What is the official language in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica (Spanish for "rich coast"; formerly known in German as Kostarika) is a country in Central America, bordering Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is considered one of the most progressive in Latin America. The army was abolished in 1948 to promote education and health programs, the country generates almost 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, and ecotourism is strongly promoted. Around 27% of the country's area is protected.

The official language is Spanish, with some Costa Rican peculiarities. English and an English-based creole similar to Jamaican Patois are also widely spoken on the Atlantic coast.

The Spanish spoken in Costa Rica has several distinctive features. In addition to the use of "ustedes" ("you") instead of "vosotros" ("you"), which is common throughout Latin America, the "vos" predominates when addressing someone, rather than "tú" (voseo). Well-known Costa Rican expressions include mae (roughly "buddy," also used as a filler word) and ¡Pura vida! ("Pure life!") as an expression of good humor.