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Upe
/Sounds like "OO" (as in "Uber") + "peh" (as in "pet")/
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.
“¡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.”
Your word isn't here yet
Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.
Upe
/Sounds like "OO" (as in "Uber") + "peh" (as in "pet")/
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.
“¡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.”
Apalabrar
To make a verbal commitment, agreeing to something on your word alone, no contract, no paperwork. In Mexico and Central America, apalabrar is how business gets done between people who trust each other. Your word is your bond, and breaking it is a serious breach of honor.