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35+ Papiamento Phrases Every Aruba Visitor Should Know
You can get through an entire Aruba vacation in English. Most people in tourism speak it well. But say “bon dia” to the person at the snack truck and watch their face change. A few Papiamento phrases go a long way here, and Aruba’s own visitor code of conduct encourages guests to learn some.
Below are the phrases worth knowing, grouped by when you’ll actually use them, plus a little background on the language.
What is Papiamento?
Papiamento is the language of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, and nowhere else. Aruba.com explains that it started as a pidgin between people with different native languages and grew into a full language built on an Afro-Portuguese creole, with words borrowed from Dutch, Spanish and English.
It has been spoken here for more than 300 years, but it only became an official language of Aruba, alongside Dutch, in 2003. Today Dutch is mostly used for official documents and schools, while Papiamento is the native language you hear day to day. Most Arubans also speak English and Spanish.
One thing you’ll notice: Aruba spells it Papiamento, while Curaçao and Bonaire spell it Papiamentu. According to Wikipedia, Aruba uses spelling based on word origins, while the other two islands spell words the way they sound. So you may see small spelling differences on menus and signs.
The language has a long written history. Aruba.com notes that by the mid-1800s it was being used for hymnals and schoolbooks, and the first Papiamento newspaper came out in 1871. For many years schools taught only in Dutch, but Papiamento is now back in the classroom. Wikipedia estimates around 350,000 speakers across the three islands.
How to pronounce it
Good news: Aruba.com says nearly every word is pronounced the way it’s spelled. If you have any Spanish, you’re halfway there. Don’t worry about getting it perfect. People appreciate the effort.
Why bother learning a few words?
Aruba.com notes that most Arubans speak at least four languages, and English is widely understood, especially in hotels and restaurants. So you won’t need Papiamento to get by. But outside the hotel zone, at a roadside snack stand or a small local restaurant, English may not be as fluent. A greeting in Papiamento is a friendly icebreaker, and it shows you see Aruba as more than a resort.
Aruba’s official visitor code of conduct lists learning a few Papiamento words alongside being patient and accepting “island time”. Locals take it as a sign of respect.
Papiamento phrases for greetings
| Papiamento | English |
|---|---|
| Bon bini | Welcome |
| Bon dia | Good morning |
| Bon tardi | Good afternoon |
| Bon nochi | Good evening / good night |
| Con ta bai? | How are you? |
| Mi ta bon | I’m well |
| Hopi bon | Very good |
| Ayo | Goodbye (also spelled “ajo”) |
| Te aworo | See you later (Aruba.com writes “te oro”) |
| Pasa un bon dia | Have a good day |
“Bon bini” is the one you’ll see everywhere, from the airport to hotel lobbies. Use “bon dia” until about noon and “bon tardi” in the afternoon.
Being polite
- Por fabor: please
- Danki: thank you
- Masha danki: thank you very much
- Di nada: you’re welcome
- Sori: sorry
- Despensa mi: excuse me
If you learn just two words, make it “bon dia” and “masha danki”. Note that Aruba.com writes it “mashi danki”, and Omniglot uses “masha danki”. You’ll hear both.
Food, drinks and the beach bar
- Mi kier…: I want… (point at the menu and finish the sentence)
- Awa: water
- Pica: spicy
- Bon apetit: enjoy your meal
- Salud: cheers
- Cuanto esaki ta costa?: how much does this cost?
Getting by and getting around
- Bo por papia Ingles?: do you speak English?
- Mi no ta comprende bo: I don’t understand you
- Unda e baño ta?: where is the bathroom?
- Mi nomber ta…: my name is…
- Con yama bo?: what’s your name?
- Ban sali: let’s go out
The word you’ll hear the most: dushi
Dushi means sweet, but Arubans use it for almost anything good: food, a person, a day at the beach. “Aruba ta dushi” is the island’s favorite phrase, and Aruba.com translates it as “Aruba is lovely”.
A few more to have fun with
- Cayente: hot (the weather, mostly)
- Bon suerte: good luck
- Mi stimabo: I love you
- Bo kier baila?: do you want to dance?
Short questions that help
- Con bo ta bisa … den Papiamento?: how do you say … in Papiamento?
- Di unda bo ta?: where are you from?
- Ami ta di…: I’m from…
- Bo por papia Papiamento?: do you speak Papiamento? (a fun one to ask back)
- Porfabor papia un tiki mas poko poko: please speak a bit more slowly
That last one is worth practicing. Once you open with Papiamento, people sometimes reply at full speed.
Holidays and special occasions
- Bon pasco y bon aña: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
- Felis cumpleaño: happy birthday
- Pasa un bon dia: have a nice day
Tips for using your Papiamento
- Start with a greeting. A simple “bon dia” or “bon tardi” before your question in English is polite and goes over well.
- Spelling varies. You’ll see “ayo” and “ajo”, “masha danki” and “mashi danki”. Either version will be understood.
- Listen for it. Turn on local radio in your rental car and you’ll pick up words fast.
Where to practice
Try your phrases with taxi drivers, at local snack trucks and at smaller restaurants away from the hotel strip. On a boat trip, like our clear boat tour, ask the crew to teach you a few more. Start with “bon dia”, end with “masha danki”, and you’ll be fine.