Tico
Tico (adj) means Costa Rican; relating to Costa Rica or its people. Example: “She was proud of her tico heritage and cooked traditional gallo pinto every Sunday.”
How to use Tico
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal, affectionate word Costa Ricans use for themselves and their culture.
Informal and widely used with pride inside Costa Rica; outside the country, "Costa Rican" is the more neutral, formal choice.
Word forms
Ticos plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was proud of her _____ heritage and cooked traditional gallo pinto every Sunday.
Etymology
From Costa Ricans' habit of adding the diminutive ending "-tico" to words far more than other Spanish speakers do (so "un poquito" becomes "un poquitico") — the nickname stuck to the people themselves.
Rhymes for Tico
See all rhymes for Tico →Frequently asked questions
What does “Tico” mean?
The word “Tico” means costa Rican; relating to Costa Rica or its people. In plain terms, an informal, affectionate word Costa Ricans use for themselves and their culture.
How do you use “Tico” in a sentence?
Here is “Tico” used in a sentence: “She was proud of her tico heritage and cooked traditional gallo pinto every Sunday.”
What part of speech is “Tico”?
Depending on how it is used, “Tico” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Tico” come from?
The word “Tico” comes from Spanish. From Costa Ricans' habit of adding the diminutive ending "-tico" to words far more than other Spanish speakers do (so "un poquito" becomes "un poquitico") — the nickname stuck to the people themselves.
How many meanings does “Tico” have?
“Tico” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: costa Rican; relating to Costa Rica or its people.