is a huge traffic jam.

Rajón or Rajona: A show-off, or a person who likes to boast or brag.

Suave: Hold on! Or, relax! Or, take it easy!

Tata: Dad or father. Tatas are one’s parents.

Techo: Means “roof,” but can also mean someone’s head. Torre (tower) is also a slang word for someone’s head. Cabeza is the more common Spanish word for head.

Timba: A big belly or beer belly. Panza or barriga are also used. Timbuco is a really big beer belly.

Torta: Literally “cake” or “tart,” but in Costa Rica it can be a screw up or big mess. ¡Qué torta! … What a mess! Jalar torta is to get pregnant. A tortero is a person who gets into trouble frequently.

Tiquismos or Costa Rican expressions of the week:

Más largo que un domingo sin plata: “Longer that a Sunday without any money.” The day seems longer when you don’t have money to go out or do something.

Here are two other similar expressions that are slightly vulgar.

• Más largo que una meadita en moto: Longer than a stream of urine when riding on a motorcycle.
• Más largo que pedo de culebra: Longer than a snake’s fart.

Más tico que el gallo pinto: Just like the dish gallo pinto, this expression means anything that is authentically Costa Rican.

Pedir una cobija en el infierno: Literally, this expression means to ask for a blanket in hell. It is used in Costa Rica to refer to a person who gets cold very easily.