Tico

[tee-koh, tee-kaw]

noun

plural

Ticos 

1. a native or inhabitant of Costa Rica.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Costa Rica or its inhabitants.

   an exhibition of Tico art.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tico¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from Latin American Spanish tico, said to be from Costa Ricans’ predilection for diminutives formed with the suffix -itico

Example Sentences

Palmieri briefly recorded music with the label but also released music under Tico, Alegre, Concord Picante, RMM and Coco Records.

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By the late ’90s, the company had gobbled up the assets of most of its competitors — classic labels like Tico, Alegre and Inca.

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Tran’s Rose Tico was the first leading role for a woman of color.

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“I say, ‘Tico, it’s not good.’

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Lewis, whose wry lyrics and rumbling vocals powered Reagan-era pop hits like “I Want a New Drug” and “If This Is It,” turned to people like Tico Torres, the longtime Bon Jovi drummer, whom he’d gotten to know on golfing trips.

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