Languages in Costa Rica

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Spanish

Spanish is the official language in this medical tourism paradise.  There are two forms of Spanish that are spoken in Costa Rica – the regular Costa Rican dialect and the Nicoyan dialect. The country’s proximity to Nicaragua has given rise to a distinctive Nicoyan accent close to the border.  

The Spanish spoken here is rich and full of idioms and local flavors.  If you’re a Spanish speaker, one of the first things that will strike you about the local language is the way they attach the suffix "tico" (meaning “little”) to many words.  For instance, “poquito” in Spanish (which is the diminutive term for few) becomes “poquitico” in Costa Rican Spanish.  They do this with much of their vocabulary, and although startling in the beginning, this affectation adds to the overall charm and friendliness of daily interactions.  In addition, natives of Costa Rica are often affectionately referred to as “ticos.”   

Costa Rican Spanish is also not heavy on political correctness. The natives here use playful and derogatory nicknames for each other and to refer to outsiders. Chubby people are called “gordo” (fat one) to their faces, and people of other races are receive slang nicknames derived from their ethnicity. So, every Chinese person becomes a “Chino,” while every black person becomes a Negro.  None of this is meant to hurt or put down; it’s just an extension of their warm and personable nature. 

English

Since so much of this country’s economy thrives on tourism (especially medical tourism), you will find English in many locales throughout Costa Rica.  Outside of the medical tourism centers and hotels, however, Spanish rules, and if you plan on covering the country’s many little villages on your holiday, you’ll find the lack of English to be a hurdle.  If your Spanish is a little shaky, make sure you take an interpreter with you on all your travels outside of San Jose.
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