# Papiamento phrasebook

Papiamento or Papiamentu is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken by more than 400,000 people, mainly in the Dutch Caribbean, in the ABC islands. It is the official language of Aruba and Curaçao, and also has recognized language status in the special Dutch municipalities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Papiamento (in Aruba) or Papiamentu (in Bonaire and Curaçao) is a language largely based on Portuguese and Spanish, with a considerable influence by Dutch, Arawak Indian and African languages.. Almost all citizens of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao speak Papiamento, although many are also multilingual and are able to speak Dutch, Spanish and English as well.
Papiamento is written in the Latin alphabet with 9 vowels and 22 consonants (including the letter ñ from Spanish alphabet). As a creole language, Papiamento has a vocabulary largely derived from Spanish and Portuguese, with about 20% of the words coming from Dutch. Aruba uses a spelling that is different from those of Curaçao and Bonaire. Despite having an official spelling, Papiamento has a very limited vocabulary and very basic grammar compared other languages such as Spanish or Portuguese.

## Pronunciation guide
### Vowels

The Papiamento/Papiamentu vowels are: a, e, i, o, u, ò, è, ü, ù
* Pronunciations*
a: [ah] (pronounced like o in house)
ò [hoh]
e: [ehh]
è [heh]
i: [e] (like ee in cheese)
ü [iuh] (like e in me)
o: [oh] (like ow in owl)
ù [euh] (like the word you)
u: [oooh] (like oo in the word hoop)

### Consonants

The consonants are: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, ñ, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z.

### Common diphthongs

Diphthongs are: zj, ch, ng, dj, sh

## Phrase list
### Basics
#### Hello.

    Hala. (Ha-lah)

#### Hello. (informal)

    Hala. (Ha-lah)

#### How are you?

    Kon ta bai? (Kohn-tah-bigh)

#### Fine, thank you.

    Bon, danki. (Bohn, dahn-kee)

#### What is your name?

    Kon Yamabo? (Koen yah-mah-boe)

#### My name is ______ .

    Mi nomber ta______ . ( Mee nohn-behr tah_____ .)

#### Nice to meet you.

    Hopi smak. ( Hoh-pee smahk.)

#### Please.

    Por fabor. (Pohr fah-bohr.)

#### Thank you.

    Danki. (Dahn-kee)

#### You're welcome.

    Bo ta bon bini. (Boh tah bohn bee-nee.)

#### Yes.

    Si. (Sih)

#### No.

    No. (Noh)

#### Excuse me. (getting attention)

    Despensa. (Des-pin-sah)

#### Excuse me. (begging pardon)

    Despensa. (Des-pin-sah)

#### I'm sorry.

    Ta sinti largu. (Tah sihn-tee lahr-goo)

#### Goodbye

    Ayo. (Ah-yo)

#### Goodbye (informal)

    Te otro biaha. (Teh oh-tro bee-ah-a)

#### I can't speak Papiamento [well].

    Mi no por papia [bon] Papiamento. (Mee noh pohr pah-pee-ah [bohn] Pah-pee-ah-mehn-too.)

#### Do you speak English?

    Bo sa papia na ingles? ( Boh sah pah-pee-ah een-glehs?)

#### Is there someone here who speaks English?

    Tin un hende mira ku ta papia ingles? (Teen oon ehn-dee mee-rah koo tah pah-pee-ah een-glehs?)

#### Help!

    Yudami! ( You-dah-mee!)

#### Look out!

    Ki kuido! ( Kee koo-ee-doh!)

#### Good morning.

    Bon dia. (Bohn dyah.)

#### Good evening.

    Bon nochi. (Bohn noh-chee)

#### Good night.

    Bon nochi. (Bohn noh-chee)

#### Good night (to sleep)

    Bon nochi. (Bohn noh-chee)

#### I don't understand.

    Mi no ta komprendé. ( Mee noh-tah kohm-prehn-deh.)

#### Where is the toilet?
### Problems
#### I lost my wallet.

    M'a pèrdè mi kartera/pòtmòni

#### Can I use your phone?
### Numbers
#### 1

    (unu)

#### 2

    (dos)

#### 3

    (tres)

#### 4

    (cuater)

#### 5

    (sinku/cincu)

#### 6

    (seis)

#### 7

    (shete)

#### 8

    (ocho)

#### 9

    (nuebe)

#### 10

    (dies)

#### 11

    (diesun)

#### 12

    (diesdos)

#### 13

    (diestres)

#### 14

    (diescuater)

#### 15

    (diessinku)

#### 16

    (dieseis)

#### 17

    (dieshete)

#### 18

    (diesocho)

#### 19

    (diesnuebe)

#### 20

    (binti)

#### 21

    (binti un)

#### 22

    (binti dos)

#### 23

    (binti tres)

#### 30

    (trinta)

#### 40

    (cuarenta)

#### 50

    (cincuenta)

#### 60

    (sesenta)

#### 70

    (setenta)

#### 80

    (ochenta)

#### 90

    (nobenta)

#### 100

    (cien)

#### 200

    (dos cien)

#### 300

    (tres cien)

#### 1,000

    (mil)

#### 2,000

    (dos mil)

#### half

    mitar

#### less

    menos

#### more

    mas

### Time
#### now

    Awoki/Awor(aki)

#### later

    despues

#### before

    prome

#### morning

    mainta

#### afternoon

    atardi

#### evening

    anochi

#### Days
##### today
##### yesterday

    ayera

##### tomorrow

    mayan

##### this week

    e siman aki

##### last week

    siman pasá

##### next week

    otro siman

##### Sunday

    djadumingu

##### Monday

    djaluna

##### Tuesday

    djamars

##### Wednesday

    djarason

##### Thursday

    djaweps

##### Friday

    djabièrnè

##### Saturday

    djasabra

#### Writing time and date
### Colors
#### black

    pretu (preto in papiamento)

#### white

    blanku

#### gray

    shinishi

#### red

    kòrá

#### blue

    blòw

#### yellow

    hel

#### green

    bèrdè

#### orange

    oraño

#### purple

    lila

#### brown

    maron