Choosing a country: Correctness of the language spoken
Correctness of the language spoken
Correctness of the language spoken Does the local dialect include a lot of expressions/words that may not be used or understood in other Spanish speaking countries?
As already discussed in the webpage Accent , Costa Rican Spanish has some differences compared to other Spanish speaking countries. The same goes for their expressions. You will find that Costa Rican Spanish is a very dynamic language, full of unique sayings, which are called “Tiquismos”. An example is the word Besar . Usually this means to kiss someone, but in Costa Rica it is sometimes used when two cars crash directly facing each other. The word Bomba is used to describe a gas station in Costa Rica, although Gasolinera or estaci n de servicio are the correct words.
Usually, Costa Ricans will avoid saying these particular expressions and slang when they know you are not a native. Everyone is able to speak proper Spanish, so they will try their best to involve you in conversations.
Pura Vida
A word which is very popular and what you will hear often is “Pura Vida”. Literally this means “pure life”, but it is also used to say “full of life”, “perfect” and it can be used as a greeting, as a response to how you are doing, a toast, instead of saying “good bye” and to tell someone to relax. The meaning of Pura Vida in Costa Rica is less a motto and more a way of life. Pura Vida is the realization and understanding that not everything goes according to your plans, but you should accept it and move on. This realization contributes to the spirit of “If we are here and we are healthy, life is good!”, not complaining over the small things in life. You will find that this spirit is the core of all the warmhearted people in Costa Rica.