Directions

1. Unda ta [destinashon]?

   Un-da ta [des-ti-na-shon]

   Where is [place]?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   "Unda" is the Papiamento interrogative adverb "where" — related to Spanish "donde"

2. Bai stret

   Go straight

   Usage

   Instruct to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Straight" is "stret" (from English straight). "Drechi" only means "right", so it cannot be used to say "go straight"

3. Bira robes

   Bi-ra ro-bes

   Turn left

   Usage

   Instruct to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "robes" = left, the counterpart of "drechi" (right); "bira" from Portuguese "virar" (to turn)

4. Bira drechi

   Bi-ra dre-chi

   Turn right

   Usage

   Instruct to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Drechi" means "right" (used with "bira"). "Straight" is a different word, "stret" (another card)

5. Mi ta pèrdí

   Mi ta pèr-dí

   I am lost

   Usage

   Ask for help when lost

   Grammar Note

   "pèrdí" from Portuguese "perdido" (lost); "ta" is the stative marker

6. Kuantu leu ta [destinashon]?

   Kuan-tu leu ta [des-ti-na-shon]

   How far is [place]?

   Usage

   Ask about the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "kuantu" from Portuguese "quanto" (how much); "leu" means "far" in Papiamento

7. Por fabor, mustrami e mapa

   Por fa-bor mus-tra-mi e ma-pa

   Please show me the map

   Usage

   Ask to see a map for directions

   Grammar Note

   "mustrami" from Spanish "mostrarme" (show me) — object pronoun attached to verb

8. Ki caminda ta e centro?

   Ki ca-min-da ta e cen-tro

   Which road leads to the city center?

   Usage

   Ask for directions to the city center

   Grammar Note

   "caminda" from Spanish "camino" (road/way); "centro" is a Spanish loanword

9. Por fabor, hibami na e hotel

   Por fa-bor hi-ba-mi na e ho-tel

   Please take me to the hotel

   Usage

   Ask a taxi driver or guide to take you to the hotel

   Grammar Note

   "hibami" is hiba (to take away) + the object clitic mi (me); "na" is the preposition "to/at"

10. E kaya ta serka di aki

    E ka-ya ta ser-ka di a-ki

    The street is close from here

    Usage

    Indicate that a destination is close

    Grammar Note

    "Serka" means "near" (cf. Spanish "cerca"). "Street" is kaya, the word in Curaçao's main street Kaya Grandi and Aruba's Caya G.F. Betico Croes. Siman means "week", not "street"

11. Banda drechi

    Right

    Usage

    On its own "drechi" also means straight/correct, so use "banda drechi" for the side

12. Banda robes

    Left

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

13. Stret padilanti

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

14. Bai bèk

    Go back

    Usage

    When the driver has gone too far

15. Para akinan

    Stop here

    Usage

    To have a driver pull over where you want

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