Estudiar
verb
This verb, which in Spanish commonly means 'to study', in Costa Rica most often means 'to read'. I had a problem with this verb when I first got to Costa Rica because people kept on saying that I study a lot. I was really confused because I was simply reading a novel for pleasure. Such endeavors are hardly studying in my mind, but Costa Ricans often refer to any kind of reading as studying. 'To study' is still 'estudiar' in Costa Rica, but estudiar is not always 'to study'. I think you get the point.Costa Ricans really don't read all that much in their leisure time. Although a Costa Rica is largely a literate society, many Costa Ricans still only have a basic functional literacy and do not pursue any reading that isn't absolutely necessary. In other Latin countries I've experienced have had a much more literature-friendly cultures. In Chile and Argentina, for instance, taxi drivers discuss with me the literature of their countries' most famous authors. In Costa Rica, most people cannot name any national authors. This distinction may seem generalized and discriminatory, but I don't mean it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with avoiding unnecessary reading. In many ways it's an intelligaent thing to do.
Synonyms: leer