Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

Colacho – Costa Rican version of Santa
esferas – bright colored balls for a Christmas tree
muérdago – mistletoe
oropel – tinsel
adornos – decorations
arbol – tree
corona – Christmas reef
villancico – Christmas carol
reno - reindeer
portal or nacimiento – a nativity scene
Avenidazo – Nightly Christmas celebration held on San Jose’s Avenida Central prior to Christmas
Los Reyes Magos – the wise men
nochebuena or vispera de Navidad – Christmas eve
Navidad - Christmas
El dia de Navidad – Christmas Day
Nochevieja – New Year’s Eve
El día del Año Nuevo – New Year’s Day
Recibir el año nuevo – see in the New Year
propósito – New Year’s resolution
¿Cuál es su propósito para el Año Nuevo? - What’s you New Year’s resolution?

Tiquismo – cumiche is the youngest child in Costa Rica

The following verbs are used to describe actions by different parts of the body.

Arrodillarse - to kneel down….comes from the word rodilla (knee)
Boquear - to gasp for air….comes from the word boca (mouth)
Bracear - to move the arms when swimming…..derived from the word brazo (arm)
Cabecear - to nod ones head…. from the word cabeza (head).
Codear - to elbow someone or “rub elbows” with someone….from the word codo (elbow)
Colear - to wang a tail,wiggle or move tail-first…derived from the word cola(tail).
Desnucar - to break ones neck… from the noun nuca (back of the neck).
Manosear - to handle, touch, fondle or feel….. from the word mano (hand).
Muñequear - to play with the wrist or move it… from muñeca (wrist).
Nalgear - to spank someone…. from the word nalga (butt).
Ojear - to eye, look or stare at…. from the word ojo (eye).
Patear - to kick…comes from the word pata (animal’s foot).
Respaldar - to back or support someone…from the noun espalda (back of the body).

El and un are always used immediately before singular feminine nouns beginning with stressed a- or ha.

Here are some examples:

el agua – water
el/un águila - eagle
el/un alba – dawn
el/un alma – soul
el/un alza – an increase
el/un ancla – anchor
el/un área – area
el/un arpa – harp
el asma – asthma
el/un aula – classroom
el/un hacha – axe
el/un hada – fairy
el/un hambre – hunger
el hampa – underworld (crime)
el haya – beech (tree)

Tiquismo of the week:

Jumas or jumo means drunk in Costa Rica. Jumarse means to get drunk