Community

Your word isn't here yet

Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.

/Sounds like "OO" (as in "Uber") + "peh" (as in "pet")/

Meaning

In Costa Rica, the verbal equivalent of knocking: you shout "Upe!" at someone's door to announce you have arrived. It is one of the most distinctly tico customs, a cheerful verbal knock that replaces ringing a bell, especially in homes where people know each other well.

Examples

¡Upe! ¿Hay alguien en casa?

Upe! Is anyone home?

Llegué gritando upe pero nadie contestó así que esperé afuera.

I got there yelling upe but no one answered, so I waited outside.

Regional synonyms

To stick your nose into other people's business without being invited, always with an opinion about things that are none of your concern. Used across most of the Spanish-speaking world.