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Language & Identity · Curaçao

Papia
mentu

4
Languages
400+
Years Old

A creole language born from five continents — spoken by 160,000 islanders.

Scroll to learn
4
Official Languages
80%
Speak Papiamentu
400+
Years of History
5
Root Languages
I

What is Papiamentu?

Papiamentu is a creole language spoken by virtually all of Curaçao's 160,000 inhabitants. It is one of the oldest creole languages in the world — a living, evolving tongue shaped by every wave of migration and trade.

II

Origins & Roots

Born from the collision of Portuguese and Spanish trade languages, West African tongues brought by enslaved people, and Dutch colonial administration — Papiamentu grew organically, on this island, from necessity and community.

Dushi

Essential Phrases

Common
Words

Bon dia
Good morning
Bon nochi
Good night
Dushi
Sweet / lovely
Danki
Thank you
Por fabor
Please
Kon ta bai?
How are you?
Mi ta bon
I am well
Unda
Where
Kiko
What
Kuantu
How much / many
Ayó
Goodbye
Sí
Yes
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The Island

Kòrsou
Curaçao in images

Willemstad Harbour
Willemstad Harbour
Colorful Handelskade
Colorful Handelskade
Crystal-clear waters
Crystal-clear waters

Word of the Day

Palabra
di Dia

Today · 1 Apr
Shon
Meaning
Master, sir, respected person
Example
Bon dia, Shon — Good morning, sir
Etymology
From Portuguese 'senhor' (lord)
From Portuguese 'senhor' (lord)

Memory Training

Flashcards
Practice

🌅
Bon dia
Tap to flip
🌅
Good morning
Tap to flip back
1 / 10

Writing Practice

Fill in the Blank
Exercise

1 / 5
___ ta mi dushi
Hint: You (informal)

Count in Papiamentu

Numbers
1 — 20

☀️
1
Un
One
🐠
2
Dos
Two
🌴
3
Tres
Three
🦀
4
Kuater
Four
🐚
5
Sinku
Five
🌊
6
Seis
Six
🦜
7
Shete
Seven
🐙
8
Ocho
Eight
⭐
9
Nuebe
Nine
🎨
10
Dies
Ten
🦋
11
Djes un
Eleven
🌺
12
Djes dos
Twelve
🐬
13
Djes tres
Thirteen
🌙
14
Djes kuater
Fourteen
🎵
15
Kinsí
Fifteen
🦩
16
Djes seis
Sixteen
🌴
17
Djes shete
Seventeen
🐢
18
Djes ocho
Eighteen
🦞
19
Djes nuebe
Nineteen
🎉
20
Binti
Twenty

Multilingual Island

Languages Spoken
Spoken

Four languages, one island

Curaçao is officially quadrilingual. Papiamentu is the mother tongue of the majority, but Dutch, English, and Spanish are all present on the streets, in schools, and on signage.

Papiamentu80%
Dutch70%
English60%
Spanish50%
4
papPapiamentu
nlDutch
enEnglish
esSpanish
Dushi
"Dushi" is one of the most beloved words in Papiamentu — meaning sweet, lovely, or nice — and it is used for everything: food, people, places, moments.

Sayings & Proverbs

Expressions
of the island

Community
Un man laba e otro
One hand washes the other
We must help each other
Wisdom
Awa di sabla no ta fria
Threats don't bring results
Empty threats mean nothing
Proverb
Mondi ku ta habri su boka ta keda sin nada
Boasting early leads to empty hands
Don't brag before you succeed
Identity
Kòrsou ta mi korason
Curaçao is my heart
A declaration of love for the island
Character
Palu ku ta krese kòrtu no ta bira haltu
A short tree won't grow tall
Character formed early is hard to change
Respect
Tur hende tin su manera
Every person has their way
Respect that people live differently

Sound Guide

Pronunciation Tips
Guide

Ò
Arawak Root
Sound

Like "o" in "hot"

È
Portuguese Root
Sound

Like "e" in "pet"

Ü
Dutch Root
Sound

Like German "ü"

Sh
African Root
Sound

Like "sh" in "ship"

Zj
Spanish Root
Sound

Like "s" in "measure"

Dj
Creole Root
Sound

Like "j" in "job"

Test Yourself

Papiamentu
Quiz

1 / 8
How do you say 'Thank you'?

Speak
Dushi

Language is the deepest layer of a culture. When you learn a few words of Papiamentu, you are not just being polite — you are touching something centuries old. The island will notice.

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