Food & Drinks

1. Mi ke keshi yená, por fabor.

   Mi ke ke-shi ye-ná, por fa-bor.

   I would like keshi yená, please.

   Usage

   Ordering keshi yená, the signature stuffed cheese dish of Curaçao

   Grammar Note

   "por fabor" derives from Spanish "por favor" (please). The dish takes a final accent — "keshi yená" — the Curaçao spelling

2. Kiko tin den e menu di awe?

   Ki-ko tin den e me-nu di a-we?

   What is on the menu today?

   Usage

   Asking what is available on the daily menu

   Grammar Note

   "tin" derives from Portuguese "tem" (there is / has)

3. Esaki ta mashá sabroso!

   E-sa-ki ta ma-shá sa-bro-so!

   This is very delicious!

   Usage

   Expressing that the food is very tasty

   Grammar Note

   "ta" is the present tense aspect marker in Papiamentu

4. Nos kier pagá awor.

   Nos kier pa-gá a-wor.

   We would like to pay now.

   Usage

   Asking for the bill after eating

   Grammar Note

   "Nos kier + verb" means "we want to ...". "Now" is awor. The similar-looking aworó means "later, see you later" and cannot be used when you want to pay right now

5. Mi no ta kome karni.

   Mi no ta ko-me kar-ni.

   I do not eat meat in my food.

   Usage

   Informing someone you do not eat meat

   Grammar Note

   Negation puts "no" before the present-tense marker "ta"; the same frame appears in "mi no ta kome karni di porko"

6. Por fabor, dami e karta.

   Por fa-bor, da-mi e kar-ta.

   Please give me the menu.

   Usage

   Asking the waiter for the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "karta" derives from Spanish "carta" meaning "menu" or "letter"

7. Mi ke un awa, por fabor.

   Mi ke un a-wa, por fa-bor.

   I would like a water, please.

   Usage

   Ordering a glass of water at a meal

   Grammar Note

   "awa" derives from Portuguese "água" (water)

8. Tin algo sin gluten?

   Tin al-go sin glu-ten?

   Is there anything without gluten?

   Usage

   Asking about gluten-free options for dietary needs

   Grammar Note

   "algo" is borrowed from Spanish meaning "something"

9. Mi por haña un mesa pa dos?

   Mi por ha-ña un me-sa pa dos?

   Could I have a table for two?

   Usage

   Requesting a table for two people at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "mesa" is from Spanish for "table"; "pa" is a preposition meaning "for". Requests use "mi por + verb" — "por" always follows the subject

10. Kiko bo ta rekomendá?

    Ki-ko bo ta re-ko-men-dá?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Asking the waiter or chef what they recommend

    Grammar Note

    "rekomendá" derives from Spanish "recomendar" (to recommend)

11. Aros

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering; some languages use a different word for raw rice

12. Pan

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or shopping

13. Makaroni

    Macaroni

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or shopping

14. Pika

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    "Pika" means spicy; as a verb it also means to sting

15. Krudo

    Raw, uncooked

    Usage

    A hygiene check — is it cooked or not

16. Sòpi

    Soup

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering

17. Fruta

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point at it in a market or a canteen

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