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Bandera de Costa Rica

/Sounds like "kah-rah-HEE-yoh"/

An affectionate Tico word for a kid, little boy, or young person. "Ese carajillo" is the neighborhood kid, the neighbor's son, the mischievous nephew. It comes from "carajo" but lost all vulgar weight turning into an affectionate diminutive. Used with tenderness, light exasperation, or just to describe the kid at home. Tico adults inherit it from their parents and pass it to their kids.

Example

"Ese carajillo no se me quiere dormir. → That little kid won't fall asleep."

"Los carajillos juegan fútbol en la calle. → The kids are playing soccer in the street."

Regional synonyms:

A public minibus in Mexico City, named "pesero" because the fare used to cost just one peso. These small, colorful buses are an extreme urban mobility experience, notorious for their reckless driving, packed conditions, and blasting music. They are a staple of daily commuting for millions of people in the capital.