# Languages of Costa Rica

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Languages of Costa Rica Official Spanish Indigenous Maléku, Cabécar, Bribri, Guaymí, Buglere Foreign American English, Italian, Haitian Creole, French, Tagalog

[Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica)'s official and predominant language is Spanish. The variety spoken there, [Costa Rican Spanish](/source/Costa_Rican_Spanish), is a form of [Central American Spanish](/source/Central_American_Spanish).

Costa Rica is a linguistically diverse country and home to at least five living local indigenous languages spoken by the descendants of pre-Columbian peoples: [Maléku](/source/Mal%C3%A9ku_language), [Cabécar](/source/Cab%C3%A9car_language), [Bribri](/source/Bribri_language), [Guaymí](/source/Guaym%C3%AD_language), and [Buglere](/source/Buglere_language).

Immigration has also brought people and languages from various countries around the world. Along the Atlantic Ocean in [Limón Province](/source/Lim%C3%B3n_Province), inhabited primarily by Afro-Caribs, an [English-based creole language](/source/English-based_creole_language) called [Mekatelyu](/source/Mekatelyu) or Patua is spoken to varying degrees, as is English; many older Limonenses speak English as their native language. The Quakers community, who settled in [Monteverde](/source/Monteverde) in the early 1950s, speaks an older dialect of English, using *[thou](/source/Thou)* instead of *[you](/source/You)*.[1][2] [Costa Rican Sign Language](/source/Costa_Rican_Sign_Language) is also spoken by the deaf community, and Costa Rican Spanish slang is known as "pachuco".

Since 2015 Costa Rica is officially known as a multi-ethnic and pluralistic republic. The greatest advance in this respect came with the amendment of Article 76 of the Constitution of Costa Rica, which now states: *"Spanish is the official language of the Nation. However, the State will oversee the maintenance and cultivation of indigenous national languages."*[3]

## Living indigenous languages

Currently, in Costa Rica, there are six indigenous languages that are still used by their respective populations. All of them belonging to the [Chibcha language family](/source/Chibchan_languages). Those languages are:

- [Maléku language](/source/Mal%C3%A9ku_language): Also known as Guatuso, spoken by around 800 people in north-eastern [Alajuela Province](/source/Alajuela_Province). This language, along with Rama, belongs to the Votic branch of the [Chibchan language family](/source/Chibchan_languages).

- [Cabécar language](/source/Cab%C3%A9car_language): Spoken in the [Talamanca mountain range](/source/Cordillera_de_Talamanca) and in the southern Pacific region, Cabécar is the sister language to Bribri in the Isthmic branch of the [Chibchan language family](/source/Chibchan_languages).

- [Bribri language](/source/Bribri_language): Bribri is spoken on the Atlantic slope of the country, including [Limón Province](/source/Lim%C3%B3n_Province), the Talamanca mountain range, and the south Pacífic region. Together with Cabécar, it forms the Viceitic subgroup of Chibchan languages.

- [Guna language](/source/Guna_language) : Guna is the language of native tribes in the area of the [Cartago Province](/source/Cartago_Province) located in the center of Costa Rica. It is also part of the Isthmic branch of the [Chibchan languages](/source/Chibchan_languages), as well as [Cabécar](/source/Cab%C3%A9car_language).

- [Guaymí language](/source/Guaym%C3%AD_language): Spoken in various indigenous territories to the southeast of [Puntarenas Province](/source/Puntarenas_Province), bordering [Panama](/source/Panama). Together with Buglere, it belongs to the Guaymic subgroup of the [Chibchan languages](/source/Chibchan_languages). Also known as Ngäbere or Movere.

- [Buglere language](/source/Buglere_language): Spoken in the same territories as Guaymí, the language to which it is most closely related. It is also known as Bocotá.

## Extinct and formerly spoken languages

An indigenous language map of Costa Rica, pre-Spanish arrival.

Prior to the 9th century, only languages of the Chibchan family were spoken in Costa Rica. The extinct **[Huetar language](/source/Huetar_language)**, probably affiliated with the Chibchan family, served as the *lingua franca* for the interior of Costa Rica and was considered by the Spanish upon their arrival to be the "general language" of all Costa Rica.[4]

Historically, the range of the still-living *[Rama language](/source/Rama_language)* also extended south into northern Costa Rica, where the Maléku language was also spoken. Boruca, an Isthmic Chibchan language, was formerly spoken across the southern Pacific slope while [Bribri](/source/Bribri_language) and [Cabécar](/source/Cab%C3%A9car_language) speakers inhabited the northern Atlantic slope.[4] An unknown language, known only as the **lengua de Paro**, was also spoken on the western coast of the [Gulf of Nicoya](/source/Gulf_of_Nicoya).[5]

During the 9th century, speakers of the now-extinct [Oto-Manguean language](/source/Oto-Manguean_language) **[Chorotega](/source/Chorotega_people)** controlled most of northeast Costa Rica. Other Mesoamerican peoples penetrated Costa Rican territory.

The **[Nahua](/source/Nahuan_languages)** speakers known as Nicarao, named after their [cacique of the same name](/source/Nicarao_(cacique)), lived in enclaves in [Guanacaste Province](/source/Guanacaste_Province) as well as near the delta of the [Sixaola River](/source/Sixaola_River),[5] speaking a dialect closer to nuclear [Nahuatl](/source/Nahuatl) in Mexico than to the [Pipil](/source/Pipil_language) of El Salvador and Nicaragua.[4]

At the beginning of the 21st century, two Costa Rican indigenous languages became extinct. Térraba, a variety of the *[Téribe language](/source/Teribe_language)*, was spoken in the indigenous reserve of Térraba in the southeast of Puntarenas province. Until its recent extinction, Boruca was spoken in the **[Boruca](/source/Boruca_language)** and Curré reserves in the southeast of [Puntarenas province](/source/Puntarenas_province).

## European languages

According to the Education First international school, Costa Rica ranks highly in English-language proficiency in Central & South America.[6] It is the most widely spoken foreign language, and in addition to being a compulsory subject in school it is the most common foreign language exam taken for entry into tertiary education [7]

This language also has the support and promotion of dozens of cultural institutions founded by one of the most important English-speaking communities in Central America and made up of more than: 20,000 Americans, 10,000 Canadians, 6,000 British and their descendants living in the country, who use the language on a daily basis in parallel with Spanish.[8]

Also noteworthy is the fact that in the northwestern region of the [Province of Puntarenas](/source/Province_of_Puntarenas), in the communities of [Monteverde](/source/Monteverde%2C_Costa_Rica) and [Santa Elena](/source/Santa_Elena%2C_Costa_Rica), [Quakers](/source/Quakers) speak the typical English of their community, using "thou" instead of "you" and other characteristics typical of the Quaker dialect. In addition, in many other parts of the country there are [Mennonite](/source/Mennonite) communities from the United States, where English is also used by the population..[9][10]

One of the largest German communities in Central America is present in the country, with more than 2,000 Germans currently living in Costa Rica. Not counting almost 2000 Swiss, 2000 Mennonites of predominantly German descent and more than 600 Austrians, making up a large German-Costa Rican community that practices and promotes the use of the German language in the nation.[11]

Also noteworthy is the great German migration that took place in Costa Rica during the 19th and 20th centuries, 22 inheriting the country a rich sociocultural and economic contribution. Currently, thousands of Costa Ricans are descendants of these migrants and the Goethe Institut has founded dozens of cultural institutions and even educational centers such as the Humbolt Schule and churches that promote the spread of German in the country.[12]

In addition, in the north of the country, in the Huetar North Region, in [Sarapiquí](/source/Sarapiqu%C3%AD_(canton)) and in [San Carlos](/source/San_Carlos_(canton)) there are communities founded, colonized or populated by German and Mennonite migrants where their descendants still use German or use a dialect from Old German called [Plautdeutsch](/source/Low_German).[13]

Costa Rica has the largest [Italian community in Central America](/source/Italian_Costa_Ricans), with more than 2,500 Italians living in the country. In addition, almost 2,000 Swiss also reside in Costa Rica. This, and the many descendants of the Italian migratory flows of the 19th century, create a large Italian-speaking community with institutions and cultural alliances, such as the Dante Alighieri Institute, that promote the teaching of the Italian language.[14][15]

In addition, in the [San Vito](/source/San_Vito_(Costa_Rica)) area and other communities in the southeast of the nation, Italian is spoken, due to the Italian agricultural colonization that took place in these areas and was promoted by the government. Currently, it is also spoken a dialect resulting from Hispanic influence on the descendants of Italian migrants and Italian is taught as a compulsory subject in regional public education.[16][17]

In the country, one of the most promoted and popular foreign languages is French. It is noteworthy that Costa Rica has the largest French-speaking community in Central America, being the only Central American country that is an observer Member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, and with more than: 2,000 French, 10,000 Canadians, 2,000 Swiss, and 200 Haitians.[18] In addition, during the nineteenth century the largest migratory flow of French in Central America was registered, directed towards Costa Rica, which has contributed a large number of French-speaking descendants to the country and has produced the creation of many institutions and cultural alliances and even a school that carry out a great promotion and dissemination of French learning in the population. Also, French is a compulsory subject taught in many schools and in the Third Cycle of Basic Education, it is taught in countless schools and can be chosen as a subject to take the baccalaureate exam.[19]

## Asian languages

In the 19th century, important groups of [Chinese](/source/Chinese-Costa_Rican) emigrated to Costa Rica and settled mainly in the provinces of Limón, Puntarenas, and Guanacaste, preserving their language, [Mandarin](/source/Mandarin_Chinese) or [Cantonese](/source/Cantonese), depending on their origin. Currently, there is a constant migratory flow of Chinese and their descendants, who settled in the country use their language on a daily basis, living in Costa Rica about 45,000 Chinese and representing one of the largest Chinese communities in Central America.[20][21]

In this way, several cultural and even religious institutions and alliances have been created that promote Chinese culture and the spread of the Chinese language in the country. Also, it highlights the large number of educational centers that teach Mandarin as a compulsory subject.[22]

Another language with a notable presence is Arabic, used by more than 200 Lebanese, 200 Emiratis, and a large number of Lebanese, Arab and 19th century immigrants from the Middle East who live in the country.[23] Furthermore, Costa Rica has one of the largest [Muslim communities in Central America](/source/Islam_in_Costa_Rica), which uses this language as its [liturgical language](/source/Liturgical_language). There are dozens of cultural institutions in the nation that spread the Arabic language and culture, such as the Lebanese House.[24]

The [Hebrew language](/source/Hebrew_language) is also used as a liturgical language by the [Jewish Costa Rican community](/source/History_of_the_Jews_in_Costa_Rica), one of the largest in Central America, and it is also used by more than 1000 Israelis and their descendants who live in the country.[25] This language is also promoted by Zionist institutes present in the nation. The large number of Jews living in Costa Rica derives from isolated migratory processes, such as the great Polish immigration or the entry of many Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews to the territory, bringing with it the use of Hebrew as a religious language.[26]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Monteverde Friends School - Our Community - History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130707054309/http://www.mfschool.org/community/history.htm). Archived from [the original](http://mfschool.org/community/history.htm) on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Quaker Language"](http://www.worldspirituality.org/quaker-language.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Costa Rica 1949 (rev. 2011)"](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Costa_Rica_2011?lang=en#231). *Constitute*. Retrieved 28 April 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_4-2) Constenla Umaña, Adolfo (2011). ["La diversidad linguística de Costa Rica: las lenguas indígenas"](http://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/filyling/article/view/6424/6129). *Revista de Filología y Lingüística de la Universidad de Costa Rica*. **37** (2): 93–106. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.15517/rfl.v37i2.6424](https://doi.org/10.15517%2Frfl.v37i2.6424). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10669/14483](https://hdl.handle.net/10669%2F14483).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) Adolfo Constenla Umaña, Eugenia Ibarra Rojas (2009). ["MAPA DE LA DISTRIBUCIÓN TERRITORIAL APROXIMADA DE LAS LENGUAS INDÍGENAS HABLADAS EN COSTA RICA Y EN SECTORES COLINDANTES DE NICARAGUA Y DE PANAMÁ EN EL SIGLO XVI"](http://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/chibcha/article/view/9635/9080). *Lingüística Chibcha*. **28**: 109–111.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** EPI EF. ["Clasificación EPI EF"](http://www.ef.cr/epi/ef-epi-ranking/?tc=Iw). Retrieved 24 January 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Córdoba Cubillo, Patricia; Coto Keith, Rossina; Ramírez Salas, Marlene (2005). ["LA ENSEÑANZA DEL INGLÉS EN COSTA RICA Y LA DESTREZA AUDITIVA EN EL AULA DESDE UNA PERSPECTIVA HISTÓRICA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161028015620/http://revista.inie.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/aie/article/viewFile/71/70). *Estudio universitario sobre la historia y eficacia de la enseñanza del idioma inglés en el país*. Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Educación, Instituto de Investigación en Educación. Archived from [the original](http://revista.inie.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/aie/article/viewFile/71/70) (PDF) on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Marín Arroyo, Edwin (2012). ["Cronología de la enseñanza del inglés en Costa Rica durante el Siglo XX"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160916120508/http://revistas.tec.ac.cr/index.php/comunicacion/article/viewFile/809/723). *Estudio universitario sobre la historia del idioma inglés en el país*. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica – Revista Comunicación. Archived from [the original](http://revistas.tec.ac.cr/index.php/comunicacion/article/viewFile/809/723) (PDF) on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Zúñiga, Alejandra (2002). ["Cuando llegaron los cuáqueros"](http://wvw.nacion.com/dominical/2002/agosto/18/dominical9.html). *Artículo sobre la historia de los cuáqueros asentados en Monteverde*. Revista Dominical de La Nación. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Solano, Hugo (8 May 2011). ["Cuáqueros: 60 años aquí"](http://wvw.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2011/mayo/08/noticias-del-dia2767599.html). *Artículo sobre la historia de las comunidades cuáqueras costarricenses*. Al Día. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Corella, Randall (2005). ["Una vida al pie de La Palabra"](http://wvw.nacion.com/proa/2005/marzo/06/proa0.html). *Artículo sobre los menonitas de Costa Rica*. Revista Proa de La Nación. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sauter_12-0)** Sauter, Franz. *[Los alemanes en Costa Rica](http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/febrero/01/opinion3.html)* [La Nación](/source/La_Naci%C3%B3n_(Costa_Rica)). 1999.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Berth_13-0)** Berth, Christian *La inmigración alemana en Costa Rica, migración, crisis y cambio entre 1920 y 1950 entrevistas con descendientes alemanes.*Instituto de Historia Contemporánea de Hamburgo

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Bariatti, Rita. *La inmigración italiana en Costa Rica*. Revista Acta Académica. Universidad de Centro América. San José, 1997 [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1017-7507](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1017-7507)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Cappelli, Vittorio. *Nelle altre Americhe. Calabresi in Colombia, Panamà, Costa Rica e Guatemala*. La Mongolfiera. Doria di Cassano Jonio, 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-w_16-0)** Weizmann H. (1987) *Emigrantes a la conquista de la selva* (2.ª ed.)Comité de la Sociedad Cultural "Dante Alighieri" de San Vito. Costa Rica.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Sansonetti V. (1995) Quemé mis naves en esta montaña: La colonización de la altiplanicie de Coto Brus y la fundación de San Vito de Java. Jiménez y Tanzi. San José, Costa Rica.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Meléndez Obando, Mauricio (2001). ["Franceses en Costa Rica"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101536/http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/ESPECIALES/raices/raices24.html). *Artículo sobre la inmigración y las familias descendientes francesas de Costa Rica*. La Nación. Archived from [the original](http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/ESPECIALES/raices/raices24.html) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Picado de León, Nitzy (8 April 2016). ["ABR 2016 Costa Rica y Francia firman acuerdo para reforzar la enseñanza del francés en las aulas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160719200945/http://www.mep.go.cr/noticias/costa-rica-francia-firman-acuerdo-para-reforzar-ensenanza-frances-aulas). *Artículo sobre el acuerdo de intercambio en docentes de francés entre la República de Costa Rica y la República Francesa y datos sobre la enseñanza del francés en el país*. Ministerio de Educación Pública de la República de Costa Rica. Archived from [the original](http://www.mep.go.cr/noticias/costa-rica-francia-firman-acuerdo-para-reforzar-ensenanza-frances-aulas) on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Bermúdez-Valverde, Quendy *Las leyes anti-inmigratorias y la inmigración china a Costa Rica* Acta Académica N° 50, 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Soto_21-0)** Soto Quirós, Ronald *Percepciones y actitudes políticas con respecto a la minoría china en Costa Rica: 1897–1911*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Will, Rachel (21 October 2011). ["China's Stadium Diplomacy – 中国体育场外交"](http://uschina.usc.edu/w_usct/showarticle.aspx?articleID=17566&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1). *Artículo que informa sobre los intereses de la República Popular China en la República de Costa Rica y que menciona la cantidad de chinos que habitan en el país* (in Spanish). US-China Today. Retrieved 26 July 2016.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Martínez Esquivel, Ricardo. Inmigrantes libaneses en Costa Rica y sus participaciones en la masonería del país (primera mitad del siglo XX) 25 de octubre de 2010z

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** KUSUMO, Fitra Ismu, "ISLAM EN AMÉRICA LATINA Tomo III: El Islam hoy desde América Latina (Spanish Edition)"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** [Migraciones Judías en Centroamérica y el Caribe: Proyección Epidemiológica de la Enfermedad de Gaucher](http://vitae.ucv.ve/?module=articulo&rv=98&n=4305&m=2) Academia Biológica Digital

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guzman_26-0)** Guzmán Stein, Miguel. [La migración sefardita en Costa Rica y la lapidaria fúnebre como fuente de investigación de una comunidad inédita](http://www.hcentroamerica.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/Contenidos/hca/cong/mesas/cong5/docs/gsoc1.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025258/http://www.hcentroamerica.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/Contenidos/hca/cong/mesas/cong5/docs/gsoc1.pdf) 2015-09-24 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) V Congreso Centroamericano de Historia. [19 de julio](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=19_de_julio&action=edit&redlink=1) de 2000.

- [Ethnologue report for Costa Rica](http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=CR)

- [Staaten und Territorien der Erde und ihre Sprachen – Costa Rica](https://archive.today/20070923174007/http://reese.linguist.de/Laender/costarica.html) (in German)

- [Costa Rica](http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/AXL/amsudant/costa_rica.htm), L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde (in French)

v t e Languages of Costa Rica Official language Spanish Indigenous languages Chibchan Bribri Boruca Buglere Cabécar Chánguena Dorasque Huetar Maléku Naso Ngäbere Rama Uto–Aztecan Nahua Oto–Manguean Chorotega Other spoken languages American English Haitian Creole Haitian French Sign languages Costa Rican Sign Language italics indicates an extinct language; Costa Rica portal

v t e Costa Rica articles San José (capital) History Pre-Columbian history New Granada Captaincy General (Guatemalan) Mexican rule Federal Republic of Central America Free State of Costa Rica First Costa Rican Republic Liberal State Civil War (1948) Reform State Geography Conservation Deforestation Earthquakes Islands Mountains National parks Rivers Volcanoes Water resources Waterfalls Wildlife World Heritage Sites Politics Administrative divisions Provinces Cantons Districts Elections Foreign relations International rankings Legislative Assembly Deputies History Human rights LGBT Mayors Military Political parties President list Public finances Supreme Court Presidents Economy Agriculture Colón (currency) Telecommunications Tourism Ecotourism Transport Unions Society Demographics Education Ethnic groups Health Languages Religion Squatting Water supply and sanitation Culture Anthem Architecture Cinema Coat of arms Cuisine Flag Literature Media Music Public holidays Sport Outline Category Portal

v t e Languages of North America Sovereign states Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States Dependencies and other territories Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Languages of Costa Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Costa_Rica) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Costa_Rica?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.