costa rican: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “costa rican” mean?
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Costa Rica or its people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Costa Rica or its people.
A person from Costa Rica; the national or cultural identity associated with Costa Rica.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English.
Connotations
In both dialects, associated with political stability, ecotourism, and a lack of a standing army.
Frequency
Frequency is context-dependent (e.g., travel, politics, coffee trade). Equal frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “costa rican” in a Sentence
Costa Rican + Noun (adj)be + Costa Rican (adj/noun)a/the + Costa Rican (noun)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “costa rican” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Costa Rican ambassador attended the climate summit.
- She has a collection of Costa Rican pottery.
American English
- We toured a Costa Rican coffee plantation.
- He is a Costa Rican national.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to origin of goods (e.g., Costa Rican bananas), business partners, or market regulations.
Academic
Used in geography, political science, and environmental studies discussing Costa Rica's policies.
Everyday
Common in travel contexts, discussions about people, food, and culture.
Technical
Used in demography, citizenship law, and international trade classifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “costa rican”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “costa rican”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “costa rican”
- Incorrect: 'Costa Rican's' (as plural noun, correct: Costa Ricans).
- Incorrect: 'Costa Ricaian' (misspelling).
- Incorrect: Using 'Costa Rican' as a language name (the language is Spanish).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, always, as it is derived from a proper noun (Costa Rica).
The noun 'Costa Rican' is gender-neutral. The colloquial terms are 'Tico' (male) and 'Tica' (female).
No. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. One would say 'Costa Rican Spanish' to denote the local dialect.
They are a 'Costa Rican' from the capital. A more specific term is 'Josefino/a' (for a person from San José).
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Costa Rica or its people.
Costa rican is usually formal/neutral in register.
Costa rican: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒstə ˈriːkən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊstə ˈriːkən/ or /ˌkɔːstə ˈriːkən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COSTA' (coast) + 'RICAN' (like 'African') = a person from the 'rich coast' (the meaning of 'Costa Rica').
Conceptual Metaphor
A COSTA RICAN IS A STEWARD OF NATURE (based on the country's strong environmental image).
Practice
Quiz
What is a common colloquial term for a Costa Rican?