Costa Rica Journal: Pura Vida
Posted by Ted Hopton on February 27, 2008
I thought I would start my postings about my fabulous trip to Costa Rica by explaining the term that is so common there, “pura vida.” However, it has proved harder to explain than I expected. Some things just “are,” and trying to explain them is futile. To a certain extent, I think this is the case for Pura Vida.
The casual way I understood the phrase while I was in Costa Rica and encountering it on a daily basis was along the lines of, “No worries, things will work out.” I knew, of course, that the literal translation was “pure life,” but it was clear that the connotations of the expression were much wider and deeper than that. It was as if all the implications associated with living a “pure life” were bound up in the phrase in a metaphorical sense.
“Pura vida” also reminded me of the Hawaiian phrase, “hang loose,” which is also widely used in many informal circumstances. One can end a phone call with “pura vida” almost as an expression of good wishes. One can greet a friend or even new acquaintance with “pura vida” as a friendly expression of well-being.
Of course, after only nine days in the country, I hardly qualify as an expert. So I tried to research the phrase a bit, and the most authoritative source I found was a research paper by Anna Marie Trester of New York University, “Bienvenidos a Costa Rica, la tierra de la pura vida: Study of the Expresssion “pura vida” in the Spanish of Costa Rica.” Trester does a scholarly job of tracing the term and analyzing its current usage.
I think the way I would summarize my understanding of the phrase “pura vida” is to equate it with the slogan popular on T-shirts and other clothing: “Life is good.” That’s the sense I came away with from Costa Rica.
The Urban Dictionary seems to go along with that spirit:
Spanish for “pure life.”
The law of the land in Costa Rica. The expression is used in many forms, from a greeting, to a synonym for “excellent.” Ticos follow this lifestyle and are some of the most wonderful people on earth. A synonym of “hakuna matata.” Life is wonderful; enjoy it.
“Pura vida!” (Damn right!)
“Que Me ‘Ice Mae, Pura Vida?” (What’s up dude, all good?)
I guess I just have to go back to gain a deeper understanding, and that’s something I fully intend to do. Until then, I’ll try to live in the spirit of pura vida.
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