Have an uncle or grandma who pronounces the country differently than you? Maybe they don’t even know where it is? Or they think it’s an island in the Caribbean or something? You’re definitely not alone. We’re here to settle the debate once and for all.
Located in Central America, touching both the Pacific Ocean and Carribean Sea, south of Nicaragua and north of Panama, Costa Rica literally translates to “rich coast” in Spanish. Although the origins of the name are unconfirmed, it’s likely this title stems from the perceived presence of gold and jewels in the region. But to those who are familiar with this breathtaking country, it’s obvious the coast isn’t just rich in precious resources, it’s home to miles and miles of untouched and protected beaches, rainforests and diverse wildlife.
What about the pronunciation, you ask? Well, the answer is quite simple. It’s pronounced “coast-ah reek-ah”, NOT “cost-ah reek-ah”. It will cost you to make your way to this lovely place, but forget “cost”, it’s “coast”. Just think, Costa = “coast”, as in the rich one we talk about above. Then, add an “ah”; Rica = “reek”, as in you smell, plus “ah”, as in the noise you make when you exhale: “reek-ah”.
“coast-ah reek-ah”
For those who like to dabble in phonetics, no judgement here. The phonetic transcription is:
| ˌkɒstə ˈri:kə |
There you have it. Costa Rica is not an island. It’s a country located on the continent of North America, specifically in Central America (south of Mexico, folks!) and it’s pronounced “coast”, not “cost”. Learn something new everyday.