![]() It is a mantra I have learned to live by during my time here so far, and it is a mentality I hope to bring back to the States.'Mae' has NOTHING to do with English, it is technically a two-syllable word (both a and e are strong vowels in Spanish), and it used to be ' maje' which was then shorted to ma'e, which was the most common spelling even a decade ago. When my professor takes attendance in class, we respond with “Pura Vida” instead of “here” or “present”. I have heard it used as a response to how are you, as a way of saying hello or goodbye, or as a response to the outcome of practically any situation: good or bad. ![]() The general vibe of this country is very relaxed, and Ticos love enjoying life and not taking anything too seriously. It literally means “pura life”, which is exactly how Ticos live. ![]() I like to think that “Pura Vida” is the “Aloha” of Costa Rica Ticos say it for everything. I lied “Pura Vida” is much more common than the word “mae”. Bocas are typically paired with alcohol, so most menus at bars will be titled “Bocas” at the top instead of “Comida” which means food in Spanish. The word “boca” means “mouth” in Spanish, but in Costa Rica “bocas” are appetizers or “bar food” (nachos, fries, etc.) The idea is similar to “tapas”, which are appetizers or small meals served at bars and restaurants in Spain. For example, if a boss calls a meeting, and announces that an employee with similar credentials as several other employees has been given a promotion or special project who also happens to be on very good terms or friends with the boss, other employees will look at each other and make this gesture and roll their eyes. Like “qué codo”, “argolla” has a gesture: forming two interlocking circles with the pointer finger and thumb of both hands. This can also be a “teacher’s pet”, as we say in English. The phrase “hacerse el mae” (literal translation: to become a dude) means to be lazy and show little motivation to accomplish any goals or to be productive.Īn argolla is literally a hoop earring, but in Costa Rica it means a boss’s friend who gets special privileges because of their relationship with the boss. It is extremely informal, just like the English translation, and it can sometimes have a negative connotation. This Costa Rican slang word is perhaps the one I hear most it means “bro” or “dude” among teenagers and young adults. My host mom told me this phrase is a little older and that my generation doesn’t use it as often, but it means to go to bed early, while its literal translation is “to iron one’s ear”, as though when you go to bed early you glue or secure the side of your head to the pillow. My male Tico friend Julio told me that he and his friends will use this is a bar setting when one of them notices a girl they want to talk to, and the rest of the group tells him to go up to her and introduce himself. This phrase in English means “to send out the dogs”, but is used to describe when a guy flirts or “shoots his shot” with a girl. I have also heard it used to describe a person who is difficult to read, or who is not very open with their emotions. I learned this phrase from a bus driver, who told me that the roads and directions in Costa Rica are an arroz con mango. It translates to “rice with mango”, but something that is an “arroz con mango” is something very confusing or difficult to understand. My favorite part of this phrase is the gesture that accompanies it, which is holding one’s forearm parallel to the body, and tapping the elbow, hence the name of the phrase. As we leave the store, I would say “qué codo” either to my friend (as a means of insulting or criticizing them for being so cheap), or to the store clerk who helped them or attended to us while we were shopping, almost as an apology for my friend being too cheap to buy the item. Let’s say they see something they like, but after looking at the price tag, they decide it’s took expensive and they put it back or walk away. For example, you use this phrase when shopping with someone. This phrase literally translates to “what an elbow”, but the phrase refers to someone who is very cheap, even though they have enough money to buy something. Here is a list of some of my favorites that I have learned in the month I have been living in Costa Rica: Most of these I find funny and charming, and I was very confused the first time I heard them, as their literal translations make absolutely no sense. One of my favorite aspects of studying abroad is learning coloquial terms, idioms, and slang in Spanish, especially those specific to Costa Rica. Department of Spanish Program in Costa Rica, Spring
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