This is an incremental project. There is not much material here now, but as we add a little information every week, it will gradually grow into something useful.
symbols:
# indicates a variant spelling or alternative form of the headword
≈ introduces a synonym or near-synonym
(A) indicates a word mainly used on Aruba
(B) indicates a word mainly used on Bonaire
(C) indicates a word mainly used on Curaçao
Data sources are listed in the Bibliography.
A
amiga noun friend (female)
amigu noun friend (male)
aña noun year
B
boletin noun bulletin
bolita di keshi noun a deep-fried cheeseball (also contains cornstarch and beaten eggs)
bonbiní interj. welcome!
bon dia phrase good morning
bon nochi phrase good evening, good night
bon tardi phrase good afternoon
brasa noun arm
bruki noun diaper
bululú noun commotion, brouhaha, uproar
bunita adj. beautiful
bunitesa noun beauty
C
chapi noun hoe
chòk-chòk adj. crowded, jam-packed, chock-full
D
dede noun digit (toe or finger)
dede di man noun finger
dede di pia noun toe
dede di mustra noun index finger
dede grandi (di man) noun thumb
desgrasia noun accident, mishap, tragedy
di prep. of
dia noun day
diabel noun devil
djaden adv. from within
djafó adv. from outside, from without
djaka noun rat
djakal noun jackal
djamanta noun diamond
djasabra noun Saturday
# diasabra
drenta verb enter
dùim noun thumb
≈ dede grandi (di man)
E
edat noun age
edishon noun edition
editá verb edit
editor noun editor
eduká verb educate
edukadó noun educator
edukashon noun education
edukashonal adj. educational
efisiensia noun efficiency
efisiente adj. efficient
efisientemente adv. efficiently
ègt adj. real
ègt adv. really
eis noun ice
ekhorn noun squirrel
≈ djaka di kaña
ekipo noun team
èlebog noun elbow
empanada noun a deep-fried cornmeal pastry filled with fish or meat and other ingredients
# empanà
evaporá verb evaporate
F
fásil adj. easy
fasilmente adv. easily
filologia noun philology
finfin verb to drizzle, to rain lightly
fròt adj. weak, feeble, lame, rickety
G
gabilan noun hawk
gabinete noun cabinet
gai noun (1) rooster; (2) boyfriend; (3) fellow, chap
galaksia noun galaxy
galeria noun gallery
galiña noun (1) hen, chicken; (2) girlfriend
gana verb gain, earn, win
gana noun desire, yearning, longing
ganchu noun clasp, clamp, clip
glas noun glass (the material)
trahá di glas adj. made of glass
H
hamber noun hunger
tin hamber verb to be hungry
hari verb laugh
harimentu noun laughter
harka noun/verb rake
hartwer noun hardware
hasmin noun jasmine
haver noun oats
hefatura noun headquarters
hende noun person
I
i conj. and
indesiso adj. indecisive
indesputabel adj. indisputable
India noun India
indiká verb indicate
indikadó noun indicator
indikashon noun indication
indikativo adj. indicative
Irak noun Iraq
K
kabai noun horse
kala noun black-eyed pea puffs (a deep-fried snack food)
kiper noun goalkeeper
kon adv. how
L
laba verb wash, launder
labadora noun washing machine
≈ wasmashin (A)
labamano noun bathroom sink
lapi verb patch, repair something with a patch
larga verb melt, dissolve
largu adj. long, lengthy
largura noun length
largubai adv. always, all the time
larva noun grub, larva
lat adj./adv. late, later than scheduled
latalata (C) adj. very drunk
lèksiko noun lexicon
lektura noun lecture
lèlè di orea noun earlobe
leli noun lily
leli di awa noun water lily
leli di vaye noun lily of the valley
lingwistika noun linguistics
luminoso adj. luminous, brilliant
lus noun light
lusa verb illuminate, light up
lusà adj. lit
M
mama noun mother
man noun hand
mariwana noun marijuana
mesa noun table
mundano adj. mundane, worldly
N
nubia noun cloud
nubiá adj. cloudy
O
ora adv. when; now
ora conj. when; until; at the same time as
ora noun hour; time, moment
orea noun ear
# horea (A)
P
pan noun bread
papiamentista noun a Papiamentu speaker
parabel noun parable
pastechi noun a small pastry filled with spicy meat, fish or cheese; similar to things that are called “turnovers” in parts of the English-speaking world
R
ruman noun sibling
ruman hòmber noun brother
ruman muhé noun sister
S
shelu noun heaven; the sky
skouru noun shoulder
# skouder (A)
stashon di radio noun radio station
≈ emisora
T
tambú di orea noun eardrum
tanta noun aunt
≈ tia
tata noun father
telegraf noun telegraph
temporada di awa noun the rainy season
tera noun land, earth, soil
tokante prep. pertaining to, about (on the topic of)
Usage:
…sirbi komo un plataforma di idea tokante e boneriano…
…un atardi di informashon tokante di seksualidat.
Mi a lesa un artíkulo tokante KidDocs den un korant lokal.
trese verb bring
U
útil adj. useful
V
vèl noun sheet of paper
≈ blach’i papel
W
welek (C) noun lightning
# werlegt
≈ lamper(A)
wowo noun eye
pretu di wowo noun pupil (of eye)
Y
ya adv. already
Usage:
Ya mi sa. (I already know.)
yabero noun keychain
yabi noun key (for opening lock; also a musical term)
yag verb hunt
yagdó noun hunter
yagmentu noun hunting
yaki (C) noun jacket
yambo noun okra
yamer! interjection what a pity; that's a shame; too bad
yega verb arrive, reach (a destination)
yegada noun arrival
yegamentu noun arrival
yuana noun iguana
sòpi’i yuana noun iguana soup
yuda verb help, assist
yudadó noun helper
yudamentu noun assistance
yùist adv. exactly
yuka noun yucca
yüli noun July
yuna verb fast (refrain from eating)
yüni noun June
yupiter noun Jupiter
Z
zag noun saw
zag di koriente noun electric saw
zjampaña noun champagne