Papiamento - The language of the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, by about 300

  • A Quick Lesson of Papiamento


    The language of Papiamento is spoken on the Island of Aruba. It is a potpourri of several languages which include Spanish, Dutch, English, Portugese and African and Indian words. Today most Arubans also speak English, Dutch and Spanish.



    Some basic Papiamento words include:

    Pronouns:
    I - Ami
    You - Abo
    He, she, it - E
    We - Nos
    You (plural) - Boso
    They - Nan

    Conjugations: To be, To have, To do
     To be: Ta  To have: Tin  To do: Haci
     I am: Ami ta  I have: Ami tin  I do: Ami ta haci
     You are: Abo ta  You have: Abo tin  You do: Abo ta haci
     He, she, it is: E ta  He, she, it has: E tin  He, she, it does: E ta haci
     We are: Nos ta  We have: Nos tin  We do: Nos ta haci
     You are: Boso ta  You have: Boso tin  You do: Boso ta haci
     They are: Nan ta  They have: Nan tin  They do: Nan ta haci

    Some very common words:
    Good morning: Bon dia
    Good afternoon: Bon tardi
    Goodnight, Good evening: Bon nochi
    Welcome: Bon Boni
    Thank you: Danki
    How are you?: Con ta bai?
    Goodbye: Ajo
    What time is it?: Kwan tor tin?
    Where do you live?: Unda bo ta biba?
    All of us: Nos tur
    All of you: Boso
    The two of us: Nos dos

    Romantic Words:
    A kiss: Un sunchi
    A hug: Un braza
    My sweetheart: Mi dushi
    Delicious or great: Dushi 'om
    With all my love: Ku tur mi amor
    To french kiss: Ranka Lenga also chupa lenga
    A loved one: Frei
    My love: Mi amor
    To cheat on someone: Corta orea
    Smells good: Hole dushi 

    Shopping:
    How much does this cost?: Kwanto esaki ta costa?
    Looking around, brousing: Mi ta wak rond
    Lets go out on a trip: Ban dal un trip
    The Bank: Banco
    Money: Plaka
    What movie is playing today?: Ki pelicula ta hunga awe?
    Sneakers: Keds
    Shoes: Sapato
    In the town: Den caya
    I'm thirsty: Mi tin sed
    I'm hungry: Mi tin hamber
    Lets go home: Ban kas 

    More Words:
    Come here: bin aki
    Let's go out: ban sali
    Let's enjoy: ban goza
    Everything is going well: tur kos ta bon
    Lets continue: ban sigi
    lets eat: ban come
    Water: awa
    Rain: awacero
    Lightning: lamper
    The thunder: strena
    Cloud: nubia
    The beach, also the ocean: lama
    Sand also country: tera
    The country side: kunuku
    In the city: den stad
    At the port: na waf
    Bridge: brug
    The road: caminda
    Traffic lights: luz di trafico
    The cops: polis
    Fire truck: brandweer
    Highway: caminda grandi
    Lines: strepi
    A fine or ticket: boet
    To give someone the rightaway on the road: voorang

    Food:
    Food: cuminda
    Fish: pisca
    Chicken: galinja
    Lobster: kreeft
    Crab: kangrew
    Conch: calco
    Salad: salada
    Bread: pan
    Butter: manteca
    Cheese: keshi ( not used when taking pictures):
    Cold cuts: beleg
    Milk: lechi
    Soda: soft or refresco
    Wine (also the color purple): binja
    Sweets/candy: mangel
    A lollipop made in Aruba: chupa bebe
    Similar to pate: pastechi
    Sugar: suku
    Salt: salo
    Pepper: pika 

    Colors:
    White: blanco
    Black: preto
    Red: cora
    Pink: roos
    Purple: binja
    Green: berde
    Yellow: geel
    Brown: bruin
    Grey (also ashes): shinishi
    Blue: blau

    The Numbers: 1-100
     1 = un  11 = diesun  10 = dies
     2 = dos  12 = diesdos  20 = binti
     3 = tres  13 = diestres  30 = trinta
     4 = cuatro  14 = diescuatro  40 = cuarenta
     5 = cinco  15 = diescinco  50 = cincuenta
     6 = seis  16 = diesseis  60 = sesenta
     7 = shete  17 = diesshete  70 = setenta
     8 = ocho  18 = diesocho  80 = ochenta
     9 = nuebe  19 = diesnuebe  90 = nobenta
     10 = dies  20 = binti  100= shen
Papiamento