papiamento

Papiamento or Papiamentu is a Creole language and it is the primary language spoken on the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaao, and Bonaire.

History

Papiamento grew out of the pidgin Portuguese spoken among Sephardic Jews and their slaves who had fled from Brazil. After the Dutch Empire acquired the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaao) from the Spanish, the influence of Dutch colonists caused many Dutch words to be inserted into Papiamento. The name comes from the word papia, meaning ‘talk’, derived originally from the Portuguese word papear compare with other Portuguese Creoles: the name of Papia Kristang or the Cape Verdean Creole word papia (talk). This word also exist in other Portuguese Creoles, including Papia Kristang.

Classification and related languages

Creole - Portuguese-based (often also classified has Iberian-based)

Papiamento is a creole language based mainly on Portuguese, African languages, Dutch, and the Arawak language. Spanish is a modern influence. Papiamento can easily be compared and linked with other Portuguese creoles, especially the African ones (namely Forro, Kriol and the Cape Verdean Crioulos). For instance, Compare Mi ("I" in Cape Verdean Creole and Papiamento) or bo (meaning you in both creoles). Mi is from the Portuguese mim (IPA: mĩ, me) and bo is from Portuguese vs (thy). The use of "b" instead of "v" is very common in the African Portuguese Creoles due to their relation with Northern Portugal dialects. Another comparation is the use of the verb "ta" from vernacular Portuguese "t" (from "estar", to be) with verbs were Portuguese does and with others where it does not use it: "Mi ta + verb", also the rule in the Cape Verdean Creoles. These issues can also be seen in other Portuguese Creoles. Venezuelan Spanish is a constant influence today. Many Papiamento speakers are also able to speak Dutch (the official language of the Dutch Caribbean), English, and Spanish.

Geographic distribution

Papiamento is the primary language spoken on the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaao, and Bonaire. It is also well known by people in Saba, St Eustatius, and the Sint Maarten islands.

Dialects

Papiamento has three main dialects, one per island: Aruba, Curaao, and Bonaire.

Sounds

Most Papiamento vowels are based on Ibero-Romance vowels, but some are also based on Dutch vowels like : ee, ui, ie, oe, ij, ei, oo, and aa. Papiamento is a tonal language, which is unusual in creoles, and probably influenced by African tones. Tones in creoles can be also found in Saramaccan.

Grammar

Vocabulary

Most of the vocabulary is derived from Portuguese and Spanish, and most of them the real origin is unknown due to the great similarity between the two Iberian languages. Linguistic studies have shown that roughly two thirds of the words in Papiamento's present vocabulary are of Spanish or Portuguese origin, a quarter are of Dutch origin, and the rest come from other tongues. Examples of words that can be impossible or where the determination is very difficult:

Por fabor = Please - Portuguese/Spanish por favor
Seora = Mrs, Madam, - Portuguese Senhora, Spanish Seora
batata = potato - Portuguese/Spanish, batata
Cua? = Which? - Portuguese, Qual; Spanish, Cual
Cuanto? = How? - Portuguese, Quanto; Spanish, Cuanto

Meanwhile the existance of a final vowel has u can easily be traced to Portuguese, and a diphthongization in some vowels can easily be traced to Spanish. The \b\ sound and "" character can mislead an untrained observer; also a sound-shift could occur in direction to Spanish, because this language is of a later influence than Portuguese. Other words can have dual origin, and certainly dual influence. For instance: Subrino (nephew); in Portuguese is Sobrinho while in Spanish is Sobrino. The pronunciation of \u\ in the "su-" is traceable to Portuguese, while \n\ in "-no", can be traceable to Spanish. Portuguese origin words:

sapatu = shoes - Portuguese, sapato, Spanish, zapato
saya = skirt - Portuguese, saia
Bisia = neighbour - Portuguese, Vizinho, Vizinha, Spanish, vecino

Spanish origin words:

siudat = city - Spanish, ciudad
sombr = hat - Spanish, sombrero
karsn = trousers - Spanish, calzn

Dutch origin words:

apel = apple - Dutch, appel
blou = blue - Dutch, blauw
buki = book - Dutch, boek

Writing system

There are two orthographies: a more phonemic one called Papiamentu (in Curaao and Bonaire), and one resembling Spanish (in Aruba).

Examples

Phrase samples

Bon bini! = Welcome!, Portuguese Bem vindo, Spanish, bienvenido)
Bon dia = Good morning, Portuguese Bom dia; Spanish Buenos dias
Bon tardi = Good evening, Portuguese Boa tarde, Spanish buenas tardes
Bon nochi = Good night (Portuguese, Boa noite; Spanish, Buenas noches)
Kon ta bai? or Con ta cu bida? = How are you? or How is life?, Portuguese, Como vai?/Como est com a vida?; ta is the vernacular Portuguese of verb to be, 't insted of est, Spanish Cmo te va?)
Mi ta bon, danki = I am fine, thank you, vernacular Portuguese, Eu (mim) (es)tou bom/bem, and Dutch Dank u
Tur kos ta bon = everything is running well, Portuguese tudo est bem (bom)
Hopi bon or Tremendo = very good
Trankilo = calm, everything is OK, Portuguese/Spanish, tranquilo
Hopi kalor = very hot/warm, Portuguese/Spanish calor/caliente
Kon yama bo? or Kon ta bo nomber? = What's your name?, Portuguese Como voc se chama? / Como te chamas?
Mi yama Raul or Mi nomber ta Raul = My name is Raul, Portuguese, Me Chamo Raul / Meu nome Raul; Spanish, Mi nombre es Raul
Di unda bo ta bini? = Where are you from?, Portuguese, De onde voc vem?
Mi ta bini di… = I am from…, Portuguese Eu venho de…
Mi ta biba na… = I live in…, Portuguese Eu vivo na…
Por fabor = Please, Portuguese/Spanish por favor
Masha danki = Thank you very much, Dutch, Dank u
Di nada = You're welcome, Portuguese/Spanish De nada
Homber = Male, Portuguese, Homem; Spanish Hombre
Muhe = Female, Portuguese Mulher; Spanish Mujer
Si = Yes, Spanish S; Portuguese Sim
No = No, Spanish No; Portuguese No
Ainda no = Not yet, Portuguese Ainda no
Ayo! = Goodbye!, Portuguese Adeus; Spanish Adis
Te otro biaha! = See you later!, Portuguese At outro dia
Mi ta sinti bo falta! = I miss you!, Portuguese Eu (mim) sinto vossa falta!, Spanish me haces falta
Mi ta stima bo = I love you, Portuguese Eu (te) estimo (voc) / Eu te amo
Awo = Now, Portuguese Agora; Spanish Ahora
Ayera = Yesterday, Spanish Ayer
Mi tin hamber = I am hungry, from Spanish tengo hambre
Mi tin set = I am thirsty, Spanish tengo sed, Portuguese Eu tenho sede
Laga nos ban sali! = Let's go out!, Spanish Vamos a salir!
Te mayan!, Te aworo!(Te'woro), Te despues! = See you!, bye!, Portuguese At amanh, At logo, At depois)
Masha pabien = Happy birthday!, Portuguese Muitos parabns!
Bon Aa = Happy new year!, Portuguese Feliz ano novo or Bom ano; Spanish Feliz ao nuevo
Bon pasku! = Happy Easter!, Portuguese, Boa Pscoa
No lubida! = Don't forget!, Spanish, No olvides
Korda skibi mi bek masha lihe! = Write me as soon as possible!
Mener = Mister, Portuguese Senhor; Spanish Seor; Dutch Meneer
Seora = Mrs, Madam, Portuguese Senhora, Spanish Seora
Jufrouw = Miss, Ms., Dutch, juffrouw
Mi number di telefon ta… = my phone number is…, Spanish Mi nmero de telfono es…
Bel mi = Call me (by telephone)

Social Relationships

Mayornan = parents
Papa, tata = father
Mama, = mother
Welo, padushi = grandfather (Spanish, Abuelo)
Wela, madushi = grandmother (Spanish, Abuela)
Omo = uncle (Dutch, Oom)
Tanta = aunt (Dutch, Tante)
Homber = man
Mohe = woman (Spanish, mujer, Portuguese, Mulher)
Yiu Homber = son
Yiu Mohe = daughter
Muchanan = children
Mucha homber = boy
Mucha mohe = girl
Ruman homber = brother
Ruman mohe = sister
Subrino = nephew (Portuguese, Sobrinho; Spanish, Sobrino)
Subrina = niece (Portuguese, Sobrinha; Spanish, Sobrina)
Primo, prima = cousin (Portuguese/Spanish, Primo, Prima)
Padrastro = step father (same has Portuguese)
Madrastra = step mother (same has Portuguese)
Yiu homber di afo = step son
Yiu mohe di afo = step daughter
Nieto = grandson (Spanish, nieto)
Nieta = grand daughter (Spanish, nieta)
Mucha homber = boy (Spanish, chaval)
Esposo = husband (Portuguese/Spanish, Esposo)
Esposa = Wife (Portuguese/Spanish, Esposa)
Amigo,amiga = Friend (Portuguese/Spanish, Amigo, Amiga)
Bisia = neighbour (Portuguese, Vizinho, Vizinha, Spanish, vecino)
Enemigo/a = Enemy (Spanish, enemigo/a, Portuguese, Inimigo/a)

Calendar system

In Papiamento, month names are taken directly from Dutch:

Januari = January
Februari = February
Maart = March
April = April
Mei = May
Juni = June
Juli = July
Augustus = August
September = September
October = October
November = November
December = December

Fruits & vegetables

arbei = strawberry (Dutch, aardbei)
konoflo = garlic (Dutch, knoflook)
pampuna = pumpkin (Dutch, pompoen)
prei = leek (Dutch, prei)
bonchi = beans (Dutch, bonen)
siboyo chikito = small onion / shallot (Portuguese, Cebolo, Spanish cebolla chiquita)
apelsina = orange (Dutch, sinaasappel)
apel = apple (Dutch, appel)
dreif = grape (Dutch, druif)
plum = plum (Dutch, pruim)
preimu = prune
siboyo = onion (Portuguese, Cebola; Spanish, Cebolla)
boonchi wowo preto = black-eyed beans (boonchi from Dutch, boontjes, wowo derived from African wo and pretu from Portuguese Preto, black)
oleifi = olives (Dutch, olijven)
bakoba = banana
wortel = carrot
anasa = pineapple (Portuguese/Spanish, Anans, Dutch Ananas)
kolo = cabbage (Spanish, col, Dutch, kool)
batata = potato (Portuguese/Spanish, batata)
tomati = tomato (Portuguese/Spanish, tomate, Dutch tomaat)
awakati = avocado (Spanish, aguacate, Portuguese, abacate)
flor = flower (Portuguese/Spanish, flor)
zoneblum = sunflower (Dutch, Zonnebloem)
rosa = rose (Portuguese/Spanish, rosa)
palu = tree (Spanish, palo, woodstick)
maishi = corn (Spanish, maiz)
guyaba = guava (Spanish, guayaba)
koko = coconut (Portuguese, Cco; Spanish, Coco)
kokou = cocoa (Spanish, cacao)
palma = palm (Spanish, palma)
selder = celery (Dutch, Selderij)
komkomber = cucumber (Dutch, Komkommer)
patia = watermelon
spinazi = spinach (Dutch, Spinazie)
salada = lettuce (From Portuguese, salada)
yerba = grass (Portuguese, erva, Spanish, hierba)
peer = pear (Portuguese/Spanish, pera)
lamunchi = lemon (Spanish, limn, Portuguese, limo)

Food and beverages

bia kora = red wine (Spanish, vino, wine, colorado, red)
bia blanku = white wine (Spanish, vino blanco)
bibida sterki = alcoholic beverages (sterki from Dutch, sterk, strong)
kofi = coffee (Dutch, koffie)
te = tea (Spanish, t)
lechi = milk (Spanish, leche)
sopi di yuana = iguana soup (Spanish, sopa de iguana)
chukulati = chocolate (Portuguese & Spanish chocolate, in Portuguese the term is often pronunced has in Papiamento)
awa = water (Portuguese & Spanish agua)
eis = ice (Dutch, ijs)
aros = rice (Portuguese & Spanish, arroz)
pan = bread (Spanish pan)
ponche crema = eggyolk (Spanish, ponche, punch, crema, cream)
bolo = cake (From Portuguese, bolo)
webu = egg (Spanish, huevo)
beleg = cold cuts (Dutch, beleg)
salu = salt (Portuguese & Spanish, sal)
suku = sugar (Spanish, azcar)
pika = pepper (Portuguese, pimenta, Spanish, pimienta, pica=hot, pricks)
keshi = cheese (Portuguese, queijo, Spanish, queso)
manteka = butter (Portuguese, manteiga, Spanish, mantequilla)
mangel = sweets/ candy
chupa bebe = Arubian lollypop
pastechi = pate
limunada, refresko= soft drink (Spanish, refresco)
karni = meat (Portuguese & Spanish, carne)

Days

Djadomingo = Sunday (Spanish, dia, day and domingo, Sunday)
Djaluna = Monday (Spanish, lunes)
Djamars = Tuesday (Spanish, martes)
Djarason = Wednesday
Djaweps = Thursday (Spanish, jueves)
Djabierne = Friday (Spanish, viernes)
Djasabra = Saturday (Spanish, sbado)

Numbers

un = one (Portuguese, um; Spanish, un/uno)
dos = two (Portuguese, dois; Spanish, dos)
tres = three (Portuguese, trs; Spanish, tres)
kuater(Netherlands Antilles), cuatro (Aruba) = four (Portuguese, quatro; Spanish, cuatro)
cinco (Neth Antilles), cinco (Aruba) = five (Portuguese/Spanish, cinco)
seis = six (Portuguese/Spanish, seis)
shete = seven (Portuguese, sete; Spanish, siete)
ocho = eight (Spanish, ocho)
nuebe = nine (Portuguese, nove; Spanish, nueve)
dies = ten (Portuguese, dez; Spanish, diez)
diesun = eleven
diesdos = twelve
diestres = thirteen
dieskuater = fourteen
diessinku = fifteen
diesseis = sixteen (Spanish, dieciseis)
diesshete = seventeen (Spanish, diecisiete)
diesocho = eighteen (Spanish, dieciocho)
diesnuebe = nineteen (Spanish, diecinueve)
binti = twenty (Portuguese, vinte, Spanish, veinte)
bintiun = twenty one (Spanish, veintiuno)
trinta = thirty (Portuguese, trinta, Spanish treinta)
kuarenta = forty (Portuguese, quarenta; Spanish, cuarenta)
sinkuenta = fifty (Portuguese, cinquenta; Spanish, cincuenta)
sesenta = sixty (Portuguese/Spanish, sesenta)
setenta = seventy (Portuguese/Spanish, setenta)
ochenta = eighty (Spanish, ochenta)
nobenta = ninety (Portuguese/Spanish, noventa)
shen = one hundred (Portuguese, Cem; Spanish, Cien)
mil = one thousand (Portuguese/Spanish, mil)
un miyon = one million (Portuguese, milho; Spanish, un milln)

Ordinal numbers

prome = first (Spanish, primero)
di dos = second
di tres = third

Colours

kra = red
shinishi = grey
hel = yellow (Dutch, geel)
blou = blue (Dutch, blauw)
blanku = white (Spanish, blanco, Portuguese, branco)
brd = green (Portuguese/Spanish, verde)
Maron, bruin = brown (Spanish, marrn, Dutch, bruin)
ros = pink (Portuguese/Spanish, rosa)
lila = purple (Spanish, lila, Portuguese, lils)
skur = dark (Portuguese, escuro; Spanish, oscuro)

Pronouns

Ami, mi = I (Portuguese, Eu, mim, me)
Abo, bo = you (Portuguese, vs, voc, tu, ti)
E, = he, she, it (Portuguese, ele, ela)
Nos = We (Portuguese, Ns)
Nan = They
Boso = You (plural or polite) (Portuguese, Vosso)

Adjectives

Lihe/pura/rapido = Fast/quick

Interrogative

Kiko ? = What? (Portuguese, Qu; Spanish, Que)
Ken? = Who? (Portuguese, Quem, Spanish, Quien)
Cua? = Which? (Portuguese, Qual; Spanish, Cual)
Unda? = Where? (Portuguese, Onde)
Cuanto? = How? (Portuguese, Quanto; Spanish, Cuanto)
Ki ora? = When? (Portuguese, Quando; Spanish, Cuando)
Pakiko? = Why?/What for?(Portuguese, Porqu?, Spanish, Por qu?)
Di kon? = Why? (as in what's wrong with you?)

More words

awaseru = rain (Portuguese, aguaceiro/chuva, Spanish, aguacero/lluvia)
sneu = snow (Dutch, sneeuw)
mist = mist (Dutch, mist)
bientu = wind (Portuguese, vento, Spanish, viento)
ola = wave (Spanish ola)
nubia = cloud (Spanish, nube)
orkan = hurricane (Dutch, orkaan, Spanish, huracn)
welek = lightning
bos = thunder (Spanish, trueno)
laman, laman grandi = beach, ocean
playa, laman = beach (Dutch, strand, Spanish, playa)
tera = sand, country (from Portuguese, terra)
waf = port
brg = bridge (Dutch, brug)
siudat = city (Spanish, ciudad)
volkan = volcano (Dutch, vulkaan')
seru = mount (Spanish, cerro)
ofisina di post = post office (Dutch, postkantoor)
ofisina di gobiernu = government office (Spanish, oficina de gobierno)
panaderia = bakery (Spanish, panaderia)
banko = bank (Portuguese/Spanish, banco)
kts = sneakers
sapatu = shoes (Portuguese, sapato, Spanish, zapato)
saya = skirt (Portuguese, saia)
sombr = hat (Spanish, sombrero)
kamisa = shirt (Portuguese/Spanish, camisa)
dashi = tie
karsn = trousers (Spanish, calzn)
blusa = blouse (Portuguese/Spanish, blusa)
braziel = bra
stul = chair (Dutch, stoel)
mesa = table (Portuguese/Spanish, mesa)
kas = house (Portuguese/Spanish, casa)
Kunuku = country side
bentana = window (Spanish, ventana)
porta = door (Portuguese, porta)
dak = roof (Dutch, dak)
kushina = kitchen (Portuguese, cozinha, Spanish, cocina)
muraya = wall (Portuguese, muralha, Spanish, muralla)
misa = church (Spanish, iglesia)
moskei = mosque (Dutch, moskee)
botika = drugstore (Portuguese/Spanish, botica)
skol = school (Dutch, school)
baranka = rock
boto = boat (Spanish, bote)
surfplank = surfboard (Dutch, surfplank)
velt = field (Dutch, veld)
barku = ship (Portuguese/Spanish, barco)
edifisio = building (Portuguese/Spanish, edificio)
hardin zologiko = zoo (Spanish, jardn zoolgico)
hospital = hospital (Portuguese/Spanish, hospital)
bibliotek = library (Portuguese, livraria, Spanish, libreria, Dutch "Bibliotheek")
buki = book (Dutch, boek)
graf = grave (Dutch, graf)
santana = cemetery