Curaçao is a colourful Dutch island located just north of Venezuela in the Caribbean. Known for its beautiful beaches tucked into coves and expansive coral reefs rich with marine life, this island is one that isn’t as commonly known as others but a gem once you discover it. I’ve travelled to Curaçao twice now and have loved this island for different reasons each time.
The Dutch influence on Curaçao is widely present since establishing themselves as the island’s ruling class in 1634. Today, several thousand Dutch people have made Curaçao their permanent home. While Dutch is the official language of the country and remains the language of instruction in schools and is widely spoken in government and business, the island is also the birthplace of Papiamento – a Creole language combined of Spanish, Portuguese, African, Dutch and Arawak Indian and has evolved much over the years. In fact, while Dutch is the official language, Papiamento is the most common.
Now, there is one world in Papiamento that you will quickly learn upon arriving in Curaçao, and that is Dushi. Dushi means sweet or sweetie. This is used in the sense of pan dushi (sweet bread), dushi Korsou (sweet Curacao), but also as common word between young friends when greeting one and other saying, “Eeeeey dushi” aka, “hi darling.” Its also used by males to express their interest in an unknown female passing by.
Whenever someone asks me, “What is an important thing for me to know before travelling to ______,” one of my responses is to learn a few common phrases in the language of the country you are travelling to. So, for those of you heading to Curaçao, that could mean learning a bit of Dutch, Spanish, English or Papiamentu, since all are spoken. For me, Papiamento seems like it may be the most impressive language of the 4 to learn. Here are some phrases you can practise before heading over to the island of Curaçao:
Greetings
Good morning: Bon dia
Good afternoon: Bon tardi
Good evening: Bon nochi
How are you: Con ta bai
I’m very good: Hopi bon
I’m fine: Mi ta bon
Pleased to meet you: Contento di mira bo
Goodbye: Ayo
See you later: Te aworo
Thank you: Danki
Thank you very much: Masha danki
You’re welcome: Di nada
Please: Por fabor
Excuse me: Diskulpami
Sorry: Sori
What’s your name: Con jamabo
My name is: Mi nomber ta
Where are you from? Foi unda bo ta?
I’m from: Mi ta foi
Where is the washroom: Unda e baño ta?
Places
Eastside of the island/East of Willemstad: Bandariba
Westside of the island/West of Willemstad: Bandabou or Otrobanda
Beach: Playa
Rural little developped area: Kunuku
Rural undevelopped area: mondi –
Drugstore: Botika
Numbers
0 zero, nul, nada
1 un
2 dos
3 tres
4 kwater
5 sinku
6 seis
7 shete
8 ocho
9 nuebe
10 dies
11 diesun
12 diesdos
13 diestres
14 diescuater
15 diescincu
20 binti
30 trinta
40 cuarenta
50 cincuenta
60 sesenta
70 setenta
80 ochenta
90 nobenta
100 cien
1000 mil
Days of the Week
Sunday: Dia domingu
Monday: Dia luna
Tuesday: Dia mars
Wednesday: Dia rason
Thursday: Diaweps
Friday: Diabièrne
Saturday: Dia sabra
Months
January: Januari
February: Feruari
March: Maart
April: April
May: Mei
June: Juni
July: Juli
August: Augustus
September: September
October: Ooctober
November: November
December: December
Shopping & Dining
How much does this cost: Kwanto esaki ta costa
Money: Plaka
I’m thirsty: Mi tin sed
I’m hungry: Mi tin hamber
Let’s eat: Ban come
Water: Awa
Pastechi: Pastry filled with cheese
Pastechi keshi: Pastry filled with tuna, meat or vegetables
Bread: Pan
Local cornbread: Funchi
Stew: Stóba
Goat: Kabritu
Type of Fish: Múla
Lemonade made from limes, with ice added to make it a lime slush puppy. The most refreshing drink on the island: Awa lamoenchi/limoenchi
Fruit based smoothie, sold in little stalls across the island: Batido
Do you speak more than one language? Let us know which ones below and how you learned.
9 Comments
great post .It is very helpful for new people to learn dutch language.
Regards:
Learn French Online
Mohamad Kabbara thank you!
for example, can you take me away to the beach?
Papiamentu : Bo por hibami na e playa
take away = hiba
Can you please translate "take me away" into Papiamento? Thanks in advance.
What an interesting language. I can manage bits and pieces of French, Spanish, Italian and German, and that kind of looks like Papiemento!
Mi ta stimabo Dushi kòrsou!
Pastechi di keshi is pastery fill with cheese.
Double check pari kos mas, si artikulo aki ta purbando pa siña hende kon pa papia papiamentu (korsou) y no papiamento (aruba), lo tin ku koregi alguns kos mas ya komo nos di korsou den nos version di papiamentu nos no ta hasi uso di C,J,Q,X.
Ounke ku historia ta bon na mi opinion mester drexha algun termino paso nan ta missleading come=kome y no laga mi ni get started riba e uso apropiado di aksent grave y skerpi.. kritika constructivo e inisiativa tbt bon kue bo mosaico.. koregi (korehi) algun kos.
Dubbele check pastechi
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