Basic Greetings

Hello.

Halo. (hah-low)

Good morning.

Bon dia. (bone dee-ah)

Good evening.

Bon nochi. (bone no-chee)

Good night.

Pasa bon nochi. (pah-sah bone no-chee)

Goodbye.

Ayo. (ah-yo)

See you later.

Te aworo. (teh ah-wo-row)

Nice to meet you.

Mucho gusto. (moo-cho goos-toe)

Welcome.

Bon bini. (bone bee-nee)

How are you?

Con ta bay? (kone tah bye)

I’m fine.

Mi ta bon. (mee tah bone)

And you?

Y abo? (ee ah-bow)

What's up?

Kico ta pasa? (kee-ko tah pah-sah)

Everything is good.

Tur cos ta bon. (toor kos tah bone)

Have a good day.

Pasa un bon dia. (pah-sah oon bone dee-ah)

See you tomorrow.

Te mañan. (teh mah-nyahn)

See you soon.

Te despues. (teh dehs-pwehs)

Take care.

Cuida bo curpa. (kwee-dah bow koor-pah)

It is a pleasure.

Ta un placer. (tah oon plah-sehr)

I am doing well.

Mi ta bay bon. (mee tah bye bone)

Not bad.

No ta malo. (no tah mah-low)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Por fabor. (pore fah-bore)

Thank you.

Danki. (dahn-kee)

Thank you very much.

Masha danki. (mah-shah dahn-kee)

You’re welcome.

Di nada. (dee nah-dah)

Excuse me.

Despensa. (dehs-pehn-sah)

I’m sorry.

Sori. (so-ree)

No problem.

No tin problema. (no teen pro-bleh-mah)

That’s okay.

Ta bon. (tah bone)

Of course.

Claro cu si. (klah-row koo see)

Don’t worry.

No preocupa bo. (no preh-oh-koo-pah bow)

Yes.

Si. (see)

No.

No. (no)

Maybe.

Kisas. (kee-sahs)

I understand.

Mi ta compronde. (mee tah kom-prone-deh)

I don't understand.

Mi no ta compronde. (mee no tah kom-prone-deh)

Just a moment.

Un momento. (oon mo-mehn-toe)

Can you help me?

Bo por yuda mi? (bow pore yoo-dah mee)

I speak English.

Mi ta papia Ingles. (mee tah pah-pee-ah een-glehs)

Do you speak English?

Bo ta papia Ingles? (bow tah pah-pee-ah een-glehs)

I don't speak Papiamento.

Mi no ta papia Papiamento. (mee no tah pah-pee-ah pah-pee-ah-mehn-toe)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

I need a doctor.

Mi mester di un dokter. (mee mehs-tehr dee oon dok-tehr)

I need a taxi.

Mi mester di un taxi. (mee mehs-tehr dee oon tahk-see)

I need water.

Mi mester di awa. (mee mehs-tehr dee ah-wah)

I need help.

Mi mester di yudansa. (mee mehs-tehr dee yoo-dahn-sah)

I need to rest.

Mi mester sosega. (mee mehs-tehr so-seh-gah)

Pattern: I want …

I want to eat.

Mi kier come. (mee kee-ehr ko-meh)

I want to drink.

Mi kier bebe. (mee kee-ehr beh-beh)

I want to go to the hotel.

Mi kier bay hotel. (mee kee-ehr bye ho-tehl)

I want to buy this.

Mi kier cumpra esaki. (mee kee-ehr koom-prah eh-sah-kee)

I want to sleep.

Mi kier drumi. (mee kee-ehr droo-mee)

Pattern: I would like …

I would like a coffee.

Mi lo kier un koffie. (mee low kee-ehr oon ko-fee)

I would like the menu.

Mi lo kier e menu. (mee low kee-ehr eh meh-noo)

I would like a ticket.

Mi lo kier un ticket. (mee low kee-ehr oon tee-keht)

I would like to pay.

Mi lo kier paga. (mee low kee-ehr pah-gah)

I would like a room.

Mi lo kier un camber. (mee low kee-ehr oon kahm-behr)

Pattern: Can you …?

Can you help me?

Bo por yuda mi? (bow pore yoo-dah mee)

Can you speak slowly?

Bo por papia poco poco? (bow pore pah-pee-ah po-ko po-ko)

Can you translate this?

Bo por traduci esaki? (bow pore trah-doo-see eh-sah-kee)

Can you call a taxi?

Bo por yama un taxi? (bow pore yah-mah oon tahk-see)

Can you write it down?

Bo por skirbi esaki? (bow pore skeer-bee eh-sah-kee)

Pattern: Where is …?

Where is the bathroom?

Unda e baño ta? (oon-dah eh bah-nyo tah)

Where is the exit?

Unda e salida ta? (oon-dah eh sah-lee-dah tah)

Where is the hospital?

Unda e hospital ta? (oon-dah eh hos-pee-tahl tah)

Where is the bus stop?

Unda e parada di bus ta? (oon-dah eh pah-rah-dah dee boos tah)

Where is the ATM?

Unda e ATM ta? (oon-dah eh ah-teh-ehm tah)