Your five-minute guide to learning Papiamento

(defeo.biz) — What’s amazing about a visit to Curaçao is how freely residents change between languages — from Dutch to English to Papiamentu.

Papiamentu is a creole language spoken in the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. There may be no other language on the planet quite like it.

The language was first documented in writing in 1775, and today, it is recognized as an official language on all three islands and by the Dutch government. The language pulls from the African, Portuguese and Arawak languange among many others, including Spanish and English.

There are slight differences in the language between Aruba and Curaçao.

To help travelers, here is a brief overview of some phrases that might be helpful:

  • Bon biní: Welcome
  • Bon dia: Good morning
  • Kon ta bai?: How are you?
  • Mi ta bon: I am fine
  • Mashá bon: Very good
  • Pasa un bon dia: Have a good day
  • Mi gusta Kòrsou: I like Curaçao
  • Kon bo yama?: What is your name
  • Mi yama…: My name is…
  • Mi ta bini di…: I am from…
  • Masha danki: Thank you very much
  • Te otro biaha: See you later
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