Papiamentu for Travelers: the Words That Open Doors

On paper, Curaçao runs on Dutch. On the street you hear English, Spanish and, above all, a melodic language that belongs only to the ABC islands: Papiamentu. It is the language of markets, kitchens, bus drivers and grandmothers. You do not need a single word of it to visit, nearly everyone speaks English. But three syllables of Papiamentu offered in good faith often change the temperature of an exchange: the smile comes faster, the conversation opens up, and you stop being just another visitor.

A language born of three continents

Papiamentu is a creole that took shape on Curaçao in the seventeenth century. Linguists broadly agree on an Afro-Portuguese base: the language grew out of the Portuguese creoles of the West African coast, close cousins of those still spoken in Cape Verde. It then absorbed Spanish in large quantities, followed by Dutch, with traces of Arawak and English. The result is a full language, neither dialect nor patois, with its own literature, press and official spelling.

Since 2007, Papiamentu has been an official language of Curaçao, alongside Dutch and English. It is a strong marker of identity: people here grow up in Papiamentu, study in Dutch, and switch between the two without thinking.

Papiamentu or Papiamento?

Both spellings exist, and the difference is not a detail. On Aruba the language is written Papiamento, with an etymological spelling that preserves the original form of Spanish and Dutch words. On Curaçao and Bonaire it is written Papiamentu, with a phonemic spelling: you write what you hear. That Curaçao spelling is the one we use throughout this guide.

The words that open doors

A short list to learn on the plane. The spelling is Curaçao's.

• Bon dia: good morning.
• Bon tardi: good afternoon.
• Bon nochi: good evening.
• Danki: thank you.
• Por fabor: please.
• Di nada: you're welcome.
• Kon ta bai?: how are you?
• Mi ta bon: I'm fine.
• Ayó: goodbye.
• Te otro biaha: see you next time.
• Hopi bon: very good.
• Un biaha mas: one more time.

The single most useful habit: greet according to the time of day. On Curaçao, nobody walks into a shop, a bus or a waiting room without a bon dia or a bon tardi addressed to the whole room. Skipping it is forgiven in a visitor, but saying it instantly puts you on the right side of the conversation.

Dushi, the signature word

You will not get through a day on the island without hearing dushi. The word lives two lives: it means delicious when applied to a plate (e ta dushi, it is delicious), and it becomes a term of endearment when aimed at a person, somewhere between sweetheart and darling. Locals apply it to the island itself, Dushi Kòrsou, and it appears in giant letters among the colorful facades of Willemstad. Context is everything: a waiter who calls you dushi is not flirting, he is simply from Curaçao.

When to use it

Everywhere, without fear of getting it wrong. Greet in Papiamentu, continue in English: nobody expects a visitor to hold a conversation. A danki to the bus driver, a hopi bon to the cook, a te otro biaha as you leave your guesthouse go a long way. Children pick it up remarkably fast: if you are traveling as a family, our guide to Curaçao with kids has more ways to get them involved. For a longer word list, see our Papiamentu page, and the plan your stay section covers the rest: language, currency, plugs, seasons. Mi ta bon, danki: you are now ready to answer the next kon ta bai? that comes your way.