Nicaragua (/ ˌ n ɪ k ə ˈ r ɑː ɡ w ə, -ˈ r æ ɡ-, -ɡ j u ə / (); Spanish: [nikaˈɾaɣwa]), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (Spanish: República de Nicaragua (help · info)), is the largest country in the Central American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the northwest, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.