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local Friday 21 February 2025
Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our “Dorado”

(Oranjestad)—If you’re ever plan-
ning on snorkeling during your Dorado is found in all tropical to
vacation on Aruba, you may spot subtropical oceans around the
fish that you can’t recognize. One world. Dorado is very popular both
of these may be the “Dorado”, a for recreational fishing and for con-
common fish that swims all year sumption. It is known among fisher-
long in the waters of Aruba. Here’s men as an exciting catch and a
some information about the be- fish that puts up a good fight. Its
loved Dorado. meat is very good for consumption
and it is also commercially fished
Dorado has many different names for that reason.
it can be referred to. Dral, Dorao,
Drals, Drado, are some of them in They grow very fast, up to 2.7 inch-
Papiamento. In English, it is also es (almost 7 cm) per week. They
called Mahi Mahi, Dolphinfish, or can live up to a maximum of 5
Dorado. It's a good example to years although very few reach that
reflect on why there can be many age. Most become adults within 1
names. The same fish becomes year but many become reproduc-
known by different common tive after just 5 or 6 months and re-
names, why? Common names produce very quickly too.
come only when a group of peo- Description: reach 50 to 80 pounds and has a
ple, to understand each other, as- They live in open water on the sur- Dorado has a distinctive body. It much flatter head compared to
sign a name to a fish. Mahi Mahi, face most of the time. Many fish has a large tail and its long, flat the female. Therefore, male Dora-
for example, comes from Hawaii seek them around sushi lines or body ends in a large blunt head. dos are also called "bull Dorado".
and means "very strong". Dorado is floating objects on the sea. Often Its color of yellow and green or
based on Spanish and refers to the you will find a group landing to- blue makes it immediately recog- Dorado can be found in our waters
golden yellow color that the fish gether and if you keep a male on nizable, even with small variations around the island all year round,
shines with under the sun. Why it's the line, often the others will stay in these colors. but there are periods when it is
called Dolphinfish in English is not close or can keep the group inter- easier to find than others. q
well defined and while there are ested by giving shrimp or squid. Dorado has clear differences be-
several stories around this, none tween adult females and males. Source: The Department of Agriculture,
have been confirmed. The male is larger and can easily Livestock, and Fisheries (Santa Rosa).

Papiamento words and phrases you may want to know!

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