Our native language is Papiamentu - a foundation of African languages and Portuguese with Spanish, Dutch, Indian and Jewish influences. Papiamentu is the heart and soul of Curaçao’s culture and learning it can make your island experience even more meaningful. In this blog series, “Papia Papiamentu Ku Mi” (Speak Papiamentu with Me), we’ll introduce you to useful words and phrases that will help you connect with locals, navigate the island, and have fun! Here are five themed blog posts to kickstart your Papiamentu journey.
Greetings and Basic Phrases: How to Say Hello in Papiamentu
In this first blog of the series, we’ll cover the most common greetings and everyday phrases you can use to start conversations and show respect to locals.
Key Phrases:
Bon dia – Good morning
Bon tardi – Good afternoon
Bon nochi – Good night
Kon ta bai? – How are you?
Mi ta bon, danki – I’m good, thank you
Ayo – Goodbye
Por fabor – Please
Danki – Thank you
Example:
Imagine walking into a shop in Willemstad. Greet the shopkeeper with "Bon dia!" and ask "Kon ta bai?" to check how they’re doing. You’ll surely get a warm response and maybe even learn a new word or two!
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