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Papiamento or Papiamentu is the primary language spoken on the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. It is also well known by people in Saba, St Eustatius and Sint Maarten islands.
The word Papiamento is based on the word Papia that means talk and it is probably derived from the Creolized-Portuguese word papear. Compare "Papia Kristang".
It is a creole language based mainly on Portuguese, African languages and Dutch. Spanish is a modern influence. Papiamento actually derived from the Pidginized Portuguese spoken among Sephardic Jews and their slaves after they fled Brazil. After the Dutch Empire acquired the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao) from the Spanish, the influence of Dutch colonists caused many Dutch words to be inserted into Papiamento. Venezuelan Spanish is a constant influence today. Linguistic studies have shown that roughly two-thirds of the words in Papiamento's present vocabulary are of Spanish or Portuguese origin, a quarter are of Dutch origin, and the rest are derived from other tongues.
There are two orthographies: a more phonemic one (in Curaçao and Bonaire) and one resembling Spanish (in Aruba). Most Papiamento vowels are based on Ibero-Romance vowels, but some also based on Dutch vowels like : ee, ui, ie, oe, ij, ei, oo and aa.
It is a tonal language, which is unusual in creoles and probably influenced by African tones. Tones in Creoles can be also found in Saramaccan
Many Papiamento speakers are also able to speak Dutch (the official language of the Dutch Caribbean), English and Spanish. It is spoken with different accents on every island.
Phrase samples
- Bon bini! = Welcome!, Portuguese Bem vindo, Spanish, bienvenido)
- Bon dia = Good morning, Portuguese Bom dia; Spanish Buenos dias
- Bon tardi = Good evening, Portuguese Boa tarde, Spanish buenas tardes
- Bon nochi = Good night (Portuguese, Boa noite; Spanish, Buenas noches)
- Con ta bai? / Con ta cu bida? = How are you? / How is life?, Portuguese, Como vai?/Como está com a vida?, ta is the vernacular Portuguese of verb to be, 'tá insted of está, Spanish ¿Cómo te va?)
- Mi ta bon, danki = I am fine, thank you, vernacular Portuguese, Eu (mim) (es)tou bom/bem, and Dutch Dank u
- Tur kos ta bon = everything is running well, Portuguese tudo está bem (bom)
- Hopi bon / Tremiento = very good
- Trankilo = calm, everything is OK, Portuguese/Spanish, tranquilo
- Hopi kalor/cayente = very hot/warm, Portuguese/Spanish calor/caliente
- Con bo jama? / Con ta bo nomber? = What's your name?, Portuguese Como você se chama? / Como te chamas?
- Mi jama Raul / Mi nomber ta Raul = My name is Raul, Portuguese, Me Chamo Raul / Meu nome é Raul; Spanish, Mi nombre es Raul
- Di unda bo ta bini? = Where are you from?, Portuguese, De onde você vem?
- Mi ta bini di… = I am from…, Portuguese Eu venho de…
- Mi ta biba na… = I live in…, Portuguese Eu vivo na…
- Por fabor = Please, Portuguese/Spanish por favor
- Masha danki = Thank you very much, Dutch, Dank u
- Di Nada = You're welcome, Portuguese/Spanish De nada
- Homber = Male, Portuguese, Homem; Spanish Hombre
- Muhe = Female, Portuguese Mulher; Spanish Mujer
- Si = Yes, Spanish Sí; Portuguese Sim
- No = No, Spanish No; Portuguese Não
- Ainda no = Not yet, Portuguese Ainda não
- Ayo! = Goodbye!, Portuguese Adeus; Spanish Adiós
- Te otro biaha! = See you later!, Portuguese Até outro dia
- Mi ta sinti bo falta! = I miss you!, Portuguese Eu (mim) sinto vossa falta!, Spanish me haces falta
- Mi ta stima bo = I love you, Portuguese Eu (te) estimo (você) / Eu te amo
- Awo = Now, Portuguese Agora; Spanish Ahora
- Ayera = Yesterday, Spanish Ayer
- Mi tin hamber = I am hungry, from Spanish tengo hambre
- Mi tin sed = I am thirsty, Spanish tengo sed, Portuguese Eu tenho sede
- Laga nos bai Sali! = Let's go out!, Spanish ¡Vamos a salir!
- Te mayan!, Te aworo!, Te despues! = See you!, bye!, Portuguese Até amanhã, Até logo, Até depois)
- Masha pabien = Happy birthday!, Portuguese Muitos parabéns!
- Feliz aña nobo! = Happy new year!, Portuguese Feliz ano novo; Spanish Feliz año nuevo
- Bon pasco! = Happy Easter!, Portuguese, Boa Páscoa
- No lubida! = Don't forget!, Spanish, No olvides
- Corda skirbi mi back masha lihe! = Write me as soon as possible!
- Señor, Meneer = Mister, Portuguese Senhor; Spanish Señor; Dutch Meneer
- Señora = Mrs, Madam, Portuguese Senhora, Spanish Señora
- Yufrouw = Miss, Ms., Dutch, juffrouw
- Mi number di telefon ta… = my phone number is…, Spanish Mi número de teléfono es…
- Bél mi = Call me (by telephone)
Social Relationships - Mayornan = parents
- Papa, padu = father
- Mama, madu = mother
- Welo = grandfather (Spanish, Abuelo)
- Wela = grandmother (Spanish, Abuela)
- Omo = uncle (Dutch, Oom)
- Tanta = aunt (Dutch, Tante)
- Homber = man
- Muhe = woman (Spanish, mujer, Portuguese, Mulher)
- Yiu Homber = son
- Yiu Muhe = daughter
- Muchanan = children
- Mucha homber = boy
- Mucha muhe = girl
- Ruman homber = brother
- Ruman muhe = sister
- Subrino = nephew (Portuguese, Sobrinho; Spanish, Sobrino)
- Subrina = niece (Portuguese, Sobrinha; Spanish, Sobrina)
- Primu, prima = cousin (Portuguese/Spanish, Primo, Prima)
- Paso papa = step father
- Paso mama = step mother
- Paso yiu homber = step son
- Paso yiu muhe = step daughter
- Nieto = grandson (Spanish, nieto)
- Nieta = grand daughter (Spanish, nieta)
- Chabalito = boy (Spanish, chaval)
- Esposo = husband (Portuguese/Spanish, Esposo)
- Esposa = Wife (Portuguese/Spanish, Esposa)
- Amigu/o,amiga = Friend (Portuguese/Spanish, Amigo, Amiga)
- Bisiña = neighbour (Portuguese, Vizinho, Vizinha, Spanish, vecino)
- Enemigo/a = Enemy (Spanish, enemigo/a, Portuguese, Inimigo/a)
Calendar system In Papiamento, month names are taken directly from Dutch: - Januari = January
- Februari = February
- Maart = March
- April = April
- Mei = May
- Juni = June
- Juli = July
- Augustus = August
- September = September
- October = October
- November = November
- December = December
Fruits & vegetables - ardbei = strawberry (Dutch, aardbei)
- konoflok =garlic (Dutch, knoflook)
- pampuna = pumpkin (Dutch, pompoen)
- prei = leek (Dutch, prei)
- boonchi = beans (Dutch, bonen)
- siboyo chiquito = small onion / shallot (Portuguese, Cebolo, Spanish cebolla chiquita)
- appelsina, orañe = orange (Dutch, sinaasappel)
- appel = apple (Dutch, appel)
- druif = grape (Dutch, druif)
- preimu, pruim = plum (Dutch, pruim)
- siboyo = onion (Portuguese, Cebola; Spanish, Cebolla)
- boonchi wowo pretu = black-eyed beans (boonchi from Dutch, boontjes, wowo derived from African wo and pretu from Portuguese Preto, black)
- uva = grapes (Portuguese/Spanish, uva)
- olijfi = olives (Dutch, olijven)
- bacoba = banana
- karot = carrot
- anasa = pineapple (Portuguese/Spanish, Ananás, Dutch Ananas)
- kol, kolo = cabbage (Spanish, col, Dutch, kool)
- batata= potato (Portuguese/Spanish, batata)
- tomati = tomato (Portuguese/Spanish, tomate, Dutch tomaat)
- awakati, awakate = avocado (Spanish, aguacate, Portuguese, abacate)
- flor = flower (Portuguese/Spanish, flor)
- zoneblum = sunflower (Dutch, Zonnebloem)
- rosa = rose (Portuguese/Spanish, rosa)
- palu = tree (Spanish, palo, woodstick)
- kayo, maishi = corn (Spanish, maiz)
- guyaba = guava (Spanish, guayaba)
- koko, coco = coconut (Portuguese, Côco; Spanish, Coco)
- kakou = cocoa (Spanish, cacao)
- palma = palm (Spanish, palma)
- selder = celery (Dutch, Selderij)
- komkomber = cucumber (Dutch, Komkommer)
- patia = watermelon
- spinazi = spinach (Dutch, Spinazie)
- salada = lettuce (From Portuguese, salada)
- yerba = grass (Portuguese, erva, Spanish, hierba)
- pera = pear (Portuguese/Spanish, pera)
- lamunchi = lemon (Spanish, limón, Portuguese, limão)
Food and beverages - biña cora = red wine (Spanish, vino, wine, colorado, red)
- biña blancu = white wine (Spanish, vino blanco)
- bebida sterki = alcoholic beverages (sterki from Dutch, sterk, strong)
- koffi = coffee (Dutch, koffie)
- te = tea (Spanish, té)
- lechi = milk (Spanish, leche)
- sopa di yuana = iguana soup (Spanish, sopa de iguana)
- chuculati = chocolate (Spanish chocolate)
- awa = water (Portuguese & Spanish agua)
- ijs = ice (Dutch, ijs)
- aros = rice (Portuguese & Spanish, arroz)
- pan = bread (Spanish pan)
- ponche crema = eggyolk (Spanish, ponche, punch, crema, cream)
- bolo = cake (From Portuguese, bolo)
- webu = egg (Spanish, huevo)
- beleg = cold cuts (Dutch, beleg)
- salo = salt (Portuguese & Spanish, sal)
- sucu = sugar (Spanish, azúcar)
- pica = pepper (Portuguese, pimenta, Spanish, pimienta, pica=hot, pricks)
- keshi = cheese (Portuguese, queijo, Spanish, queso)
- manteca = butter (Portuguese, manteiga, Spanish, mantequilla)
- mangel = sweets/ candy
- chupa bebe = Arubian lollypop
- pastechi = pate
- soft/ refresco = soft drink (Spanish, refresco)
- carni = meat (Portuguese & Spanish, carne)
Days - Diadomingo = Sunday (Spanish, dia, day and domingo, Sunday)
- Dialuna = Monday (Spanish, lunes)
- Diamars = Tuesday (Spanish, martes)
- Diarazon = Wednesday
- Diahuebs = Thursday (Spanish, jueves)
- Diabierna = Friday (Spanish, viernes)
- Diasabra = Saturday (Spanish, sábado)
Numbers - un = one (Portuguese, um; Spanish, un/uno)
- dos = two (Portuguese, dois; Spanish, dos)
- tres = three (Portuguese, três; Spanish, tres)
- cuater(Netherlands Antilles), cuatro (Aruba) = four (Portuguese, quatro; Spanish, cuatro)
- cincu (Neth Antilles), cinco (Aruba) = five (Portuguese/Spanish, cinco)
- seis = six (Portuguese/Spanish, seis)
- shete = seven (Portuguese, sete; Spanish, siete)
- ocho = eight (Spanish, ocho)
- nuebe = nine (Portuguese, nove; Spanish, nueve)
- djes = ten (Portuguese, dez; Spanish, diez)
- djesun = eleven
- djesdos = twelve
- djestres = thirteen
- djescuater = fourteen
- djessincu = fifteen
- djesseis = sixteen (Spanish, dieciseis)
- djesshete = seventeen (Spanish, diecisiete)
- djesocho = eighteen (Spanish, dieciocho)
- djesnuebe = nineteen (Spanish, diecinueve)
- binti = twenty (Portuguese, vinte, Spanish, veinte)
- binti un = twenty one (Spanish, veintiuno)
- trinta = thirty (Portuguese, trinta, Spanish treinta)
- cuarenta = forty (Portuguese, quarenta; Spanish, cuarenta)
- cincuenta = fifty (Portuguese, cinquenta; Spanish, cincuenta)
- sesenta = sixty (Portuguese/Spanish, sesenta)
- shetenta = seventy (Portuguese/Spanish, setenta)
- ochenta = eighty (Spanish, ochenta)
- nobenta = ninety (Portuguese/Spanish, noventa)
- shen = one hundred (Portuguese, Cem; Spanish, Cien)
- mil = one thousand (Portuguese/Spanish, mil)
- un miyon = one million (Portuguese, milhão; Spanish, un millón)
Ordinal numbers - prome = first (Spanish, primero)
- di dos = second
- di tres = third
Colours - cora = red
- shinishi = grey
- geel = yellow (Dutch, geel)
- blou = blue (Dutch, blauw)
- blancu = white (Spanish, blanco, Portuguese, branco)
- berde = green (Portuguese/Spanish, verde)
- Maron, bruin = brown (Spanish, marrón, Dutch, bruin)
- ros = pink (Portuguese/Spanish, rosa)
- lila = purple (Spanish, lila, Portuguese, lilás)
- scur = dark (Portuguese, escuro; Spanish, oscuro)
Pronouns - Ami, mi = I (Portuguese, Eu, mim, me)
- Abo, bo = you (Portuguese, vós, você, tu, ti)
- E, el = he, she, it (Portuguese, ele, ela)
- Nos = We (Portuguese, Nós)
- Nan = They
- Boso = You (plural or polite) (Portuguese, Vosso)
Adjectives - Lihe/pura/rapido = Fast/quick
Interrogative - Ki ? = What? (Portuguese, Quê; Spanish, Que)
- Ken? = Who? (Portuguese, Quem, Spanish, Quien)
- Cua? = Which? (Portuguese, Qual; Spanish, Cual)
- Unda? = Where? (Portuguese, Onde)
- Cuantu? = How? (Portuguese, Quanto; Spanish, Cuanto)
- Cuandu?= When? (Portuguese, Quando; Spanish, Cuando)
- Pakiko? = Why?/What for?(Portuguese, Porquê?, Spanish, ¿Por qué?)
- Dikon? = Why? (as in what's wrong with you?)
- Di cón? = Why?
More words - awaseroe, awacero = rain (Portuguese, aguaceiro/chuva, Spanish, aguacero/lluvia)
- sneu, sneeuw = snow (Dutch, sneeuw)
- mist = mist (Dutch, mist)
- bientu, biento = wind (Portuguese, vento, Spanish, viento)
- ola = wave (Spanish ola)
- nubia = cloud (Spanish, nube)
- horkan = hurricane (Dutch, orkaan, Spanish, huracán)
- lamper = lightning
- strena = thunder (Spanish, trueno)
- laman = beach, ocean
- playa, strand = beach (Dutch, strand, Spanish, playa)
- tera = sand, country (from Portuguese, terra)
- waf = port
- brug = bridge (Dutch, brug)
- caya, siudad, stad = city (Spanish, ciudad)
- volkan = volcano (Dutch, vulkaan')
- cero = mount (Spanish, cerro)
- postkantoor = post office (Dutch, postkantoor)
- officina di gobierno = government office (Spanish, oficina de gobierno)
- panaderia = bakery (Spanish, panaderia)
- banco = bank (Portuguese/Spanish, banco)
- keds = sneakers
- sapato = shoes (Portuguese, sapato, Spanish, zapato)
- saya = skirt (Portuguese, saia)
- sombre = hat (Spanish, sombrero)
- kamisa = shirt (Portuguese/Spanish, camisa)
- dashi = tie
- karson = trousers (Spanish, calzón)
- blusa = blouse (Portuguese/Spanish, blusa)
- brazier = bra
- stul = chair (Dutch, stoel)
- mesa = table (Portuguese/Spanish, mesa)
- cas = house (Portuguese/Spanish, casa)
- kunuku (or cunucu) = countryside
- bentana = window (Spanish, ventana)
- porta = door (Portuguese, porta)
- dak = roof (Dutch, dak)
- kushina = kitchen (Portuguese, cozinha, Spanish, cocina)
- muraya = wall (Portuguese, muralha, Spanish, muralla)
- iglesia = church (Spanish, iglesia)
- moskei = mosque (Dutch, moskee)
- botica, botika = drugstore (Portuguese/Spanish, botica)
- scol, school = school (Dutch, school)
- baranka = rock
- boto = boat (Spanish, bote)
- surfplank = surfboard (Dutch, surfplank)
- veld = field (Dutch, veld)
- barco = ship (Portuguese/Spanish, barco)
- edifisio = building (Portuguese/Spanish, edificio)
- hardin zoologiko = zoo (Spanish, jardín zoológico)
- hospital = hospital (Portuguese/Spanish, hospital)
- libreria = bookstore (Portuguese, livraria, Spanish, libreria)
- biblioteca = library (Portuguese/Spanish, biblioteca)
- buki = book (Dutch, boek)
- graf = grave (Dutch, graf)
- santana = cemetery
See also
External links - Papiamentu (http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=PAE): Ethnologue report on Papiamentu.
- Papiamento – English Dictionary (http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Papiamen-english/)
- Newspaper from Aruba (http://www.diarioaruba.com/)
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