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phrase book
Costa Rican Spanish is essentially the same as the Castilian spoken in Spain, with some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation. The most noticeable difference is the pronunciation of the soft “c” and the letter “z” as “s” rather than “th”.
In an Emergency
| Help! | ¡Socorro! | soh-koh-roh |
| Stop! | ¡Pare! | pah-reh |
| Call a doctor! | ¡Llame a un médico! | yah-meh ah oon meh-dee-koh |
| Fire! | ¡Fuego! | foo-eh-goh |
| Could you help me? | ¿Me podría ayudar? | meh poh-dree-yah ah-yoo-dahr |
| policeman | policía | poh-lee-see-ah |
Need to know Phrasebook
Communication Essentials
| Yes | Sí | see |
| No | No | noh |
| Please | Por favor | pohr fah-vohr |
| Thank you | Gracias | grah-see-ahs |
| Excuse me | Perdone | pehr-doh-neh |
| Hello | Hola | oh-lah |
| Good morning | Buenos días | bweh-nohs dee-ahs |
| Good afternoon | Buenas tardes | bweh-nahs tahr-dehs |
| Good night | Buenas noches | bweh-nahs noh-chehs |
| Bye (casual) | Chao | cha-oh |
| Goodbye | Adiós | ah-dee-ohs |
| See you later | Hasta luego | ah-stah loo-weh-goh |
| Morning | La mañana | lah mah-nyah-nah |
| Afternoon | La tarde | lah tahr-deh |
| Night | La noche | lah noh-cheh |
| Yesterday | Ayer | ah-yehr |
| Today | Hoy | oy |
| Tomorrow | Mañana | mah-nyah-nah |
| Here | Aquí | ah-kee |
| There | Allá | ah-yah |
| What? | ¿Qué? | keh |
| When? | ¿Cuándo? | kwahn-doh |
| Why? | ¿Por qué? | pohr-keh |
| Where? | ¿Dónde? | dohn-deh |
| How are you? | ¿Cómo está usted? | koh-moh ehs-tah oos-tehd |
| Very well, thank you | Muy bien, gracias | mwee bee-ehn grah-see-ahs |
| Pleased to meet you | Mucho gusto | moo-choh goo-stoh |
| I’m sorry | Lo siento | loh see-ehn-toh |
Need to know Phrasebook
Useful Phrases
| That’s fine | Está bien | ehs-tah bee-ehn |
| Great/fantastic! | ¡Qué bien! | keh bee-ehn |
| Where does this road go? | ¿Adónde va esta calle? | ah-dohn-deh bah ehs-tah kah-yeh |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés? | ah-blaheen-glehs |
| I don’t understand | No comprendo | noh kohm-prehn-doh |
| I want | Quiero | kee-yehr-oh |
Need to know Phrasebook
Useful Words
| big | grande | grahn-deh |
| small | pequeño/a | peh-keh-nyoh/nyah |
| hot | caliente | kah-lee-ehn-teh |
| cold | frío/a | free-oh/ah |
| good | bueno/a | bweh-noh/nah |
| bad | malo/a | mah-loh/lah |
| open | abierto/a | ah-bee-ehr-toh/tah |
| closed | cerrado/a | sehr-rah-doh/dah |
| left | izquierda | ees-key-ehr-dah |
| right | derecha | deh-reh-chah |
| near | cerca | sehr-kah |
| far | lejos | leh-hohs |
| up | arriba | ah-ree-bah |
| down | abajo | ah-bah-hoh |
| early | temprano | tehm-prah-noh |
| late | tarde | tahr-deh |
| now/very soon | ahora/ahorita | ah-ohr-ah/ah-ohr-ee-tah |
| more | más | mahs |
| less | menos | meh-nohs |
| very | muy | mwee |
| a little | (un) poco | (oon) poh-koh |
| opposite | frente a | frehn-teh ah |
| below/above | abajo/arriba | ah-bah-hoh/ |
| entrance | entrada | ehn-trah-dah |
| exit | salida | sah-lee-dah |
| stairs | escaleras | ehs-kah-leh-rahs |
| elevator | el ascensor | ehl ah-sehn-sohr |
| toilets | baños/servicios sanitarios | bah-nyohs/sehr-vee-see-yohs sah-nee-tah-ree-ohs |
| women’s | de damas | deh dah-mahs |
| men’s | de caballeros | deh kah-bah-yeh-rohs |
| sanitary napkins | toallas sanitarias | toh-ah-yahs sah-nee-tah-ree-yahs |
| tampons | tampones | tahm-poh-nehs |
| condoms | condones | kohn-doh-nehs |
| toilet paper | papel higiénico | pah-pehl hee-hyen-ee-koh |
| (non-)smoking area | área de (no) fumar | ah-ree-ah deh (noh) foo-mahr |
| camera (a roll of) film | la cámara (un rollo de) película | lah kah-mah-rah (oon roh-yoh deh) peh-lee-koo-lah |
| batteries | las pilas | lahs pee-lahs |
| passport | pasaporte | pah-sah-pohr-teh |
| visa | visa | vee-sah |
Need to know Phrasebook
Post Offices and Banks
| post office | oficina de correos | oh-fee-see-nah deh kohr-reh-ohs |
| stamps | estampillas | ehs-tahm-pee-yahs |
| postcard | una postal | oo-nah pohs-tahl |
| postbox | apartado | ah-pahr-tah-doh |
| cashier | cajero | kah-heh-roh |
| ATM | cajero automático | kah-heh-roh ahw-toh-mah-tee-koh |
| bank | banco | bahn-koh |
| What is the dollar rate? | ¿A cómo está el dolar? | ah koh-moh ehs- tah ehl doh-lahr |
Need to know Phrasebook
Shopping
| How much does… this cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta… esto? | Kwahn-toh… kwehs-tah ehs-toh |
| Do you have? | ¿Tienen? | tee-yeh-nehn |
| Do you take credit cards/traveler’s checks? | ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito/cheques de viajero? | ahk-sehp-tahn tahr-heh-tahs deh kreh-dee-toh/cheh-kehs deh vee-ah-heh-roh |
| discount | un descuento | oon dehs-koo-ehn-toh |
| expensive | caro | kahr-oh |
| cheap | barato | bah-rah-toh |
| clothes | la ropa | lah roh-pah |
| size, clothes | talla | tah-yah |
| size, shoes | número | noo-mehr-oh |
| bakery | panadería | pah-nah-deh- ree-ah |
| bookstore | librería | lee-breh-ree-ah |
| grocer’s | pulpería | pool-peh-ree-ah |
| market | mercado | mehr-kah-doh |
| shoe store | la zapatería | lah sah-pah-teh-ree-ah |
| supermarket | el supermercado | ehl soo-pehr-mehr-kah-doh |
| travel agency | la agencia de viajes | lah ah-hehn-see-ah deh vee-ah-hehs |
Need to know Phrasebook
Sightseeing
| bay | bahía | bah-ee-ah |
| beach | playa | plah-yah |
| building | edificio | eh-dee-fee-see-oh |
| cathedral | catedral | kah-teh-drahl |
| church | iglesia | ee-gleh-see-ah |
| farm | finca | feehn-kah |
| forest | bosque/selva | bohs-keh/sehl-bah |
| garden | jardín | hahr-deen |
| lake | lago/laguna | lah-goh/lah-goo-nah |
| mangrove | manglar | mahn-glahr |
| mountain peak | cerro | seh-roh |
| mountain range | cordillera | kohr-dee-yeh-rah |
| museum | museo | moo-seh-oh |
| neighborhood | barrio | bah-ree-oh |
| port | puerto | poo-her-toh |
| ranger station | puesto de guardia | poo-ehs-toh deh goo-ahr-dee-ah |
| river | río | ree-oh |
| trail | sendero | sehn-deh-roh |
| theater | teatro | teh-ah-troh |
| tourist information office | oficina de turismo | oh-fee-see-nah deh too-rees-moh |
| viewpoint | mirador | mee-rah-dohr |
| ticket | el boleto/la entrada | ehl boh-leh-toh lah ehn-trah-dah |
| guide (person) | el/la guía | ehl/lah gee-ah |
| guide (book) | la guía | lah gee-ah |
| guided tour | una visita guiada | oo-nah vee-see- tah gee-ah-dah |
| map | el mapa | ehl mah-pah |
Need to know Phrasebook
Health
| I feel ill | Me siento mal | meh seh-ehn-toh mahl |
| We need a doctor | Necesitamos un médico | neh-seh-see-tah-mohs oon meh- dee-koh |
| drug store | farmacia | fahr-mah-see-ah |
| medicine | medicina | meh-dee-see-nah |
| ambulance | ambulancia | ahm-boo-lahn-see-ah |
| mosquito coils | espirales | ehs-pee-rah-lehs |
Need to know Phrasebook
Transportation
| When does the… leave? | ¿A qué hora sale el…? | ah keh oh-rah sah-leh ehl…? |
| Is there a bus to…? | ¿Hay un bus a…? | eye oon boohs ah…? |
| bus station | la estación de autobuses | lah ehs-tah-see-ohn deh aw-toh- boo-sehs |
| ticket office | la boletería | lah boh-leh-teh-ree-ah |
| airport | aeropuerto | ah-ehr-oh-poo- ehr-toh |
| customs | la aduana | lah ah-doo-ah-nah |
| taxi stand/rank | la parada de taxis | lah pah-rah-dah deh tahk-sees |
| car rental | rent a car | rehn-tah cahr |
| motorcycle | la moto(cicleta) | lah moh-toh-(see-kleh-tah) |
| 4WD | doble tracción | doh-bleh trahk-siohn |
| bicycle | la bicicleta | lah bee-see-kleh-tah |
| water-taxi | una panga/un bote | oo-nah pahn-gah/oon boh-teh |
| aerial tram | teleférico | teh-leh-feh-ree-koh |
| insurance | los seguros | lohs seh-goo-rohs |
| gas station | gasolinera | gah-soh-leen-ehr-ah |
| garage | taller de mecánica | tah-yehr deh meh-kahn-ee-kah |
| I have a flat tire | Se me ponchó la llanta | seh meh pohn-shoh lah yahn-tah |
Need to know Phrasebook
Staying in a Hotel
| I have a | Tengo una | tehn-goh oo-nah |
| reservation | reservación | reh-sehr-vah-see-ohn |
| Do you have a vacant room? | ¿Tienen una habitación libre? | tee-eh-nehn oo- nah ah-bee-tah-see-ohnlee-breh |
| double room | habitación doble | ah-bee-tah-see-ohn doh-bleh |
| single room | habitación sencilla | ah-bee-tah-see-ohn sehn-see-yah |
| room with a bath | habitación con baño | ah-bee-tah-see-ohn kohn bah-nyoh |
| shower | la ducha | lah doo-chah |
| The … is not working | No funciona el/la… | noh foon-see-oh- nah ehl/lah… |
| Where is the dining-room/bar? | ¿Dónde está el restaurante/el bar? | dohn-deh ehs-tah ehl rehs-toh-rahn-teh/ehl bahr |
| hot/cold water | agua caliente/fría | ah-goo-ah kah-lee-ehn-teh/free-ah |
| soap | el jabón | ehl hah-bohn |
| towel | la toalla | lah toh-ah-yah |
| key | la llave | lah yah-veh |
Need to know Phrasebook
Eating Out
| Have you got a table for …? | ¿Tienen mesa para…? | tee-eh-nehn meh-sah pah-rah…? |
| I want to reserve a table | Quiero reservar una mesa | kee-eh-roh reh-sehr-vahr oo-nah meh-sah |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor | lah kwehn-tah pohr fah-vohr |
| I am a vegetarian | Soy vegetariano/a | soy veh-heh-tah-ree-ah-no/na |
| waiter/waitress | mesero/a | meh-seh-roh/rah |
| menu | la carta | lah kahr-tah |
| fixed-price menu | menú del día | meh-noo dehl dee-ah |
| wine list | la carta de vinos | lah kahr-tah deh vee-nohs |
| glass | un vaso | oon vah-soh |
| bottle | una botella | oo-nah boh-teh- yah |
| knife | un cuchillo | oon koo-chee-yoh |
| fork | un tenedor | oon teh-neh-dohr |
| spoon | una cuchara | oo-nah koo-chah-rah |
| napkin | la servilleta | lah sehr-vee-yeh-tah |
| breakfast | el desayuno | ehl deh-sah-yoo-noh |
| lunch | almuerzo | ahl-moo-ehr-soh |
| dinner | la cena | lah seh-nah |
| main course | el plato fuerte | ehl plah-toh foo-ehr-teh |
| starters | las entradas | lahs ehn-trah-das |
| dish of the day | el plato del día | ehl plat-toh dehl dee-ah |
| rare | término rojo | tehr-mee-noh roh-hoh |
| medium | término medio | tehr-mee-noh meh-dee-oh |
| well done | bien cocido | bee-ehn koh-see-doh |
| chair | la silla | lah see-yah |
| Is service included? | ¿El servicio está incluido? | ehl sehr-vee-see-oh ehs-tah een-kloo-ee-doh |
| ashtray | cenicero | seh-nee-seh-roh |
| cigarettes | los cigarros | lohs see-gah-rohs |
| food stall | una soda | oo-nah soh-dah |
| neighborhood bar | una cantina/un bar | oo-nah kahn-tee-nah/oon bahr |
Need to know Phrasebook
Menu Decoder
| el aceite | ah-see-eh-teh | oil |
| las aceitunas | ah-seh-toon-ahs | olives |
| el agua mineral | ah-gwa mee-neh-rahl | mineral water |
| el arroz | ahr-rohs | rice |
| el azúcar | ah-soo-kahr | sugar |
| una bebida | beh-bee-dah | drink |
| boca | boh-kah | snack |
| el café | kah-feh | coffee |
| la carne | kahr-neh | meat |
| el cerdo | sehr-doh | pork |
| la cerveza | sehr-veh-sah | beer |
| el chocolate | choh-koh-lah-teh | chocolate |
| la ensalada | ehn-sah-lah-dah | salad |
| la fruta | froo-tah | fruit |
| el helado | eh-lah-doh | ice cream |
| el huevo | oo-eh-voh | egg |
| el jugo | hoo-goh | juice |
| la leche | leh-cheh | milk |
| la mantequilla | mahn-teh-kee-yah | butter |
| los mariscos | mah-rees-kohs | seafood |
| el pan | pahn | bread |
| las papas | pah-pahs | potatoes |
| las papas a la francesa | pah-pahs ah lah frahn-seh-sah | French fries |
| las papas fritas | pah-pahs free-tahs | potato chips |
| el pastel | pahs-tehl | cake |
| el pescado | pehs-kah-doh | fish |
| picante | pee-kahn-teh | spicy |
| la pimienta | pee-mee-yehn-tah | pepper |
| el pollo | poh-yoh | chicken |
| el postre | pohs-treh | dessert |
| el queso | keh-soh | cheese |
| el refresco | reh-frehs-koh | soft drink/soda |
| la sal | sahl | salt |
| la sopa | soh-pah | soup |
| el sánguche | sahn-goo-she | sandwich |
| el té negro | teh neh-groh | tea |
| la torta | tohr-tah | burger |
| las tostadas | tohs-tah-dahs | toast |
| el vino blanco | vee-noh blahn-koh | white wine |
| el vino tinto | vee-noh teen-toh | red wine |
Need to know Phrasebook
Culture and Society
| campesino | cahm-peh-see-noh | subsistence farmer |
| cantón | cahn-tohn | county |
| carreta | cah-reh-tah | oxcart |
| cumbia | coom-bee-ah | Columbian music |
| Josefino | hoh-seh-fee-noh | resident of San José |
| marimba | mah-reem-bah | kind of xylophone |
| merengue | meh-rehn-geh | fast-paced Dominican music |
| sabanero | sah-bah-neh-roh | cowboy |
| salsa | sahl-sah | Cuban dance music |
| Tico/costarricense | tee-coh/cohs-tah-ree-sehn-seh | Costa Rican |
Need to know Phrasebook
Numbers
| 0 | cero | seh-roh |
| 1 | uno | oo-noh |
| 2 | dos | dohs |
| 3 | tres | trehs |
| 4 | cuatro | kwa-troh |
| 5 | cinco | seen-koh |
| 6 | seis | says |
| 7 | siete | see-eh-teh |
| 8 | ocho | oh-choh |
| 9 | nueve | nweh-veh |
| 10 | diez | dee-ehs |
| 11 | once | ohn-seh |
| 12 | doce | doh-seh |
| 13 | trece | treh-seh |
| 14 | catorce | kah-tohr-seh |
| 15 | quince | keen-seh |
| 16 | dieciséis | dee-eh-see-seh-ees |
| 17 | diecisiete | dee-eh-see-see-eh-teh |
| 18 | dieciocho | dee-eh-see-oh-choh |
| 19 | diecinueve | dee-eh-see-nweh-veh |
| 20 | veinte | veh-een-teh |
| 30 | treinta | treh-een-tah |
| 40 | cuarenta | kwah-rehn-tah |
| 50 | cincuenta | seen-kwehn-tah |
| 60 | sesenta | seh-sehn-tah |
| 70 | setenta | seh-tehn-tah |
| 80 | ochenta | oh-chehn-tah |
| 90 | noventa | noh-vehn-tah |
| 100 | cien | see-ehn |
| 500 | quinientos | khee-nee-ehn-tohs |
| 1,000 | mil | meel |
| 1,001 | mil uno | meel oo-noh |
| 5,000 | cinco mil | seen-koh meel |
Need to know Phrasebook
Time
| one minute | un minuto | oon mee-noo-toh |
| one hour | una hora | oo-nah oh-rah |
| Monday | lunes | loo-nehs |
| Tuesday | martes | mahr-tehs |
| Wednesday | miércoles | mee-ehr-koh-lehs |
| Thursday | jueves | hoo-weh-vehs |
| Friday | viernes | vee-ehr-nehs |
| Saturday | sábado | sah-bah-doh |
| Sunday | domingo | doh-meen-goh |
| January | enero | eh-neh-roh |
| February | febrero | feh-breh-roh |
| March | marzo | mahr-soh |
| April | abril | ah-breel |
| May | mayo | mah-yoh |
| June | junio | hoo-nee-oh |
| July | julio | hoo-lee-oh |
| August | agosto | ah-gohs-toh |
| September | setiembre | seh-tee-ehm-breh |
| October | octubre | ohk-too-breh |
| November | noviembre | noh-vee-ehm-breh |
| December | diciembre | dee-see-ehm-breh |
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