Quick Guide to Spanish in Costa Rica
Want to give your best shot of speaking Spanish while you are in costa rica? USe this Quick Guide to SPanish in costa Rica as your sidekick to basic words and phrases!
Basic words
Greetings
Hola - Hi, Hello
Pura Vida - Hello, I’m well, all good, bye (a general response to many things)
Buenos días/buen día - Good morning
Buenas tardes - Good afternoon
Buenas noches - Good night
Todo bien - All good (can be used as an answer or a question)
Bienvenidos - Welcome
Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you
Un placer - A pleasure
Que bueno verte - Good to see you!
Como has estado? - How have you been?
Dining
Puedo ver el menu? - Can I see the menu?
Me gustaría … - I would like…
Hice una reservación - I made a reservation
Me gustaría hacer una reservación para (dos) personas a las (cinco) - I would like to make a reservations for (two) people at (5pm)
Quisiera una mesa para (dos) - I would like a table for (two)
Tienen un menu de vinos? - Do you have a wine menu?
Me regalas una copa de … - Could you give me a glass of (wine name)
Me regalas un vaso/botella de agua, por favor? - Could you give me a glass/bottle of water, please?
Que me recomiendas? - What do you recommend?
Necesito más serviettas - I need more napkins
Carne (de res) - Beef
Cerdo - Pork
Pollo - Chicken
Mariscos - Seafood
Pescado - Fish
Tenedor - Fork
Cuchara - Spoon
Cuchillo - Knife
Plato - Plate
Sal - Salt
Pimienta - Pepper
Sin Gluten - Gluten-free
Vegetariano - Vegetarian
Vegano - Vegan
Tengo alergia a… - I’m allergic to…
A night out
Quieres bailar? - Do you want to dance?
Quieres tomar algo? - Do you want something to drink?
Que quieres tomar? - What do you want to drink?
Me regalas un trago de (brand name) - Please give me a shot of (brand)
Trago - Shot
Birra/Cerveza - Beer
Una botella/lata de cerveza - A bottle/can of beer
Vino - Wine
Una copa de vino - A glass of wine
Pichel - Pitcher
Baldazo - Bucket of Beer (6 beers with ice in a bucket)
Una cerveza michelada - A “michelada” beer (with lemon and salt rim)
Quiero un (brand name) en la rocas - I want a (brand name) on the rocks
Me regalas hielo? - Could you give me ice?
Cual es el mejor bar? - What is the best bar?
Donde está la fiesta hoy? - Where’s the party today?
Basics
Hola - Hi, Hello
Pura Vida - Hello, I’m well, all good, bye(a general response to many things)
Cómo estás - How are you?
Estoy bien/muy bien/mal - I am good/very good/bad
Por favor - Please
Gracias - Thank you
Si - Yes
No - No
Tal vez - Maybe
De nada - It’s nothing (you’re welcome)
Con gusto - With pleasure
Chao/Adios - Good bye
Hasta luego - Until later (see you later)
Mi nombre es … - My name is …
Places
El hotel - El hotel
The beach - La playa
The mountain - La montaña
The river - el río
The forest - El bosque
The volcano - El volcán
The restaurant - El restaurante
The bar - El bar
The pool - La piscina
Grocery Store - Supermercado
Farmer’s Market - Feria
Bus stop - Parada de bus
Pharmacy - Farmacia
Apartment - Apartamento
Parking lot - Parqueo / estacionamiento
Hotel room - Habitación
Basic Questions
Cual es tu nombre/como te llamas - What is your name?
Cómo estás - How are you?
Que tal? - How’s it going?
Que hora es? - What time is it?
Que es eso? - What is that?
De donde eres? - Where are you from?
Donde esta el baño? - Where is the bathroom?
Me puedes ayudar? - Can you help me?
Donde está? - Where is it/he/she?
Cuanto cuesta? - How much is it?
Que precio tiene? - What is the price?
At the Hotel
El hotel - The hotel
Habitación - room
El bar - The bar
La piscina - The pool
El restaurante - the restaurant
Tengo una reservación - I have a reservation
Me gustaría hacer el check-in - We are checking in
No tengo reservación - I don’t have a reservation
Que es la tarifa por noche? - What is the nightly rate?
El desayuno está incluido? - Is breakfast included?
Getting Around costa Rica
Most people either drive or pay for a shuttle to get to and from their destinations. If you’re planning to rent a car, I recommend booking in advance - pricing and insurance can vary a lot. I also have an exclusive discount + everything explained simply here:
See my car rental guide + check prices → Car Rental Discount in Costa Rica