Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

One  of the most widely used verbs in the Spanish language is “quedar.”  It usually means “to stay.”"Me quedo en el hotel” (I’m staying at the hotel). This verb is often used instead “Estar” when referring to location. ¿Dónde queda el supermercado? (Where is the supermarket?).

Quedar is also has a large number of idiomatic uses.

¿Queda azúcar? – Is there any sugar left
Sólo me quedan cinco dólares – I only have five dollars left.
quedar bien/mal – To make a good/bad impression on somebody
El trabajo quedó perfecto - The job turned out perfect.
quedar en + verb – to agree to
¿En qué quedamos? – How do we stand?
Quedarse ciego, sordo etc. – To go blind, deaf etc.
quedarse sin dinero – to be broke.
quedarse con – to keep something
quedarse atrás - to stay behind
quedarse limpio - to be cleaned out of money
hacer quedar en ridículo – to make someone look ridiculous
quedarle grande/ estrecho/ apretado etc. – to be too big, narrow, tight for (on) a person when referring to clothing.

Tiquismo (Costa Rican expression) of the week:
Quedarse con la jeta abierta means to be amazed or “in awe” of something.

One way you can improve your Spanish vocabulary is to open your eyes when walking along the street. If you look around you will see Spanish words in the windows of stores, on the sides of buildings and in many other places.

He is an example of what I saw in under ten minutes while walking in downtown Heredia.

Mercado Central – Central Market
hojalatería - tin shop where they make rain gutters, hoods for stoves, etc.
perfumería - perfume store
casa de empeño – pawn shop
se arregla ropa - alterations for clothing
sastrería - tailor
bufete - lawyer’s office
peluquería - barber
todas las marcas – all brands
repostería - pastry shop
se alquila - for rent
se necesita cocinero - cook wanted
tienda de mascotas – pet shop
ferretería - hardware store
zapatería - shoe store
pollo  frito – fried chicken
mueblería - furniture store
se toma la presión – blood pressure checked
descuentos – discounts
se vende – for sale
se alquila – for rent
dos por uno – two for one
chinamo or tramo – Costa Rican word for a sidewalk stand where almost anything can be sold. Puesto is the correct word in Spanish.

Tiquismo of the week:
Andar cargado – to have enough money on you when you go out