The phrase that embodies the Tico lifestyle is Pura Vida, literally translated as Pure Life, meaning roughly "This is living!" or "Cool!" Friends often greet or salute each other with Pura vida mae (or Pure life, dude, which could be rendered as "This is living, dude!") Another translation might be something like "distilled life!" suggesting "I am experiencing the best in life"; and since life is about friendship, relaxation, flirting, happiness and good fun, this means you are having a wonderful time. This all-encompassing statement is used by many Costa Ricans (and expatriates) to refer to the free spirit and love for life of this tropical country. Also refers to the state of something going really well or being very positive. See uses below.

Uses

"Pura vida" is widely used in Costa Rica. People use it to refer to their mood or personality as well as to a situation.

-Ese mae es pura vida (that dude is pure life). Meaning that the dude is really cool, friendly and fun to be with.

-¿Cómo te fue en el exámen? (How did you do in the exam?) -Pura vida, creo que me saqué un cien (Pure life, I think I got an A+). Meaning I did really well.

-¿Cómo estuvo el viaje a la playa? (How was the trip to the beach?) Pura vida, la pasamos excelente. (Pure life, we had an excellent time) meaning everything went well and had a great time.

Less frequently people use it as to say that they agree with something.

-Vamos al cine el viernes? (Want to go to the movies on Friday?) -Pura Vida, yo me llego a su casa a las 6 p.m. (Pure life, I'll be at your place at 6 p.m.)

Some people don't agree with this and other uses because they think that pura vida is being abused in a way that distorts its true meaning, however you do occasionally hear expressions such as the one above. Which takes us, to the wrong uses of "pura vida."

Wrong uses

-"La comida estuvo pura vida!" (the food was pure life). The food is not something you usually associate with pura vida. You can say that the people working in a restaurant are pura vida, or that the atmosphere of the restaurant is pura vida, but not the food. However, you occasionally hear some people using pura vida in this and other weird ways. Most things are usually not associated with pura vida because pura vida is a feeling, a way of life. However, you can say that a party was pura vida, meaning that the atmosphere of the party was great, that it was a heck of a party.

-"Mi perro es pura vida" (My dog is pure life). Ticos usually don't refer to their animals as being pura vida. There are some that might do it but, this is rare and is thought of by many as another example of pura vida abuse.

Never use pura vida with something negative, you'll sound like a complete fool as you are only contradicting yourself and the true meaning of pura vida. For example don't ever say:

-"El accidente estuvo pura vida, todos se salvaron" (The accident was pure life, everyone survived). Even though everyone survived (which is great), something like an accident can never be pura vida.

There are many other wrong uses for pura vida but, these are some of the most frequent. If any other Ticos can think of some additional examples you are more than welcome to add them to this section.