A rope or cord in Mexico and Central America, used for tying, pulling, or hanging things around the farm, house, or anywhere you need to secure something. The word comes from Nahuatl 'mecatl' and is deeply embedded in everyday rural and domestic vocabulary.

To be angry or furious in Costa Rica — the Tico way of expressing that someone's on the verge of an emotional explosion. When someone's chiva, you'd better not talk to them or even look their way.

Excitado sexualmente o con muchas ganas en Centroamérica. Es una palabra que se usa con cuidado porque es bastante directa y explícita, no la sueltas en cualquier contexto.

A neighborhood shop or general store in Costa Rica and Venezuela where you buy essentials and catch up on gossip. It's a lifelong community meeting point — more than a business, it's a social institution.