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 Portugese 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. (Mi ta Bom, from (vernacular) Portuguese, Eu tou bom/bem)
- Tur kos ta bon = everything is running well
- Hopi bon / Tremiento = very good
- Trankilo = calm, everything is ok (Spanish, tranquilo
- Hopi kalor/cayente = very hot/warm (Spanish calor/caliente)
- Con bo jama? / Con ta bo nomber?= What's your name? (Portuguese, Como você se chama?)
- Mi jama Raul / Mi nomber ta Raul = My name is Raul (Portuguese, Me Chamo Raúl / Meu nome é Raúl; 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 (Spanish, por favor)
- Masha danki = Thank you very much (Danki from 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 sinto vossa falta!, Spanish me haces falta)
- Mi ta stima bo = I love you (Portuguese, Eu estimo você/ Eu amo-te)
- Awo = Now (Portuguese, Agora; Spanish, Ahora; )
- Ayera = Yesterday (Spanish, Ayer)
- Mi tin hamber = I am hungry (hamber 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
de:Papiamentu
es:Papiamento
fr:Papiamento
nl:Papiamento
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