costa rica: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, neutral
Quick answer
What does “costa rica” mean?
A country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua and Panama.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua and Panama.
The name can refer to the nation, its territory, its government, or its culture. It is often cited as a model of stable democracy and environmental conservation in its region.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in usage; both refer to the same country. Pronunciation may differ slightly.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though it may evoke specific images (e.g., eco-tourism, coffee, democracy) depending on context.
Frequency
Similar frequency, appearing in geographical, political, economic, and travel contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “costa rica” in a Sentence
[PREP] ~[be LOCATED] in ~[TRAVEL] to ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “costa rica” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- Costa Rican coffee is world-famous.
- The Costa Rican ambassador gave a speech.
American English
- Costa Rican coffee is world-famous.
- We studied Costa Rican history.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Costa Rica has become a hub for medical device manufacturing.
Academic
The study examines deforestation rates in Costa Rica from 1990 to 2020.
Everyday
We're planning a family holiday to Costa Rica next summer.
Technical
Costa Rica's electrical grid runs on over 98% renewable energy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “costa rica”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “costa rica”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “costa rica”
- Incorrectly capitalizing 'Rica' when not at the start of a sentence (it should be 'Costa Rica').
- Misspelling as 'Costarica' (should be two words).
- Confusing it with Puerto Rico (a different territory).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica is located in Central America, which is part of the North American continent.
The official language is Spanish.
It translates to 'Rich Coast'.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality; many countries do not require a visa for short tourist visits.
A country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua and Panama.
Costa rica is usually formal, neutral in register.
Costa rica: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒstə ˈriːkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊstə ˈrikə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pura vida (common Costa Rican greeting/expression meaning 'pure life')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Costa means 'coast' and Rica means 'rich' in Spanish → 'Rich Coast'.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (proper noun)
Practice
Quiz
What is Costa Rica particularly known for?