If you go to Costa Rica to study, work or retire you’ll need a little help with the local Spanish vocabulary. And when Spanish is not your first language, the best advice is to use a bilingual Costa Rica Spanish slang to English dictionary.
Currently there are two options that you can easily purchase online. One written and translated by a native Costa Rican and the other created from the point of view of a foreigner living in Costa Rica. The best of all is that both dictionaries were recently published in 2012 so they are updated and available in paperback or eBook.
2 Costa Rica Spanish Slang to English Dictionaries
Dictionary of Costa Rican Slang | Diccionario de Palabrotas y Coloquialismos Ticos
by José Antonio González Ugalde
The approximately 750 words and phrases featured in this dictionary were the result of interviews made to about 60 groups of people from six of the seven Costa Rican provinces. Since González’s studies included English translation, he was able to create a fully bilingual book with definitions and examples in both languages. His wife, a native English speaker, gave him input with some American English expressions in the definitions. Both the print and Kindle versions are 2-column formatted, giving you a side-by-side definition that is easier to read.Check out the six full color cartoon illustrations in the center of the book that are full of Costa Rican Spanish slang examples… they are really awesome!
Read the full article about this book: The Story of the Banned Costa Rica Spanish Slang Dictionary.
Talkin’ Tico: A Guide to Costa Rican Slang
by Chuck Green
• 381 Costa Rica Spanish slang words and phrases
• Each term is translated into standard Spanish and English
• Many of the entries includes an example sentence in both Spanish and English to help you understand how the word is used.
Check out these other Costa Rica Spanish Slang Dictionary articles.