“Language is just not about words but also about a mindset and culture”
Al dele or a trole: Walking
Atracador:A person who charges too much.
Entre broma y broma la verdad, la verdad se asoma: The truth always comes out.
Greña: Unkept hair
Ido(masc.) or Ida(Feminine): Distracked or spaced out.
Leda: Someone’s age
Matasanos:
I was inspired to write this by an article I read in another publication about tiquismos (Costa Rican slang) that have African roots. Believe it or not, there are many words that are used here today that originated with African slaves and workers who arrived here in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many of these people worked on haciendas in
Atravesar el caballo: To change the subject in the middle of a conversation.
Cartucho: This word actually means a cartridge but in this case it is slang for the city of Cartago.
Chema: Is slang for a shirt
Con el moco caído: To be sad
Con toda la pata: Perfect or great.
Cuero: A woman with a bad reputation. Cuero actually
| Pachuco | Real Life Translation | Literal Translation |
| Mae | Dude or Buddy | Dummy |
| Cargarse de risa | Dying of laughter | Crapping with laughter |
| Echarnos unas Birras | Give us some Beers | Throw us some Beers |
| Ahuevado | I’m Bored | |
| Es un Queque | A Piece of Cake | |
| Compa | Friend | |
| Ponerse las pilas | Get to work, Get Moving | Put in the Batteries |
| Pele la oreja | Listen closely | Peel your ear |
| Agarrar la lata | Catch the bus | Grab the Can |
| Echar más harina | Give them more money | Add more Flour |
| Buena nota | A good guy | Nice Note |
| Mala nota | Not a very nice guy | Bad Note |
| Ir a Pata | Go on foot | Go by Duck |
| Chocar con Cerca | Dead End | Hit the Fence |
| Es un Hueco | Bad reputation Bar | It’s a hole |
| Un dolor de Huevos | Pain in the rear | Pain in the Balls |
| Tomarse un Yodo | Drink a Coffee | Drink some Iodine |
| Unas Cabras | Girls or Women | Female Goats |
| Echarle un Ojo al mesero | Keep an eye on the Waiter | Throw an eye on the Waiter |
| Se le rayó el Disco | Repeating Yourself | Scratched Record |
| Huele Pedos | Ass Kisser | |
| Estar tostado | Already drunk | Toasted |
| Mujerón | Stunning Woman | Huge Woman |
| Mover el Piso | Rock my World | Move the Floor |
| Echar el Cuento | Pick up a Girl in the bar | Pour the Story |
| Ser una Teja | He or She is a Gem | Be a Tile |
| Verla peluda | Seems difficult | Hairy Eyes |
| No encuentro la Nave | I can’t find my Car | I can’t find the Ship |
| No tengo ni un Cinco | I’m Broke | I don’t even have five |
| No dejen que lo limpien | Don’t let them cheat you | Don’t let them clean you |
| Váyase volando | Hurry, get going | Go flying |
| Soda de la esquina | Restaurant on the corner |
