Language

The official language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish. There are, however, five indigenous languages still spoken in various parts of the country.  These include: Bribri, Guaymí, Maléku, Buglere, and Cabécar. Some are widely spoken by the thousands, while others only by hundreds. In the Limón Province, which runs along Caribbean coast, there is an English-based creole language called Mekatelyu or Patua. This is a Jamaican dialect that’s spoken in that area, but many people from that region speak English as their native language. Costa Rican Spanish slang is known as “pachuco”, not to be confused with ‘pacheco’, which is a common last name.  Save yourself the embarrassment and memorize the differences between those two words!

English Proficiency 

Costa Rica – 55.01% English proficiency rate.

A recent study shows that 10.7% of the adult (18+) Costa Rica population speaks English, 0.7% French, 0.3% German or Portuguese as a second language. This is extremely high in comparison with other surrounding Central American countries.

In 2018, Costa Rica was ranked #2 in all Latin American countries, which consist of Central and South America, and ranked #1 in Central America with regard to English proficiency.  Many people have been learning English in recent years, because they know that it can open up many doors and opportunities financially if they’re able to speak it at a fluent level.  Millions of people come to Costa Rica every year, and tour companies are in need of people who speak English fluently to help run their businesses.