Weather & Climate

1. Ta kalor awe, no?

   Ta ka-lor a-we, no?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Common weather conversation opener in Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire

   Grammar Note

   Papiamentu/Papiamento is a creole mixing Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and English

2. Ta parse ku lo yobe

   Ta par-se ku lo yo-be

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   Used when rain appears likely

   Grammar Note

   "Lo" marks future tense. "Yobe" comes from Spanish "llover" (to rain)

3. Un tempestad ta bini

   Un tem-pes-tad ta bi-ni

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning when a storm is approaching

   Grammar Note

   "Tempestad" is from Spanish. "Ta" is the progressive aspect marker in Papiamentu

4. Ta fresku awe, no?

   Ta fres-ku a-we, no?

   It's cool today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Used on cool days in the ABC islands

   Grammar Note

   "Fresku" is borrowed from Spanish "fresco" (cool/fresh)

5. Por fabor, kon ta e pronóstiko di tempu?

   Por fa-bor, kon ta e pro-nós-ti-ko di tem-pu?

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely ask about the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Por fabor" comes from Spanish "por favor" (please)

6. Mi mester krema di solo?

   Mi mes-ter kre-ma di so-lo?

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask before going out under the strong Caribbean sun

   Grammar Note

   "Mester" means "need". "Solo" means "sun"; krema di solo is sunscreen

7. Mi mester trese un umbrela?

   Mi mes-ter tre-se un um-bre-la?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Check whether to bring an umbrella

   Grammar Note

   "Umbrela" means "umbrella"; "trese" means "to bring"

8. Ki ora ta e tempu seku?

   Ki o-ra ta e tem-pu se-ku?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Ask about the Caribbean dry season

   Grammar Note

   "Seku" comes from Iberian (Spanish/Portuguese) "seco" (dry)

9. Ki ora ta e tempu di yobe?

   Ki o-ra ta e tem-pu di yo-be?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the Caribbean rainy season (roughly October–January)

   Grammar Note

   "Tempu di yobe" = "time of rain" — a compound expression in Papiamentu

10. E solo ta kima awe

    E so-lo ta ki-ma a-we

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Describe the intense Caribbean sun

    Grammar Note

    "Kima" means "to burn" and is used to express the intensity of the sun

11. Áwaseru

    Rain

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

12. Bientu

    Wind

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

13. Tin solo

    Sunny

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

14. Ta nubla

    Cloudy

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

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