Because of the recent posts about using the caja I have included some terms that may assist non-Spanish speakers with Costa Rica’s medical maze. Last week I published the first part of this article
Abra la boca – Open your mouth.
Antes o después de cada comida – before or after each meal (instructions used for taking medication)
Antígeno
Because of the recent uproar about using the caja (The Costa Rican Department of Social Security – CCSS) I have included some terms that may assist non- Spanish speakers with Costa Rica’s medical maze.
Ambulancia – ambulance
Cirugía ambulatoria – outpatient surgery
Clínica – clinic
Corazón – heart
Desvío
Zorro = Héroe justiciero (Avenging hero)
Zorra = Prostituta (Prostitute)
Perro = Mejor amigo del hombre (Man’s best friend)
Perra = Prostituta (Prostitute)
Aventurero = Osado, valiente, arriesgado (Bold, brave, risk-taker)
Aventurera = Prostituta (Prostitute)
Cualquier = Fulano, Mengano, Zutano (Whatever, what’s-his-name; so-and-so)
It is necessary to understand these expressions if one is going to live in Costa Rica. These terms cannot be found in a normal Spanish dictionary.
mala pata – Bad luck. For example: Fue mala pata que él perdiera el trabajo. It was because of bad luck that he lost his job. Mala suerte is the correct way to say bad luck. ¡Salado! can also mean
Costa Rica has two coasts, so there is plenty of seafood is available everywhere in the country. Corvina (sea bass) is the most commonly served fish and is prepared in a number of ways, including as ceviche (bits of fresh raw fish marinate in lime juice with onions, peppers and spices). Chucheca is a popular bivalve mollusc and
