Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

Having mechanical problems with your car is an unpleasant experience not to mention when you are in a country where English is not widely spoken . Memorizing the phrases and vocabulary below is an importamt Spanish survival skill which will help you communicate your car problems to your mechanic, emergency highway personnel, police or anyone else.

¿Hay un taller mecánico por aquí? - Is there a car repair shop around here?
mecánico - mechanic
mi coche está averiado, mi carro está descompuesto or mi carro no funciona - My car doesn’t work.
estación de gasolina, gasolinera or estación de servicio - gas station
no tiene gasolina - It’s out of gas
aceite - oil
agua - water
llanta desinflada or ponchada - flat tire
no arranca or no enciende - It won’t start.
La batería está muerta - The battery is dead.
arranque - starter
el parabrisas - windshield
Mi carro hace un ruido raro - My car is making a strange noise.
Necesito un carro de remolque/grúa. -I need a tow truck.
luces, faros - headlights
gato - jack
portaequipaje, baúl - trunk
quema aceite - It burns oil
¿Qué tiene mi carro? - What’s the wrong with my car?
el radiador - radiator
Huele a quemado - It smell like something is burning.
¿Cuánto tiempo tardará la reparación? - How long will the repair take?
¿Cuánto cuesta? - How much will it cost?
Los frenos no funcionan. - The brakes don’t work.
llanta de repuesto - spare tire

Tiquismo of the week: Tajo in Costa Rica is a stone quarry. The correct word in Spanish is Cantera.

It’s well worth your while to memorize these phrases if you plan to travel or reside in a Spanish-speaking country. Knowing these expressons will help you keep appointments, make schedules, buy plane tickets, etc.

mediodía - noon
medianoche - midnight
a principios de (mayo) - at the beginning of May
a mediados de (julio) - in the middle of July
a finales de (agosto) - at the end of August
¿Qué día es hoy? - What day is it today?
el lunes - It’s Monday
el sábado que viene - next Saturday
el lunes pasado - last Monday
antes del sábado - before Saturday
después del viernes - before Friday
ayer - yesterday
anteayer - day before yesterday
mañana por la mañana - tomorrow morning
pasado mañana - the day after tomorrow

Tiquismo of the week: Tapis refers to an alcholic bererage in Costa Rica.