Where did the phrase Pura Vida come from? I think the most accurate, equivalent translation of pura vida is: Nothing But Life. Growing up in the South there was a similar use of the word “pure.” It was common to hear your grandmother say something like: “That’s just but pure bull!” The idea was that it was “nothing but” bull.

Pura vida does translate literally as “pure life.” But like most literal translations, that isn’t actually the best or most accurate English explanation, as you can see from the above examples.

It is used as a greeting and as a farewell you can use it for “I’m doing well” or “Everything’s cool” you can use it for “Oh well!” or “That’s life!” It also can be used for “You’re welcome” or “No worries”–or just about any exclamation like “That’s great!” If there were only one Spanish phrase to learn before coming to Costa Rica, it would be pura vida, because you can use it in almost any situation. The Meaning of Pura Vidaīy John Michael Arthur John Michael Arthur Our Costa Rica country correspondents give their thoughts on Pura Vida and what it means to them. We’ve had a lot of questions about the meaning and origins of the Costa Rican phrase Pura Vida.