Tico Lindo - Dictionary of Costa Rican Slang
Tico Lindo - The guy who knows EVERYBODY. When he walks down the street he waves and says hello to everyone or they wave and say hello to him. The actual root of the saying comes from the contest where the Tica Linda is chosen and rides in a parade and waves to everyone doing the Parade wave.
Many of you expats will study Spanish and begin to speak fluently. You will find yourself becoming more confident and speaking only in Spanish to the locals! At some point, though you will find that to your surprise you understand the words but nothing seems to make sense?
Hola Pura Vida! (So far so good). Que Tuanis Mae (hmm? OK). Donde esta mi Nave? (HUH!?).
You think you are going crazy because you studied and practiced soooo hard and are surprised you don't understand them. Don't worry. The reason you don't understand is that the Costa Ricans are speaking to you in slang or "Pachuco" as the Ticos call it.
At the end there is a link to a video done by the University of Costa Rica that includes many of these Pachuco sayings so hopefully you can understand the video a little better and you too can be a TICO LINDO!!!
So to help out those of you who want to understand some of the Pachuco slang I prepared a list of Pachuco sayings with the translation, both literal and the actual meaning. Sometimes the literal translation is funnier to think about than what they are actually saying.
Dictionary of Costa Rica Slang (Pachuco)
Pachuco | Real Life Translation | Literal Translation |
---|---|---|
Mae | Dude | Dummy |
Echarnos unas Birras | Give us some Beers | Throw us some Beers |
Ahuevado | I'm Bored | My Eggs are too big to move |
Viene la Guata | The Rain is coming | |
Es un Queque | A Piece of Cake | It's a cake |
Compa | Friend or Co Worker | Companion |
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 |
No le pinta | It doesn't suit you | Do not Paint |
Agarrar un Pirata | Grab an informal taxi | Grab a Pirate |
Mae Cara de pistola | Jerk | Guy with a Gun Face |
Echar más harina | Give them more money | Add more Flour |
Tucán | The 5,000 Colone Bill | Toucan |
Buena nota | A good guy | Good note |
Mala nota | Not a very nice guy | Bad note |
No hacerse bolas | Don't complicate yourself | Don't tangle yourself |
Irse a Pata | Go on foot | Go by Duck |
Abrace la pared | Follow along the wall | Hug the Wall |
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 |
Plato de Bocas | Appetizer Plate | Plate of Mouths |
Cabras | Girls or Women | Female Goats |
Solo Bates | Only men | Only Bats |
Echarle un Ojo al mesero | Keep an eye on the Waiter | Throw an eye at the Waiter |
Se le rayo el Disco | Repeating Yourself | Scratched Record |
Huele Pedos | Ass Kisser | Fart Smeller |
Estar tostado | Already drunk | Toasted |
Mujeron | Stunning Woman | Huge Woman |
Mover el Piso | Rock my World | Move the Floor |
Me dio un taco | Bad feeling | He gave me a Taco |
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 |
San Francisco | Neighborhood in San Jose | Saint Francis |
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 colones |
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 | |
Agarre dos Manzanas | Walk two blocks | Grab two Apples |
Me pescó GRINGITO !! (Did you catch all that GRINGO?)
So now you might be ready to understand this video a little better and have a laugh.
Have patience as you go through the video and you will be dying from laughter (cagandose de risa)!! You can translate that last one.