If you have booked a beautiful villa through us and your vacation is planned, it might be nice to practice some phrases and words in Papiamentu. Of course you can get by with Dutch anywhere on the island, but the locals really appreciate it when you make the effort to speak their language as well. Learn some useful words here for your vacation to Curacao.
What kind of language is Papiamentu?
Papiamento is a creole language spoken on the islands of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. It is a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese with some Dutch influences as well. The name Papiamento (literal meaning: talked) is derived from the Portuguese word for babble: Papear.
Greetings in Papiamentu
Bon bini – Welcome
Bon dia – Good morning
Bon tardi – Good afternoon
Bon nochi – Good evening
Bon siman – Have a nice week
Bon wikènt / Feliz wikènt – Have a nice weekend.
Ayo – Doei / Tot ziens
Short phrases in Papiamentu
Kon ta bai? – How’s it going?
Mi ta bon – I am doing well
Kon ta ku bo? – How are you doing?
Mi ta stima bo – I love you
Mi no papia Papiamentu – I don’t speak Papiamentu
Mi ta papia un tiki Papiamentu – I speak a little bit of Papiamentu
Mi yama… / Mi nòmber ta… – My name is …. / My name is….
Kon yama bo? – What is your name?
Kwanto esaki ta kosta? – How much does it cost?
Useful words in Papiamentu
Dushi – Darling, sweet, sweet, beautiful, kind, candy, fine, good
Dushi bida – The good life
Dushi yiu – Nice, say
Hopi – More
Tiki – Weinig / Beetje
Chikito – Small
Gran / Grandi – Groot
Mas – Sea
Menos – Minder
Ku – Mead
Sin – Zonder
Bon – Goed
Malu – Slecht
Tránkilo – Rustig
Rápido – Snel
Days of the week in Papiamentu
Djaluna – Monday
Djamars – Tuesdays
Djarason – Wednesday
Djawieps – Thursday
Djabièrne – Friday
Djasabra – Saturday
Djadomingu – Sunday
Numbers in Papiamentu
Sero – Zero
Un – One
Dos – Two
Tres – Three
Kuater – Four
Sinku – Five
Seis – Six
Shete – Seven
Ocho – Eight
Nuebe – Nine
Dies – Ten
Shen – Hundred
Mil – One Thousand