Every culture has a different way of expressing love. A small squeeze of the cheek, a love tap on the booty, a kiss on the forehead. Physical touch isn’t even necessary all the time, even a coo of sweet words or a cute nickname is an expression of love.
Costa Ricans love to express love. And it doesn’t always necessarily have to be romantic love. Their culture is incredibly warm and friendly as they show endearment to even strangers. If you’re a baby or toddler, the treatment is even better
Culture greatly influences the different perspectives of love language on top of personal preference. In some countries it may not be acceptable to be physically warm towards the opposite gender or what one culture views as love, others may not.
Costa Rican Expressions of Love
Nicknames
Gorda/Gordo, Cosita/Cosito
For me, this one doesn’t exactly strike me as loving or sweet. Maybe it’s just a lost in translation thing and definitely a cultural thing. For Costa Ricans, it’s normal to call your boyfriend or girlfriend gordo or gorda which means fat in Spanish. Gordito or Gordita is even better which is like little fatty. So cutesy!
They don’t see it as a mean or offensive term. You’ll hear them call each other or describe one another that way and they don’t get insulted by it. One day Yeison ran into someone who lived in his old neighborhood and he asked them about another friend they had in common. Como esta Michael el gordo? Yep he asked him how is Michael, the fat one.
Another cute nickname is cosita/cosito which means little thing. Hey little thing, come here and give me a kiss!
Ito/Ita
Ever wonder why Costa Ricans are nicknamed “Ticos?” It’s because they absolutely adore putting ito or ita at the end of words which means little. Venga mi perrito! Que preciosa chiquiita! Mi princesita linda!
In the beginning, Yeison had one main nickname for me: cachetona. It essentially means chubby cheeks. He loved teasing me for my rounder cheeks but it’s also a nickname for girls with a bit more… junk in the trunk if you know what I mean!
Costa Ricans do love to tease (all in good fun) and usually about your most obvious assets and if it has anything to do with chubbiness, even better.
PDA Is OK!
In the States, PDA is so not OK. If you do as much as a kiss on the lips for more than 2 seconds in public, people stare at you, cover their children’s eyes and tell you to get a room.
Here in Costa Rica, PDA is perfectly acceptable! It’s so normal to go out and see couples sitting together on the bench, holding hands, arms around each other, staring into each other’s eyes or locking lips.
For me I was not that used to seeing such public displays of affection but I love it. I don’t need to worry about showing physical affection when I’m out and about so from time to time I can give Yeison a little lovetap on the butt or smooch whenever I want!
There’s no harm in seeing a little bit more love in the world.
Street Walking
It’s not quite as common with the younger generations but when Yeison was growing up, he was taught that when walking on the street with a girl, the girl must always walk on the inside.
This is to protect the girl and since they are the men, they need to be the ones walking closer to the cars. They do this for not just their girlfriends but for all women, especially their older female family members to show love and respect.
Take the Heavy Stuff
Yeison always finds it weird when I grab shopping bags and insist on carrying my own backpack. He’s used to always carrying things for the girl which for me, is odd because I’m used to carrying my own things. Although I don’t protest when the item is especially heavy.
It took him a little bit of time for him to get used to the fact that I like to wear the backpack or I don’t mind lifting things. I’m not the kind of girl to just sit around expecting the man to do it all!
A Very Loving Culture
Costa Rican culture is incredibly loving. When Yeison is on the phone with customer service or at a restaurant, he calls the girl linda or amor, which doesn’t bother me since I know it’s a cultural thing. It’s especially apparent in people from San Jose, I see they are much more sweet and loving than some of the Guanacastecos and still have that attitude more than others.
So when you come to Costa Rica with your significant other, don’t be afraid to express your love in public! Snuggle with each other at the beach, embrace each other laying on the hammock and don’t forget kisses here and there.
When you meet a Costa Rican, give one kiss on the cheek (not one on each cheek) to greet them. Women kiss women and men, men just kiss the women.
Costa Rica is a warm and touching country where everybody wants to show and share the love. Besos!
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More about Costa Rican culture:
Costa Rican Spanish slang part 1
Costa Rican New Year Traditions
Costa Rican Birthday Celebrations
Marylou Fogarty says
Well done. keep up the good job
Sammi says
Thanks!
CarmensTravelTips says
We love Costa Rica and it’s people. That’s where I got married. The people are very warm and kind. We saw older couples on the beach still holding hands and being affectionate towards each other. Using nicknames to call each other is a spanish thing I think. Many of the latin countries have these types of traditions.
Sammi says
I love how sweet they are, that’s just Latin culture!
Chris Boothman says
This is a really great post especially for people who are visiting Costa Rica for the first time. It’s always beneficial to understand the customs of a country before heading there in terms of what is expected and what is frowned upon.
Sammi says
Thanks Chris! I agree 🙂
Lunaguava says
Love “gordo/a” or “gordito/a” as expressions of tenderness. Obviously, it does get lost in translation, and I won’t be calling anyone fatty anytime soon – promise. I usually blame the sun in making a culture more prone to sensual interactions. Harder to be stiff when the body just wants to lie on the beach and eat good food… Another hurrah for Costa Rica!
Sammi says
haha that’s a good excuse! And very true 🙂
Roma says
PDA is a funny thing. So natural and welcome in some places and so utterly taboo in others. I had to consciously remember to keep my hands to myself in the Middle East so it’s nice to know that CR is so welcoming to lovers 🙂
Sammi says
It really is – so influenced by culture and the way you were grown up. I’m sure in the Middle East it is completely different.
Jess says
I’m not sure I could get used to being called ‘fatty’ as a term of endearment! But other then that, well, there’s nothing wrong with showing a little love. 🙂
Sammi says
haha it’s OK Jess I am still not used to it haha. I always have to take a second and be like Ok that wasn’t meant to be mean lol.
The Dessert Engineer says
I really love reading this post. I hope my husband and I will get to experience the Costa Rican culture soon. I can relate to the nicknames, as we Indonesians do that too.
Sammi says
I hope you get to come too! It’s so interesting how different the love is in cultures is expressed. Always cool to hear about other cultures customs!
NZ Muse says
Ha, this was great! Thanks for the insight. My partner and I call each other ‘fatty’ jokingly a lot, though it stems from our love of food and huge appetites.
Sammi says
haha that’s cute! 🙂
Sam | Travelling King says
Its fantastic to year that kissing and cuddling in public is allowed in Costa Rica! People have become far too prudish!
Sammi says
Totally agreed 🙂
Constance - Foreign Sanctuary says
What a great post to share with the world, just in time for Valentine’s Day!! It must be nice to be able to sit on the beach and enjoy some PDA with your partner without being judged!!! However, you are saying that instead of calling someone sweetheart or baby, people in Costa Rica call their significant other ‘little fatty.’ Interesting!!
Sammi says
haha actually it is! Especially when back in the US you would most definitely be judged or given evil eyes. Yep that is their equivalent to “honey” or “sweetie” Good thing Yeison and I just call each other babe haha.
Sharon says
This is very interesting!! I also found it interesting that PDA is definitely not on in the US. It is not encouraged here in Australia, but I don’t think people would cover kids faces or make a big deal out of it!!
Sammi says
It’s so interesting how culture influences it and of course depending on how conservative and other things like that you are. But yeah definitely in the US at least in the part where I grew up it wasn’t exactly encouraged but more like judged upon haha.
Cerecita says
Ok….What about the use of ‘vos’ in Costa Rica? Is it common to use between lovers, spouses? What does it mean to you if you are addressed (by a significant other (spouse)/friend/family member) by Ud instead of vos?
Sammi says
Costa Ricans BARELY use vos here… when I went to classes and asked Yeison and my Tico friends about it, they told me (and word for word) “don’t bother even learning it.” I was surprised but they almost never use it unless it’s with a much older person for respect or older family member and even then, it’s not used as much. So interesting!
ositoster says
Ustedeo is formal/respectful, but most people use it for everybody. Voseo and tuteo are informal, but the latter is barely used here in Costa Rica.
I use voseo for everybody except elders or older family members but not everyone does, it’s interesting. I have noticed it also depends on the place and/or social class of the person.
Globalmouse says
Aw so sweet…and so true, the world does need a little more love. But I definitely wouldn’t want to be called fatty….the loving would be stopping at that point!! Great post!
Sammi says
Yeaaa I wasn’t too fond of it either so Yeison steers clear of actually calling me that haha. Thanks Nichola!
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey says
What a wonderful loving place. I am now wanting to move there, not for the PDA (that grosses me out), but for the love of chubby chicks and that food. That is PARADISE!
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey says
Thanks heaps for linking up with is to #SundayTraveler again.
Sammi says
🙂
Sammi says
hahaha yes it is!
Ashley @ A Southern Gypsy says
Chivalry isn’t dead in Costa Rica! This sounds great–wish it was more common in the US. Great idea for a post! 🙂
Ashley @ A Southern Gypsy says
And, I’m back! Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler 🙂
Sammi says
hahaha You’re welcome!
Sammi says
No it’s not! For the most part haha. Yea those American boys really do need to learn something from the Latin men, there’s a reason why women swoon over them! hehe
frankaboutcroatia says
Great post, guys! Street walking is actually really cute. And it does make you feel protected. Didn’t know that tico/tica comes from using diminutives. I also thought that Mexico is famous for using diminutives with almost every word. As for PDA, the only place I’ve witnessed any unpleasant remarks was actually in Spain (my friends were showing apparently too much affection at the train station).
Sammi says
I know Costa Ricans are just famous for ito/ita which is where their nickname comes from. I actually didn’t know Mexico used a lot of that either so I’m learning new things everyday! haha. Better tell your friend to save it for the night fun 😉 I’ve witnessed some friends who were just well, all over each other in a gross way so I had to be like hey guys cool it lol. Gotta keep the respect still!
Gabor Kovacs says
I enjoyed this post, many of these cute ways of “ito/ita” they use in Spain as well, but here it is much more limited than in Central America. In Mexico, for “now” which is “ahora” in Spanish, they use also “ahorita” (in Spain it would be never used), I don’t know if they use the same term in Costa Rica, too. What you tell about PDA, I would have thought that they were more conservative there, I am glad to hear that they are not! thanks for the good post!
Sammi says
Costa Ricans overload with “ito/ita” depending on what they’re talking about it can be used for nearly every noun haha. They use ahorita for “in a little awhile” like if someone asks if you’re busy you can say ahorita no. For a bit I’m not. You would think they’d be conservative right? but it’s nice they’re not! 🙂
Raphael Alexander Zoren says
Very interesting to see the similarities between the slang of Costa Rica and the one of Mexico. We are huge fans of ito around here. It’s not a peso, it’s a pesito!
Sammi says
hahaha so true. I guess in English it’s like that too except they add “y” like doggy kitty horsey etc etc. Doesn’t work for all words, sounds weird to say cowy lol
Erin says
That is so sweet having you walk on the inside on the street. Very chivalrous 🙂
Sammi says
Indeed!
Greg says
Since moving here last June I have been struck by the warmth of the Costa Rican people. Even to us, guests in their country, kindness and care is passed along. I love that PDA is acceptable, Jen and I were snuggled up on a park bench the other day and a friend walked by and commented on how well we are fitting in here – lol.
Sammi says
haha yeah it’s such a nice cultural difference! It’s just nice to see couples together and all sweet.
Milene says
Great post! I just learned that bichy is a nickname meaning little bug here in Argentina. I of course thought it meant what it sounds like when you say it out loud and was quite shocked when someone called me bichy 😛
Sammi says
Bicho means insect so that’s probably where it comes from, little insect is like bichoito bichito probably but still sounds bad in English haha! And actually here in Guanacaste the guys calls each other bicho (it’s like saying dude or man) but they don’t use it for girls.
Casey @ A Cruising Couple says
Great idea for a post! We definitely agree and felt a lot of love when we were there 🙂 I love the gordita one haha!
Sammi says
Thanks! haha yeah it took me awhile to get used to it but it’s cute !
Nita says
What a lovely and sweet post. Costa Ricans seem warm, good natured and fun. Their culture is beautiful. The name calling is adorable! Haha.. Imagine calling your spouse ‘fatty’ out loud in public back home. Lol.. Anyways, very interesting culture that I’m sure you are enjoying 🙂
Sammi says
They definitely are! Very beautiful people indeed, they love to just joke and have a good time. haha I can’t imagine the weird looks I would be given calling Yeison hey fatty come here! lol. I’ll stick to sweetie or babe haha. Thanks Nita for the comment! 🙂
Lindsey Monge says
Wow, it’s so cool to see that E-man does these things too, even though he’s only visited Costa Rica. He’s a Tico by blood though. He never lets me walk on the street side of the sidewalk and insists on taking my heavy stuff. It’s so cute!!
Sammi says
haha he’s Tico by blood so he got it in him!
Emily says
What a sweet post! It’s so true–I was shocked when we first moved here, and people came up to rub my baby’s head and pick up my 2 year old! As a newcomer from the States, it made me a little uncomfortable at first, but after a year here, I love it! I’m even a little disappointed if my kids don’t get a ridiculous amount of flattery and affection. 😉
I also like it when a man passes by and smiles and says, “Hola, guapa!” =)
Sammi says
I remember reading your post talking about that…it is quite different from the States for sure! I love how nice everyone is here and I am sure your children get showered with affection 🙂