Costa Rica language questions?

Question

I am going to Costa Rica soon and I need to know how to say these things.

1. How to great a friend.

2. How to answer the phone

3. What to say to greet your family in the morning

4. Ask for something in a store, or in the house.

5. What to say when you are leaving, or going to bed at night

6. Did you understand?

7. How do you introduce yourself?

Thanks so much. (any other words I should know would be good too)

Answer 1

1 hola

2 halo

3 buenos dias

4 dame

5 buenas noches

6 me comprendes

7 hola mi nombre es   have a nice trip!

Answer 2

Hi there!  Costa Rica has its own "special" expressions that are unique to just that country, and they will love it if you incorporate some of those into your speech.

1. "Hola" is fine or "¿Qué tal?"  If you're talking to someone about your age, you can say, "Hola, mae!"  'Mae' is a word that a lot of young people use, and it roughly means 'dude' or 'man'

The answer to this, by the way, is "pura vida!"  which Ticos use to mean "great!" or "cool!"

2. "¿Alo?" or "¿Alo? Habla <your name>" - "Hello? So-and-so speaking."

3. "Buenos dias!"

4.  Here I really disagree with the other respondent. Saying "dame" is pretty rude and abrupt.  If you're asking a clerk or waiter, for example, to get you something, say, "¿Me regala una servilleta, por favor?" (will you get me a napkin please?) or "Regálame una servilleta, por favor" (Get me a napkin please).  They use regalar (to give a gift) for things like this - it's a beautiful custom.  If you're needing to use (borrow) an object, say from a classmate or family, ask "Préstame el lapiz, por favor" (loan me your pencil, please). And you can always ask someone to pass you something "Pásame el telecontrol, porfa" (please pass the remote).

5) "Ya me voy" (I'm leaving now) is a good choice if you're announcing your departure. You'll find Ticos use "ya" to mean everything from "right this instant" to "in an hour or two"

"Ciao" is a good all-purpose farewell

"Buenas noches" is how to say good night.

6) "¿Me entendió?" (Did you understand me?) In Costa Rica, they don't use the tú form. Ever. For casual relationships, they use vos. But most of the time, everyone gets Usted - the mom, the dog, the baby...everyone.  You'll never go wrong if you just use Ud. all the time.

7) "Hola, me llamo <your name here>"

And then when they introduce themselves, you respond

"Un placer" or "Mucho gusto" (pleased to meet you).

Good luck down there!

Answer 3

arexneev has it just about right.  I have been living in Costa Rica for four years and I have seldom heard the informal "tú" being used, especially if you don't know the person.  You can also find a lot of helpful information if you Google "free Spanish lessons."