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Acceso Entrance

Acceso Permanente 24-Hour Access

Acceso Prohibido No Entry

Alto Stop

Ceda el Paso Give Way

Construcción de Carreteras Roadworks

Curva Peligrosa Dangerous Curve

Derrumbes Landslides

Despacio Slow

Desviación Detour

Desvío Detour

Mantenga Su Derecha Keep to the Right

No Adelantar No Passing

No Hay Paso No Entry

No Pase No Overtaking

Pare Stop

Peaje Toll

Peligro Danger

Prohibido el Paso No Entry

Prohibido Estacionar No Parking

Puente Angosto Narrow Bridge

Salida de Autopista Exit Freeway

Una Vía One Way

Where do I pay?

¿Dónde pago? don·de pa·go

I need a mechanic.

Necesito un mecánico. ne·se·see·to oon me·ka·nee·ko

The car has broken down at …

El carro se varó en … el ka·ro se va·ro en …

The motorbike won’t start.

La moto no arranca. la mo·to no a·ran·ka

I have a flat tire.

Se me estalló una llanta. se me es·ta·yo oo·na yan·ta

I’ve run out of gas.

Me quedé sin gasolina. me ke·de seen ga·so·lee·na

I‘ve had an accident.

Tuve un accidente. too·ve oon ak·see·den·te

Can you fix it (today)?

¿Lo puede arreglar (hoy)? lo pwe·de a·reg·lar (oy)

How long will it take?

¿Cuánto va a durar? kwan·to va a doo·rar

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TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN

Do you mind if I breast-feed here?

¿Le molestaría si doy le mo·le·sta·ree·a see doy

de mamar aquí? de ma·mar a·kee

Are children allowed?

¿Se permiten niños? se per·mee·ten nee·nyos

Is there ¿Tienen …? tye·nen …

a/an …?

(English- una niñera oo·na nee·nye·ra

speaking) (que hable (ke a·ble

babysitter inglés) een·gles)

child-minding una oo·na

service guardería gwar·de·ree·a

children’s un menú oon me·noo

menu para niños pa·ra nee·nyos

discount for un descuento oon des·kwen·to

children para niños pa·ra nee·nyos

I need (a) … Necesito … ne·se·see·to …

baby seat una silla oo·na see·ya

para bebé pa·ra be·be

(disposable) pañales pa·nya·les

diapers/ (desechables) (de·se·cha·bles)

nappies

milk formula leche en polvo le·che en pol·vo

potty una oo·na

vacenilla va·see·nee·ya

stroller un coche oon ko·che

sombrilla som·bree·ya

Also available from Lonely Planet: Costa Rican Spanish phrasebook

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Glossary

Click here for a glossary of food and drink terms, and the Language chapter (Click here) for other useful words and phrases.

adiós – means ‘goodbye’ universally, but used as a greeting in rural Costa Rica

almuerzo ejecutivo – literally ‘executive lunch’; a more expensive version of a set meal or casado

alquiler de automóviles – car rental

apartado – post-office box (abbreviated ‘Apdo’)

artesanía – handicrafts

ATH – a toda hora (open all hours); used to denote ATMs

automóvil – car

avenida – avenue

avión – airplane

bahía – bay

barrio – district or neighborhood

batido – fresh fruit drink, similar to smoothie

biblioteca – library

bocas – small savory dishes served in bars

bomba – short, funny verse; also means ‘gas station’ and ‘bomb’

bosque – forest

bosque nuboso – cloud forest

buena nota – excellent, OK; literally ‘good note’

caballo – horse

cabaña – cabin; see also cabina

cabina – cabin; see also cabaña

cajero automático – ATM

calle – street

cama, cama matrimonial – bed, double bed

campesino – peasant, farmer or person who works in agriculture

carreta – colorfully painted wooden oxcart, now a form of folk art

carretera – road

casado – inexpensive set meal; also means ‘married’

casita – cottage or apartment

catedral – cathedral

caverna – cave; see also cueva

cerro – mountain or hill

cerveza – beer

ceviche – local dish of raw, marinated seafood

Chepe – affectionate nickname for José; also used when referring to San José

cine – cinema

ciudad – city

cocina – kitchen or cooking

colectivo – bus, minivan or car operating as shared taxi

colibrí – hummingbird

colina – hill

colón – Costa Rican unit of currency; plural colones

comida típica – typical local food

cordillera – mountain range

correo – mail service

Costarricense – Costa Rican; see also Tico/a

cruce – crossing

cruda – often used to describe