literally translated means "Pure Life" but means contextually something approximate to "Purified life", "This is living!", "Going great", or "Cool!". It can be used as a greeting, as a word of farewell, to express satisfaction, and in some instances to politely express indifference when describing something.

The phrase has become widely known in the USA and Europe; this highly flexible statement is used by many Costa Ricans (and expatriates) since 1956. Some foreigners view the phrase as an expression of a leisurely lifestyle, of disregard for time and wanton friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express something akin to a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, and enjoying life slowly and celebrating good fortune whether large or small.