Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Papiamentu. Papiamento. papiaments. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Papiamentu Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Papiamentu words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...
è is pronounced as ɛ (e as in pet)
ò is pronounced as ɔ (o as in pot)
ù is pronounced as ø (ur as in burn)
The polite word for you is either señor for men or señora for women.
(The familiar word for you is bo.)

Halo.
Bon dia.
Hello.
Ayó.
Goodbye.
Señor/señora ta papia ingles?
Do you speak English?
Mi no ta komprondé.
I don't understand.
Un tiki.
A little.
Si. Nò.
Yes. No.
Kuantu e ta kosta?
How much is it?
Muchu karu. Bon.
Too expensive. OK.
Por fabor.
Please.
(Masha) danki.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Kon señor/señora yama?
What is your name?
Mi yama ...
My name is ...
Kon ta bai?
How are you?
Bon. Ku señor/señora?
Fine. And you?
Unda ... ta?
Where is ...?
Unda e baño ta? Hòmber/Muhé
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Mi tin duele. Despensa.
Sorry. Excuse me.
No ta problema.
No problem.
Mi ke ...
I want ...
Mi no ke ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Di unda señor/señora ta?
Where are you from?
Mi ta di Oustralia.*
I am from Australia.
E kuenta, por fabor.
The bill, please.
Mi a pèrdè kaminda.
I am lost.
Para! Spera!
Stop! Wait!
Aki, ei, aya.
Here, there, over there.
Taksi. Hotèl. Airopuerto. Parada di bùs.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop.
Mi gusta ...
I like ...
Mi no gusta ...
I don't like ...
un, dos, tres, kuater, sinku.
one, two , three, four, five.
seis, shete, ocho, nuebe, djes.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
Merka - America
Kanada - Canada
Inglatera - England
Irlanda - Ireland
Nobo Zelandia - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Salú!
Cheers!
bon / malu
good / bad
grandi / chikitu
big / small
serka / leu
near / far
menos / mas
less / more
un otro / basta
another / enough
Mi ta vegetariano.
I am vegetarian.
Mi no ta kome karni.
I don't eat meat.
... galiña.
... chicken.
... piská.
... fish.
Mi tin alergia pa nòt.
I am allergic to nuts.
... pinda.
... peanuts.
... piská.
... fish.
... fruta di laman.
... seafood.
... webu.
... eggs.