Lexi-tico: Bomba

BOMBA (bom-ba)

“Bomba” is a term which has a few meanings in Costa Rica. If you look up the term in, let’s say,

Wordference, your English equivalents will be like bomb, pump and bombshell.

Most of the time, Costa Ricans will use the word “Bomba” to refer to a gas station (petrol station). Very few will say “gasolinera” and/or “estación de gasolina”, which is far less common. In other words, a “bomba” is the place where fuel for motor vehicles is sold.

So, the “muchacho que trabaja en la bomba”, who is also called “pistero”, would be the “young guy who works as a gas station attendant.”

But here’s where things get interesting. A “bomba” is also a type of “bombeta” (firecracker), which is exploded, commonly, during patron saint’s festivals in many towns nationwide.

And there’s of course the word “bomberos”, which derives from “bomba”, and stands for firemen.

But that’s not the end of it. A “bomba” is also a traditional oral expression which originates form Guanacaste and consists of a short rhythmic verse.

As usual, its meaning will always depend on the context.