lacra – a thief or person with a bad reputation. Los políticos no parecen lacras, pero tenga cuidado con ellos, porque muchos lo son. Politicians don’t always look like bad guys, but be careful, because some of them truly are.
largarto – literally means lizard but in Costa Rica it can refer to a man who has all of the women for himself or someone who ‘hogs’ something. Buchón is also a person who hogs things in Costa Rica. There is an expression, “Todo buchón, muere pelón.” All people who hog things die bald.
Lance– a person with whom one has an unexpected romance at a bar, disco, etc. José está casado pero trae un lance con una salvadoreña. José is married but he picked up a woman from el Salvador.
largo – far or very distant. La playa está muy largo. The beach is far away. However, the correct Spanish word is lejos. Liberia está muy lejos. Liberia is far away.
lapicero – a ball point pen in Costa Rica Rica. The correct word for ball point pen is bolígrafo.
lata – a bus. The correct word for bus is autobús. Lata can also mean a tin can or a pest/nuisance/pain in the butt.