Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

The word “paso” has a variety of meanings and is used in a many expressions. It can mean: pace, footstep, a mountain pass and more.

A buen paso – at a good speed
A dos pasos – near to here. A pocos pasos, a un brinco or a un tiro de piedra (a stone’s throw away) are also used to express the same idea.
A este paso – at that rate. A este paso vamos a llegar en un par de horas. At this rate we will arrive in a couple of hours.
A pasos agigantados – by leaps and bounds Estamos mejorando a pasos agigantados. We are improving by leaps and bounds.
Acelerar el paso – to go faster. Tenemos que acelerar el paso si queremos llegar a tiempo. We have to go faster if we expect to arrive on time.
Aflojar el paso - to slow down. Aflojá el paso mae o vamos a llegar muy temparano. Slow down man or we’ll get there too early.
Apretar el paso – to hurry up. This means the same as acelerar el paso.
Dar los primeros pasos – to make the first move. Dar el primer paso is also used.
Dar un paso – to take a step
Salir de su paso – to change one’s normal routine or ways
Salir del paso – to get out of trouble
Volver sobre los pasos – to retrace one’s steps or go over one’s tracks.

Tiquismos (Costa Rican Expressions) of the week:

Meter la chancleta – means to go faster
Moncha – hunger. Tener hambre is the correct expression.
Monchis - also hunger
Monchar – to eat, Jamar is also used. The correct word is “comer.”

The word “paso” has a variety of meanings and is used in a many expressions

A cada paso – at every turn Fracaso a cada paso. I fail every step of the way.
A paso de tortuga – at a snail’s pace. José hace todo a paso de tortuga. Joe does everything at a snail’s pace.
Abrir paso a tiros – to shoot one’s way through. Los soldados abrieron paso a tiros por la multitud. The soldiers shot their way through the crowd.
Abrir paso por – To make one’s way through or force one’s way through. Los exploradores abririeron paso por la selva. The explorers made their way through the jungle.
Andar en malos pasos – to be on the wrong track or to do something bad. Los adolecentes andan en malos pasos. The teenagers are on their way to getting into trouble.
Ceder el paso – to yield the right of way. Knowing this expression can help non-Spanish speaker avoid car accidents. El chofer cedío el paso. The driver yielded the right of way.
Cerrar el paso – to cut someone off El futbolista le cerró el paso al otro jugador. The football player cut off the other player.
Dar un paso en falso – to take a false step. El dio un paso en falso y se cayó. He took a false step and fell.
Estar de paso –to be passing through a town, etc.
Llevar or marcar el paso – to keep time
Marcapasos – a pacemaker for the heart
Paso a paso –step by step Seguí las instrucciones paso a paso. I followed the directions step by step.
Paso de peatones or paso peatonal – crosswalk
Prohibido el paso – no trespassing El Rótulo dice “prohibido el paso.” The sign says “No trespassing.”
Salir al paso – to confront
Seguir los pasos – to follow in one’s footsteps. Mi hijo va a seguir mis pasos. My son is going to follow in my footsteps.
Un paso en la dirección adecuada –a step in the right direction José dio un paso en la dirección adecuada. Joe took a step in the right direction (figurative).

Tiquismos (Costa Rican Expressions) of the week:

Miado – to have bad luck (vulgar)
Tome para el pinto – take this you S.O.B. (vulgar)
Besar las huellas de tus pies – to worship the ground someone walks on