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)
¡Viva la Revolución! – Long live! ¡Viva la revolución!. Long live the revolution!
vivazo or vivo/a – a wise guy, sly person or someone who always tries to take advantage of other people.
vividor/a – a person who is a mooch, sponge or parasite who lives off other people
vivir – to live, experience or go through
dar el golpe – to cause a sensation or make a hit
de golpe – all of sudden or suddenly. De golpe todo se fue al diablo. All of a sudden everything went to hell.
de golpe y porrazo – hastily, hurriedly
golpazo – a violent blow
golpe – a blow, bump or stroke
golpe – a shot or stroke like in golf
golpe
The article below does not advocate the use of drugs. It is only intended to familiarize you with Costa Rican slang that you may hear on the local news or read in the Spanish newspapers.
Adicto – addict
Allanamiento or redada or operativo – a drug bust or raid
Amansalocos or calmantes or tranquilizantes – tranquilizers or a
