Get Thee Gone, Evil Rain!
People say that the Inuits (Eskimos) have 400 words for snow (they don’t), but here in the Land of Never-ending Rain (”Costa Rica” is just an oft-used pet name, I swear), we must have their word count beat. For rain, of course, not snow.
I know I said I liked the rain. I wasn’t lying. Not really. It’s just that, at one time, I was too naive and inexperienced to give an informed opinion. Let’s call that time “August”. But September and October have been so ridiculous that it almost borders on amusing. I would laugh about it, but that requires that I wring out my sense of humor and, quite frankly, that would be wasted effort because there’s no chance of it drying before summer arrives.
I am can be a very patient woman, but even I am up to my eyeballs in water. My front entranceway smells as if it were totally caked in mud. Of course, it isn’t, but that’s not the blessing you might assume it to be. Mud smell + no mud = No way to rid myself of the smell. My bath towel refuses to dry, perfumed with the powerful scent of Eau de Mold. This is an unsolvable puzzle because, obviously, I cannot wash my towel because it won’t dry. In that case, I wouldn’t be able to dry, either, and I’d rather smell slightly of mold than of day-old human. Also, I haven’t washed any clothing in two weeks because Mr. Sun won’t come out and play. Looking on the bright side though, it’s times like these when I really appreciate working from home. The pièce de resistance in all this wetness is my bed. It’s where I spend my most comforting hours, and yet it reeks of mildew. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with what I’ve got because if I don’t use my comforter, I fear that I will die of hypothermia caused by the chilly nights. And the constant, inescapable dampness. Brr.
I finally broke down and sent my clothing, sheets, and comforter to the cleaner yesterday. Since I arrived in Costa Rica, I have refused to pay for someone to clean my laundry because 1) I like the smell of sun-dried clothes, 2) it’s just not something I want to pay for, and 3) it’s a pain in the culo to bag up all my laundry and lug it to the cleaner. But Emilia offered to take it for me (in her car), and so I gave in. Of course, they’re so incredibly backed up that they couldn’t wash & dry yesterday, so last night, I mummified myself in the warmth of the one blanket and sweatshirt I had left in the house and tried to ward off the wet chill. The joys of winter.
So as I mentioned, the ticos have a seemingly interminable list of words for rain and its accompanying conditions. If you live here, these are important to know because you won’t get away with a simple “it’s raining”. Here is my list of general Spanish mixed with tiquismos (costarriqueñismos, or Costa Rica-specific slang) for all things rainy. Here’s to speaking like a tico!
Rain
- pelo de gato: Literally, this means “cat fur”, but in rainy terms, it refers to a gently misting rain. Example: Deje de quejarse, mae, solo es un pelo de gato.
- goterones: Huge raindrops that make a plopping sound, your warning of the deluge to come. Example: Ya sentí los primeros goterones, vaya a recoger la ropa!
- garúa: Long, soft, misty raindrops that almost seem to evaporate before they hit the ground. Example: Solo está garuando, pero ahorita viene el aguacero.
- cilampa: Sideways drizzle that is nearly impossible to escape unless you don a parka. Example: Casi me estoy disfruntado de esta cilampa.
- llovizna: Regular drizzle. Example: Están reportando lloviznas en Chepe y solamente pelos de gato en Alajuela.
- aguacerillo/aguacerito: Very tico, this is the diminutive of aguacero (downpour), and it is the steady rain that hasn’t quite achieved torrent status. Example: Apenas fue un aguacerillo, con lo poco que llovió.
- aguacero: If you look out the window on a typical afternoon, this is what you’ll see: torrential rains that make monsoons a little jealous. Example: Mae, ya no aguanto este aguacero! No puedo hacer nada!
- tormenta: This is a thunderstorm, but here in Costa Rica, the lightening illuminates the sky completely and the thunder crashes so loudly that it shakes the foundation of your home. Example: Diay, fijese el aguacero que tuvimos hoy!
- baldazo: It’s raining buckets. Example: Mae, vea que baldazo!
- cielo roto: Meaning “broken sky”, it’s similar to saying that the heavens have opened up. Example: San Pedro es cielo roto.
- diluvio: A deluge. Example: Ay, qué diluvio más fuerte hoy!
- temporal: A steady, strong rain that lasts for days. Example: Con estos temporales, hace cinco dís que no deja de llover.
- las lluvias del niño: Rains that come at the end of the year (Christmastime). Example: Cuando lleguen las lluvias del niño, ya sabremos que termina el invierno.
- granizo: Hail. Unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence here in Tiquicia. Example: Se cayó una granizada.
Rainy Words
- mojazón: A term for when everything — ground, trees, the entire world — seems to be completely soaked. Example: Es todo una mojazón afuera!
- embarrialado: Muddy puddles. After a strong rain, the entire country seems to be completely drenched in mudsoaked. Example: Guacala! Está todo embarrialado.
- charcoso: Completely puddled. Example: Tengo que ponerme otros cachos porque está tanto charcoso afuera.
- suamposo: So wet that it’s swamp-like. Example: Que suamposo está Chepe!
- estilarse: To be soaked to the bone. Example: Estoy estilando… qué frío!
And yes, before you ask, it is raining right now. It’s an aguacerillo.
(Thank you to Saratica for inspiring this post.)
HI!!
yes, the rain is part of us… of our crazy country!!!
Y aunque nos hemos acostumbrado mucho a la epoca lluviosa… cada vez más se pone más dificil para todos!
Lluvia, lluvia, lluvia…. this is your favorite land on earth… Im sure about it!!
I’ve viewed the powers of Costa Rican rain in person a few times and it’s a site to see. The only thing I can compare it to would be rain in Atlanta but for very different reasons. In Atlanta generally when it rains, it comes down in buckets and with the entire city being concrete the water forms enormous rivers as none of the rain can soak into the ground. In Costa Rica, there was literally so much rain that even though some of it was soaking into the ground there were still temporary rivers all over the place and all the streets became mudpits. Fun times, stay dry! I’ll dry a towel just for you and smother myself in it’s warmness
Ah! I loved this post. I, too, (like you in the past?) love rain like anything. But then again, I can only try and imagine the situation like, if there is nothing but that; and yes, I too would want a change then.
But amongst the vocabulary you supplicated us with, I think I like the pelo de gato rain the best!
Erin! I thought I would never hear you utter these words! I am kind of sad that I missed the rainy season. It’s so ironic that I missed the worst weather in Canada, only to catch the best weather in Costa Rica. Remember, without the rain there would be no green!
i was going to suggest you look at the bright side of rain, but it’s got no bright side, IT SUCKS!
@Fabi: Sí, es mi tierra favorita pero, en serio, ya no aguanto más esta lluvia! Q pase, y muy pronto!
@Chris: Way to rub it in, dude. But I did get all my clean stuff back yesterday and oh, wow, was it fun to dive in face-first and inhale the scent of fresh laundry!
@Narziss: Like almost everything, rain is nice, but only in moderation. I feel like God turned on the faucet and forgot to turn it off! We’re the county that Seattle makes fun of.
@elle: I hath them uttered! I’m sick of it. Ready for the persistent heat of summer! Screw the green.
@josue: You got it, dude!
I see you have already familiarized yourself with our rainy weather. Even though I’m a Costa Rican I have to admit that I had never heard the word cilampa. Where exactly did you hear that one?
I like rain but when you get it seven to eight months a year by October you are already praying for it to stop. Especially this year when the heavy rainfall has already caused so many tragedies. The floods, slides and road closures seem never-ending.
I guess we just have to be patient.
Take care!
Erin, let’s combine our climates and divide the humdity/rainfall in two and impart equal parts to each, okay?
I just get so sick of all the BROWN everywhere!! Stay dry if you can!! Kisses.
Ah mira, pelo de gato no la conocia (con acento en la i, 0 ganas de ponerlo :D).
Suamposo me parece un horror, como todo spanglish…
Y no desees granizo, la ultima granizada que hubo aca rompio media ciudad, caian pedazos de hielo del tamaño de pelotas de golf, i shit you not.
Hi Erin,
You must be a great writer, because your wit and humor really came through in your comments. In Southern Califirnia, we wish for rain, and we got only fire!!!
I planning a first time trip to Costa Rica Dec 13-20, but I’m so scared of Dengue Fever, I’m thinking of not going. We had planned Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, and San Jose. I’d like to hear your idea of the Dengue Fever outbreak, and am I dumb to cancel it and be worried? I am REALLY a magnet for mosquitoes here in the US.
Take care!
Helene
es cierto, esta muy bueno este post… hay un par de terminos que tambien se usan mucho… y se te escaparon… los podes confirmar con otros ticos:
sereno: es una lluviecita casi imperceptible que cae de noche y de madrugada. es la culpable de que la ropa tendida de noche amanezca mojada y tambien de muchas enfermedades respiratorias (como el catarro o la gripe) que se dan producto de salir de noche sin abrigo. Mi abuelita decia que salir de noche era malo porque te podía agarrar el sereno.
perros y gatos: cuando hay un aguacero muy fuerte, también la gente dice que están lloviendo perros y gatos… y esto no sólo es acá en Costa Rica… Lo he oído en otros países… pero acá hay una malformación que dicen también (esta te va a costar pronunciarla): están cayendo “truinganos y fusinganos”. Me acuerdo haber oido una canción con estos términos y mi mamá la cantaba a veces.
en fin… es una pequeña colaboración… saludos!
Atlanta would love to have your problem! I agree that too much of anything is a bore, and the mildew on the bedding would be a drag.
Keep the air moving as much as possible and before you know it you’ll be griping about how hot and dry it is.
@Uri: Ugh, unfortunately, we’re all too familiar! Thank goodness it’s finally letting up. As for cilampa, it’s actually one of the first words (not just rain-related) that I really learned in CR. I was at a vivero with my “family” (my landlady and her daughter), and a very light, sideways rain was falling. I asked what it was called, and they told me!
@Esther: Unfortunately, in not too long (February-ish), I’ll be begging for some rain because it will be hot, sticky, and very brown! Hope all is well.
@Jaja, sí, no sé cómo es en Argentina, pero aquí hay muchísimo Spanglish! Todos dicen “sorry” y “okay” y un montón de otros términos así. Pero sí, se dice pelo de gato para ese tipo de lluvia, y creo q es una de las expresiones más usadas! Y sí, sé q no quiero granizo… son terribles!
@Helene: Thanks.
You know, I wouldn’t let yourself get too worried by the dengue. First of all, the only place you’ll really run the risk is Tortuguero, so if you let your fear get ahold of you, just cut that part out. However, I’ve been to the Caribbean side, and if you’re careful, you’ll be fine. Just bring some bug repellent (the eucalyptus stuff seems to really work, especially if you don’t like the idea of using deet) and apply it regularly. On another note, I just went to Monteverde for the first time (going to blog it, I think), and it was the most incredible place I’ve ever been. And they literally don’t have dengue there. Don’t cancel your trip!
@Francisco: Gracias! La vdd, no había escuchado ninguno de esos términos, entonces te los agradezco. Si no me equivoco, perros y gatos es otra cosa de Spanglish, vdd? Lo q siempre aprendemos es a cántaros, pero este parece ser una traducción del inglés, cats and dogs. Ud. sabe?
@Tom: Any extreme is tiresome, whether it be too much rain or too little. Right now, we’re entering into the perfect time when there’s mostly sun, but with the occasional rain. By February, you’re right: I’ll be wishing for rain again!