Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

Below are some idiomatic expressions using the Spanish words for feet. Some of them are very funny.

Note that “pata” which is an animal’s foot is often used in jest for “pie,” the correct word.

Meter la pata – to put your foot in your mouth
Estar con una pata en la tumba – to have one foot in the grave
Tener un pie acá y otra allá – the same as the last expression
Tener un pie en el estribo – to have one foot out the door or be about to go
Perder el pie – to lose one’s footing
Estar de pie – to be standing (upright)
Estar en pie – to be standing in terms of an invitation, offer etc.
Pie de atleta – athlete’s feet (fungus)
Con patas de plomo – carefully or timidly
Pies planos – flat feet
Ligero de pie – quick footed
Empezar con el pie derecho – to start off on the right foot
Empezar con el pie izquierdo – to start off on the wrong foot
Nacer de pie – to be born lucky
Cojear del mismo pie – birds of a feather…also pájaros del mismo plumaje or tal para cual
De pies a cabeza – from head to toe
Al pie del cañon – on the job or working
A pie – on foot (walking)
A pata –on foot  also. Troleada is also used in Costa Rica.
Saber de qué pie cojea – to know one’s weakness
Buscar tres pies al gato – to look for trouble
Ponerle la pata – to your foot down on someone
Al pie de la cama – at the foot of the bed
Al pie de la letra – literally, verbatim, word for word
No tener ni pies ni cabeza – to make no sense
Estirar la pata – to die
Patear el balde – to kick the bucket or die
Patituerto – pigeon-toed (in some countries)

In Costa Rica:
Pata alzada – a person who likes to party
Pata caliente – a person who likes to travel or hang out on the street.  Pata de perro is also used
Pata de chanco – a type of crow bar
A pata pelada – barefoot
Bailar en una pata – to jump for joy or be happy..saltando de alegría is also used
Echar patas – used when something is robbed or disappears
Salir con una pata de banco – used to to refer to a single woman who is pregnant
Volar pata – to walk a lot
Patasvueltas – a good for nothing or insignificant person

Tiquismo of the week: Con toda la pata – means fantastic or great. According to renowned Costa Rican linguist,  Ricardo Dávila, this expression is based on the rush that one gets from flooring the accelerator of a car on the open highway and feeling like the king of the road.

If you have traveled in Latin America, you will probably have noticed words in stores’ windows or on signs that end in ería (pronounced air – EE-ah).

This suffix or ending is used in Spanish to name most stores and shops.

The following are the names of some stores in Spanish.
la tortillería – a tortilla factory
la zapatería – shoe store
la peluquería – barber shop
la joyería – jewelry shop
la ferretería – hardware store
la mueblería – furniture store
la camisería – shirt store
la sastrería – tailor’s shop
la panadería – bakery
la carnicería – meat market
la hamburguesería – hamburger stand
la pescadería – fish store
la pastelería – pastry shop
la florería or floristería – flower shop
la juguetería – toy store
la librería – bookstore
la galletería – cookie shop
la heladería – ice cream shop
la verdulería – vegetable shop
la frutería – fruit shop or stand
la maderería – lumber yard but in Costa Rica depósito de madera
la vidrieriá – a glass shop

Below are some stores, shops and businesses that don’t fit the pattern.
`      la pulpería – a small corner grocery store  in Costa Rica often called la pulpe
el restaurante – restaurant
el salón de belleza – beauty parlor
la tienda por departamentos – department store
el cine – movie theater
el taller mecánico – car repair shop
el banco – bank
la tienda de mascotas – pet store
la tintorería – dry cleaning
la pasamanería – sewing supply store
la talbatería – leather supply store

Tiquismos of the week:  Embarcar to trick someone into doing something, to put someone on the spot or get them involved in something. Actually the correct verb in Spanish is Embaucar.
Mamulón – an adult that acts like a child

Here are some idiomatic uses of tocar which I didn’t really explain in my last article so as to not confuse people.

(1) tocarle a uno - Example … Le tocó un dólar a cada uno….Each one got a dollar as his share.

(2) esto no te toca a tí – this doesn’t concern you

(3) por lo que a mí me toca – as far as I am concerned  You can also use Por mí to express the same idea

(4) me toca el corazón – it touches my heart (moved me).

(5) tocar a la puerta – to knock on a door

(6) le toca el número ganador – he has the winning number

(7) tocarle a uno – used a lot and means to be one’s turn. Example…. Le toca jugar. It’s his turn to play. You can also say …es su turno jugar

Tiquismo - Bailar al son que le toca – to do as one is told