Page 6 - HOH

A9
LOCAL Wednesday 19 March 2025

Aruba to me

ORANJESTAD — You are back and materials, as well as names, like-
we would like to portrait you! By ness, etc. for promotional purposes
inviting you to send us your favor- without compensation.
ite vacation picture while enjoying Last but not least: check out our
our Happy Island. website, Instagram and Facebook
page! Thank you for supporting our
Complete the sentence: Aruba to free newspaper, we strive to make
me is ……. Send your picture with you a happy reader every day
that text (including your name and again.
where you are from) to: news@aru- For today we received a lovely
batoday.com and we will publish message from Don and Mary Al-
your vacation memory. Isn’t that hart from Pittsford, New York, USA
a special way to keep your best
moments alive? Please do note: By They wrote to us saying: “Aruba to
submitting photos, text or any other me are the friendships we renew
materials, you give permission to each March at the Marriott Surf to remember each other during Thank you for sending us this won-
The Aruba Today Newspaper, Ca- Club. This year, we celebrated with the holiday season at home. Aru- derful message sharing what Aru-
ribbean Speed Printers and any of a display of special hats. We also ba has truly blessed us with “One ba means to you with us and our
its affiliated companies to use said exchanged Christmas ornaments Happy Family!” readers!q

Papiamento words and phrases you may want to know!

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