How do you say hello in Costa Rica?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Updated on January 21, 2026
Saying Hello
- Hola = Hello. This is the basic way to say hello.
- Buenos días = Good morning.
- Buenas tardes = Good afternoon.
- Buenas noches = Good evening.
- Buenas = Shorthand way of saying hello, any time of day. It is more casual and works in the morning, afternoon, or evening. You'll hear the locals use this all the time.
How do people greet in Costa Rica?
Use common greetings.Even when meeting your peers informally, you'll find that Costa Ricans use pleasant greetings: Buenos días/ buen día / buenas tardes/ buenas noches: These greetings mean respectively 'Good morning,' 'good afternoon,' and 'good day. '
How do you say hello and goodbye in Costa Rica?
“Pura Vida” (pronounced poo-rah vee-duh) represents Costa Ricans' relaxed attitude towards life, no matter the circumstance. It's used to say hello, goodbye, to say everything is okay, and to brush off any negativity. It's a way of life and an attitude, and using it can help you fit in with the locals.What do Costa Ricans say to greet each other?
A firm handshake, with direct eye contact and a welcoming smile are the standard greeting. When shaking hands, always use the appropriate greeting for the time of day - 'buenos dias', 'buenas tardes', or 'buenas noches'. The handshake is an important part of Costa Rican culture and serves to reinforce relationships.How do you say welcome in Costa Rican?
' Con gusto (con goo-sto) - You're welcome. Costa Ricans say this instead of "de nada,' which is commonly used in other Spanish speaking countries.Greetings from Costa Rica!
What is Pura Vida mean?
A phrase that you will hear and see everywhere in Costa Rica is “Pura Vida”. The term “Pura Vida” has been present in Costa Rica's vocabulary for over 50 years. It's English translation means “pure life” or “simple life", however its more then just a phrase- it is a way of life.What are common phrases in Costa Rica?
List of Common Costa Rican Spanish Phrases
- Buenas tardes – (bwe-nas tar-des) Good afternoon.
- Buenas noches (bwe-nas no-ches) Good evening/good night.
- Hola (oh-la) Hello.
- Por favor (por-fa-vor) Please.
- Gracias (grah-si-ahs) Thank you.
- ¿Cómo le va? (Koh-mo lay vah) How's it going?
- Bien (byen) fine, well.
- ¡Pura Vida!