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LOCAL Saturday 8 March 2025

Papiamento words and phrases you may want to know!

(Oranjestad)—Aruba is a melting pot not officially. We often just use the Eng- heavily influences from Portuguese
of different nationalities, cultures and lish “hello” or “hey”, or Dutch “hallo” and Spanish, some of these phrases Yes…no…maybe?
languages. Primarily for this reason, to greet someone. We do however, may look very familiar. The affirmative and negative expres-
the average Aruban can understand always follow it up with “con bay?” sion is very simple in Papiamento. Just
and speak Dutch, English and Span- or “con ta?” Con bay is a shortened 1. Bon dia is used in the morning, like Spanish, our yeses are “si” and our
ish relatively well. However, as much version of “con ta bay?”, which es- up to about noon. Bon dia essentially no’s are “no”. Pretty easy right? If you
as we pride ourselves in being able sentially means “how are you?” means good morning. The word “bon” want to gain some extra points from
to communicate with almost every- means “good”, and while “dia” does younger locals, you can also say “se”,
one, we cherish our native tongue The word “con” in Papiamento means not directly mean “morning” in English, which is a more casual affirmative
Papiamento above all else. Want to “how?” and is pronounced with a it is used often to refer to the morning used mostly by the younger genera-
learn some common words in our lan- rounder “o” sounds, like in the English time. tion. However, do note: some older
guage? Here are a few basic words word “cone”. “Ta bay” refers to how 2. Bon tardi. In the afternoon to generations may find this improper and
and phrases that can get you a hat you are doing. early evening hours, we use “bon tardi” not respectful, so keep that in mind.
tip from an Aruban. to greet people, which means “good
When we say goodbye, we use the afternoon”. “Tardi” actually comes Thanks man…
When you arrive at the airport in Aruba, word “ayo” (not like the Ayo Rock from the word “atardi”, which directly Lastly, a word that we can also say
one of the first words in Papiamento Formation, but also…kinda?). We may translates to “afternoon”. However, the more often is “danki”, which means
you may encounter is “Bon bini.” Bon also use “te oro”, which means “see shortened “tardi” is used to keep the literally “thank you”. “Danki” is de-
bini in Papiamento means welcome, you later”. rhythm on the phrase. And the same rived from the Dutch word “bedankt”.
and is probably the most famous Pa- could be said for our last greeting of Though we don’t really have a trans-
piamento word for tourists. Greetings during the day the day. lation for “I appreciate it” in English,
Most, if not all, languages have dif- 3. Bon nochi. You guessed it, “bon we do use “masha danki” to convey
Hi! Bye! ferent ways to greet according to nochi” means “good night”. Just like the message. “Masha” means “a lot”
To be fair, there is no unique way to the time of day, and Papiamento “tardi”, “nochi” is actually the short- or “very”, so “masha danki” means
say “hello” in Papiamento. At least, is no different. Since Papiamento is ened version of the word “anochi”. “thank you very much”. q

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