| The residents of the ABC Islands - Aruba, | | | | story of Papiamento may never be known only |
| Bonaire and Curacao - have long spoken the | | | | seems to grant the language a mystique to |
| language known as Papiamento. This Creole | | | | match its exotic surroundings. Learning just |
| language is the product of a unique history | | | | a few simple phrases can go a long ways |
| that, in many ways, tells the story of the | | | | toward showing the friendly people of Aruba |
| entire Caribbean region and its colonial | | | | that you are a caring and knowledgeable |
| past. The Papiamento lexicon draws about 60% | | | | traveler. The locals you interact with will |
| of its terms from Portuguese (including some | | | | appreciate your effort, while you will have |
| Spanish influence), 25% from the Dutch tongue | | | | fun learning a little Papiamento. Though you |
| and an additional 15% from West African | | | | may not have heard of Papiamento before |
| languages. Today, many Arubans speak Dutch, | | | | reading this article, the language won't seem |
| English and Spanish in addition to their | | | | as "foreign" as you might expect. If you have |
| native Papiamento - now the official language | | | | ever studied Spanish or Portuguese you will |
| of the Netherlands Antilles and the ABC | | | | immediately recognize many terms and have an |
| Islands. While historians and linguists are | | | | easy time adapting to the language. As you |
| able to determine the origin of most | | | | prepare for your trip to Aruba, consult this |
| Papiamento words, the origin of the language | | | | list of commonly used terms and phrases: - |
| is still debated. There are two primary | | | | Halo = Hello - Ayo! = Goodbye! - Por fabor = |
| theories regarding the creation of the | | | | Please - Danki = Thank You - Si = Yes - No = |
| Papiamento language. First, scholars for many | | | | No - Meneer = Mister, Sir - Señora = Mrs., |
| years believed that Papiamento developed in | | | | Madam - Bon bini = Welcome - Bon dia = Good |
| the Caribbean to facilitate communication | | | | morning - Moro = a more casual way to say |
| between African slaves and the | | | | "Good morning" - Bon tardi = Good afternoon - |
| Portuguese-speaking traders. According to | | | | Bon nochi = Good night - Con ta bai? = How |
| this theory, Papiamento remains primarily a | | | | are you? - Con ta c'e bida? = How is life? - |
| combination of African and Portuguese | | | | Mi ta bon, danki = I am fine, thank you - Tur |
| tongues, while Spanish and Dutch influences | | | | cos ta bon = Everything is alright - Hopi bon |
| entered the language later as the ABC Islands | | | | or Tremendo = very good - Con yama bo? or Con |
| changed colonial hands. More recently, a | | | | bo nomber ta? = What's your name? - Ami |
| theory has developed that places the roots of | | | | yama... or Mi nomber ta... = My name is... - |
| Papiamento in the west coast of Africa and | | | | Di unda bo ta? = Where are you from? - Mi ta |
| the Cape Verde Islands. During the 16th and | | | | bin(i) di... = I come from... - Mi ta biba |
| 17th centuries, nearly all the slaves that | | | | na... = I live in... - Di nada! = it was no |
| arrived in the Caribbean (and elsewhere in | | | | trouble at all! (or, it was nothing!) - Laga |
| the New World) passed through the ports of | | | | nos ban sali = Let's go out - Ainda no = Not |
| western Africa. Several Creole languages | | | | yet - Te mañan = Until tomorrow - Te mas |
| developed at these ports - including Guene | | | | awero (Te' oro) = See you later - Te despues |
| which bears a strong resemblance to | | | | = Till the next time |
| Papiamento - and eventually made their way to | | | | |
| the Caribbean. Many Arubans even have there | | | | Justin Burch writes articles about travel in |
| own theories on where and when Papiamento | | | | Aruba [ for the Marriott Resorts. |
| developed. However, the fact that the true | | | | |