The first words you’ll probably hear when you arrive in Aruba are “Bon Bini!” Bon Bini means welcome, and you’ll hear this phrase used frequently by the friendly and accommodating Arubans.
The Aruban languange, Papiamento, is only spoken on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao (the ABC island) and Saint Eustatius. It is a combination of 5 languages: Spanish, Portuguese, African, Dutch and Arawak Indian and has evolved much over the years.
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In Aruba, the people speak, write and read English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento fluently. Many also speak French and German. Dutch and Papiamento are the official languages of Aruba. All documents and government papers are in both languages and lessons at school are also given in Dutch and Papiamento. Papiamento is only spoken on the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao).
While there are many languages spoken, you’ll have no problems if you happen to be a uni-lingual gringo.
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Most words are pronounced exactly as spelled. Helpful Papiamento phrases include:
Papiamento Greetings
- Have a good day: Pasa un bon dia
- Good Morning: Bon dia
- Goodbye: Ayo
- Good afternoon: Bon tardi
- Good evening: Bon nochi
- Please: For fabor
- Thank you: Danki (pronounced donkey)
- Thank you very much: Mashi Danki
- You are welcome: Di nada
- How are you?: Con ta bai (pronounced bye)
- Very Good!: Hopi bon
- I am fine: Mi ta bon
- See you later: slippery Press
Papiamento Dining Phrases
- I am hungry: mi tin hamber
- I want to eat: mi ke kome
- Food: cuminda
- Water: awa
- cuminda: Food
- Bread: pan
- Butter: manteca
- Cheese: keshi
- Fish: Pisca
- Cold cuts: beleg
- Milk: lechi
- Soda: soda
- Sweets/candy: mangel
- An Aruban lollipop: chupa bebe
- Sugar: tribe
- Salt: salo
- Pepper: pika
Papiamento Shopping Phrases
- kwanto esaki ta costa: How much does this cost
- Mi ta wak rond: Looking around, browsing
- Ban dal un trip: Lets go out on a trip
- Banco: The Bank
- Plaka: Money
- Ki pelicula ta hunga awe?: What movie is playing today
- keds: Sneakers
- shoes: Shoes
- den caya: In the town
- Mi tin sed: I’m thirsty
- Mi tin hamber: I’m hungry
- Ban kas: Lets go home
- Botica: Drugstore
Papiamento Words For a Loved One
- Un sunchi: A kiss
- A breaststroke: A hug
- Mi dushi: My sweetheart
- dushi ‘om: Delicious or great
- Ku tur mi amor: With all my love
- Ranka Lenga: To french kiss
- frei: A loved one
- Mi amor: My love
- ranka orea: To cheat on someone
- hole dushi: Smells good
- Hopi bon: Very good
More Papiamento Words and Phrases
- bin aki: Come here
- ban sali: Lets go out
- ban goza: Lets enjoy
- tera: Sand, also country
- 0 Zero, zero, nada
- 1 one prome (r), says prome (r)
- 2 of the di
- March 3 say three
- 4 lodging, cuater (and so on)
- 5 sinku, cincu
- June 6
- 50 fifty
- 1000 thousand
Papiamento Days of the Week
- Sunday: dia domingu
- Monday: dia luna
- Tuesday: dia mars
- Wednesday: dia rason
- Thursday: diaweps
- Friday: diabièrne
- Saturday: dia sabra
Papiamento Months
- January: Januari
- February: Feruari
- March: March
- April: April
- May: Mei
- June: June
- July: July
- August: Augustus
- September September
- October Ooctober
- November November
- December December
Papiamento Action Verbs
- to give: the Danube
- to buy: kumpra
- to sell: bende
- to drink: bebe
- to sleep: drumi
- to sit: feel
Plan your next trip to Aruba with .
Before you leave this beautiful island, I guarantee you’ll be saying Mi stima Aruba! (I love Aruba!)
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