www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I learned recently from my Tica Dentista the origin of the term Tico to describe the people of Costa Rica

Costaricanese call themselves Ticos due to their common use of the dimunitive suffix “itico”, rather the the typical “ito”.

This suffix can be used to show emphasis or severtiy such as: El esta borrachitico - He is really drunk. It can be also be as a polite way to ask for only a little bit of something: un poquitico. Finally, it is used as a familiar or cute way to address someone: hermanitico- little brother.