The first words you’ll probably hear when you arrive in Aruba are “Bon Bini!”

Bon Bini means welcome, and you’ll hear this phrase used frequently by the friendly and accommodating Arubans.

The Aruban language, Papiamento, is only spoken on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao (the ABC island) and Saint Eustatius.

What is Papiamento?

Papiamento contains elements of 5 languages: Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and Dutch. It was also influenced by Arawak Indian and African languages. Papiamento has evolved much over the years.

Looking to practice your Papiamento? Try Instant Immersion Papiamento and learn with goal-focused 10-minute sessions.

In Aruba, the people speak, write and read English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento fluently. Many also speak French and German.

Dutch and Papiamento are the official languages of Aruba. All documents and government papers are in both languages and lessons at school are also given in Dutch and Papiamento. Papiamento is only spoken on the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao).

While there are many languages spoken, you’ll have no problems if you happen to be a unilingual gringo.

Papiamento or Papiamentu?

There is some confusion about these two words. Are they distinct languages or just different spellings?

Papiamento is one language and it has 2 main dialects.

Aruban Papiamento: Papiamento spoken in Aruba sounds like Spanish.

Papiamentu: This is spoken in Curacao and Bonaire.

Key Differences in Papiamento vs Papiamentu

As the spelling of each dialect suggests, words in Aruba often end with “o” and the same words in Papiamentu often end in “u”. There is a similar difference in the “c” (Aruba) and “k” (Curacao and Bonaire).

The reason for these differences is based on the spelling method chosen by each region.

Aruba uses an etymology-based spelling.

Curacao and Bonaire chose a phonology-based spelling.

As a result, the words are pronounced and spelled differently, but generally, have identical meanings.

There are some small differences between the Papiamento dialect found in Curacao and Bonaire.

13 Papiamento Greetings

Have a good day: Pasa un bon dia

Good Morning: Bon dia

Goodbye: Ayo

Good afternoon: Bon tardi

Good evening: Bon nochi

Please: Por fabor

Thank you: Danki

Thank you very much: Mashi Danki

You are welcome: Di nada

How are you?: Con ta bai (pronounced bye)

Very Good!: Hopi bon

17 Papiamento Dining Phrases

I am hungry: mi tin hamber

I want to eat: mi ke kome

Food: cuminda

Water: awa

cuminda: Food

Bread: pan

Butter: manteca

Cheese: keshi

Fish: Pisca

Cold cuts: beleg

Milk: lechi

Soda: refresco

Sweets/candy: mangel

An Aruban lollipop: chupa bebe

Sugar: suku

Salt: salo

Pepper: pika

I am fine: Mi ta bon

See you later: Te aworo

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