Languages of Aruba

There are many languages spoken on the Caribbean island of Aruba. The official languages are Papiamento and Dutch, but most Arubans speak a minimum of four languages, including English and Spanish. Schools require students to learn English, Spanish and to a lesser extent French. According to the Government of Aruba the mother tongue and primary vernacular of almost all Arubans is a local language known as Papiamento, an Afro-Portuguese Creole language spoken since the 16th century. The language, however, was not widespread in Aruba till the 18th and 19th centuries when most materials on the island and even Roman Catholic schoolbooks were written in Papiamento.

Dutch has been one of the official languages of the island for years as the island is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. However, Dutch is the sole language for most administrative and legal matters. Aruba has recognized English as an international language, and has required that children learn English as early as the 4th grade. Use of English dates to the early 19th century, when the British took Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire; when Dutch rule resumed in 1815, officials noted the already widespread use of the language.. Since May 2003, Papiamento has also been an official language, alongside Dutch. Aruba's location off the coast of South America has also made Spanish extremely important. Students begin learning this as early as 5th grade. Spanish became an important language in the 18th century due to the close economic ties with Spanish colonies in what are now Venezuela and Colombia, and several Venezuelan TV networks are received, and the fact that Aruba has Venezuelan and Colombian residents. Around 12.6% of the population today speaks Spanish.

Papiamento is a creole language that evolved from Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, some French, English, and a smattering of African languages. The language evolved in Curaçao during the 16th century when slaves and their Spanish owners developed common ground in which to communicate.

Papiamento was not considered important on Aruba until 1995. It was officially included in the school curriculum in 1998 and 1999. Since then, the island has embraced this native language. A Papiamento dictionary and fairy tales written in Papiamento are now readily available on the island.

Aruba is a polyglot society. Most of Aruba's population is able to converse in at least two of the languages of Papiamento, Dutch, English, and Spanish.

Selected Aruban Papiamento phrases

Papiamento	Spanish	Portuguese	Dutch	English
Bon dia	Buenos días	Bom dia	Goedemorgen	Good morning
Bon tardi	Buenas tardes	Boa tarde	Goedemiddag	Good afternoon
Bon nochi	Buenas noches	Boa noite	Goedenacht/Goedenavond	Good night
Bon bini	Bienvenido	Bem vindo	Welkom	Welcome
Danki	Gracias	Obrigado	Dank u/Dank je	Thank you
Ayo	Adiós	Adeus	Tot ziens	Good-bye
Pasa un bon dia	Que tenga/Que pase un buen día	Tenha um bom dia	Fijne dag	Have a good day
Con cos ta? (Informal) Con ta bai? (Formal)	¿Cómo estás?/¿Cómo te va?	Como está/vai?	Hoe gaat het?	How are you?
Mi ta bon	(Yo) Estoy bien	(Eu) Estou bem	Met mij gaat het goed	I am fine
Cuant'or tin?	¿Qué hora es?	Que hora tem?/Que horas são?	Hoe laat is het?	What time is it?
Mi por papia Papiamento	(Yo) Puedo hablar papiamento	(Eu) Posso falar papiamento	Ik spreek Papiaments	I can speak Papiamento
Si	Sí	Sim	Ja	Yes
No	No	Não	Nee	No
Aruba ta bunita	Aruba es bonita	Aruba é bonita	Aruba is mooi	Aruba is beautiful

External links

• Ethnologue report for Aruba