Spanish Phrases

Your adventures in Costa Rica will be more enjoyable and full of rich experiences if you attempt to speak Spanish, the official language. Costa Rica is a full of colorful "Ticos" ready to laugh with you, and teach you a few new sayings.  Costa Rican Spanish is different than the Castilian form of Spanish spoken in Spain but is still very polite and somewhat formal. Most businesses that cater to tourist will have english speakers on staff, but if you are walking around town and want to experience the culture, here are a few phrases to get you started...

 

 

English

Spanish

Pronunciation

My name is...

Me llamo…

Mey yah-mo

What´s your name

¿Cómo se llama usted?

Ko-mo seh-yah-mah oos-ted

Pleased to meet you

Mucho gusto

Moo-choh goose toe

How are you?

Cómo está usted

Ko-mo eestah oost-ted

very well, thank you

Muy bien, gracias

Mooy bee-ehn grah-see-as

And you?

Y usted

Ee oos-ted

Please

Por favor

Pore-fah-vore

Thank you

 gracias

grah-see-as

You´re welcome

Con mucho gusto

Con moo-cho-goose-toe

I am sorry

Disculpe

dee-skool-peh-meh

Excuse me

Con permiso

Con pair-mee-so

Pardon me

Perdóneme

Pair-dohn-a-meh

I don´t speak spanish

No hablo español

No ahbloo espahnyol

When

Cuándo

Kwan-do

Why

Porqué

Pore-keh

Who

Quién

Kee-yen

How

Cómo

Ko-moe

I understand

Entiendo

En-tee-en-doh

I don´t understand

No entiendo

No en-tee-en-doh

I don´t know

No sé

No say

Where is?

Dónde está

Dohn-deh-es-tah

Near

Cerca

Sehr-ka

Far

Lejos

Lay-hoes

Left

Izquierda

Iss-key-air-dah

Right

Derecha

Dare-eh-chah

How much does is it cost

Cuánto cuesta

Koo-anto koo-ehstah

I want to buy

Quisiera comprar…

Kee-see-e-rah kom-prahr

Good morning

Buenos días

Bway-nohs-dee-ahs

Good afternoon

Buenas tardes

Bway-nahs-tar-des

Good evening

Buenas noches

Bway-nahs-no-ches

What time is it?

Qué hora es

Ke-ora es

Open

Abierto

Ah-bee-her-toe

Closed

Cerrado

Sehra-doe

Do you speak English?

Habla usted inglés

Ah-blah-oosted-inglehs