GALLITO (ga-ʝi-to)

Most Costa Ricans have a thing for diminutives and, you probably know this by now, right? And chances are some of these words have already been incorporated into your Spanish language arsenal. Words like “momentito” (jiffy), or the much used “toquecito” (jiffy),  chiquito/a (little boy/girl), and/or others ending in -ico (pequeño/pequeñitico), the latter two translating as “small/very small, or tiny”, are just a few examples of an enormous compilation of diminutives we are used to using in both informal -and even formal- conversation settings anywhere in the country.

So, let’s say you have been to several Spanish speaking countries, and are now in Costa Rican territory for the first time. Before coming here, you knew the Spanish names of different farm animals, like vaca (cow), toro (bull), gallina (chicken) and… gallo (rooster). Over the past days, you have met some of your neighbors, who have invited you over for some typical food and drinks on the weekend. On Saturday, you get to the neighbors’ residence carrying a bottle of wine bought as a token of gratefulness for the invitation. And, to your bewilderment, your hosts offer you a delicious “gallito” they have prepared for this special occasion.

So, this triggers your Spanish vocabulary: Are they offering me a little rooster? Seriously? But I don’t even eat poultry, not to mention a rooster!!! Unwilling to diss your hosts, you agree to eat the “animal”. How could you possibly be ungrateful to your neighbors, right? Five minutes later, you are presented with some rice, beans, cheese, and fried plantain. But no little rooster? Here’s why: A “gallito”, in Costa Rica, is 99% of the time to be construed as a light meal, not exactly the animal most people would associate the word with. It’s the magic of language and culture!