Pretty much anywhere you go you’ll find that people speak english, however the mother language of Aruba is called Papiamento. It’s not unusual though, to find an Aruba that can speak three, four or even five languages. Being a Dutch island most will speak Dutch. Given its so close to Central and South America Spanish is also common and even German is often spoken. Still, I think part of the fun of going to another country is learning a little of their language, so in the Welcome Bags I want to include a list of some common Papiamento words and phrases. Below is a list I found on TripAdvisor.com:

Simple Words and Phrases

• Bon dia: Good Morning
• Bon tardi: Good Afternoon
• Bon nochi: Goodnight
• Bon Bini: Welcome
• Danki: Thank you
• Con ta bai: How are you?
• I am fine: Mi ta bon
• Ayo: Bye
• Cuantor tin?: What time is it?
• Unda bo ta biba?: Where do you live?
• Ami: me
• Abo: you
• Nos tur: All of us
• Boso: All of you
• Nos dos: The two of us
• Mi: I or I am
• I can speak Papiamento: Mi por papia Papiamento
• I love Aruba: Mi stima Aruba
• I want: Mi kier
• Congratulations: Pabien
• Have a good day: Pasa un bon dia
• Very Good!: Hopi bon
• Quietly or slowly: Poco poco
• See you later: Te oro
  

Words For a Loved One

• Un sunchi: A kiss
• Un braza: A hug
• Mi dushi: My sweetheart
• dushi ‘om: Delicious or great
• Cu tur mi amor: With all my love
• Ranka Lenga: To french kiss
• Mi amor: My love
• Corta orea: To cheat on someone
• Hole dushi: Smells good
• Hopi bon: Very good
  

Shopping

• Cuanto esaki ta costa?: How much does this cost
• Mi ta wak rond: Looking around, browsing
• Ban dal un trip: Lets go out on a trip
• Banco: The Bank
• Placa: Money
• Ki pelicula ta hunga awe?: What movie is playing today
• keds: Sneakers
• sapato: Shoes
• den caya: In downtown
• Mi tin sed: I’m thirsty
• Mi tin hamber: I’m hungry
• Ban cas: Lets go home
• Drugstore: Botica
  

More Words and Phrases

• Bin aki: Come here
• Ban sali: Lets go out
• Ban goza: Lets enjoy
• tur cos ta bon: Everything is going well
• Ban sigi: Lets continue
• Ban come: Lets eat
• Awa: Water
• Awacero: Rain
• Lamper: Lightning
• strena: Thunder
• nubia: Cloud
• lama: The beach, also the ocean
• tera: Sand, also country
• cunucu: The country side
• den stad: In the city
• na waf: At the port
• brug: Bridge
  

Food

• cuminda: Food
• pan: Bread
• manteca: Butter
• keshi: Cheese
• Fish: Pisca
• beleg: Cold cuts
• lechi: Milk
• soft or refresco: Soda
• mangel: Sweets/candy
• chupa bebe: A lollipop made in Aruba
• pastechi: similar to (Jamaican beef) patty, made from white flour filled with cheese, ham, beef or chicken
• sucu: Sugar
• salo: Salt
• pika: Pepper

TripAdvisor.com also has some other helpful ‘Before you Go’ information here»