Looking for practical Kikongo to Papiamento phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo phrase first, then the Papiamento translation (Papiamento) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Papiamento.
Tip: read the Papiamento line out loud three times, then cover the Kikongo side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kikongo to Papiamento translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Mbote
Halo
Mele
Dank'i
Mokolo mayele
Bon dia
Mokolo ya ntango
Bon tardi
Mokolo ya mambu
Bon nochi
Mokolo ya mpembe
Bon nochi
Tala mosi
Hasta luego
Tata
Ayo
Nki yina nzo?
Kiko ta bo nòmber?
Nzo yami ke John
Mi nòmber ta John
Oko wanga?
Kon ta bai?
Nki ya mosi na yo
Dushi pa konosé bo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo o zola kutu English?
Bo ta papia Ingles?(Bo ta papia Ingles?)
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.
Mi no ta papia Hindi bon(Mi no ta papia Hindi bon)
Nkeni kanga.
Mi no ta komprondé(Mi no ta komprondé)
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.
Por fabor, papia lentamente(Por fabor, papia lentamente)
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?
Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?(Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?)
Kutu wapi banzela?
Unda ta e baño?(Unda ta e baño?)
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?
Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?(Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?)
Tanda na luma.
Duna ku left(Duna ku left)
Tanda na mambu.
Duna ku right(Duna ku right)
Enda na mosi.
Bai straight(Bai straight)
Nki mbongo ya ndako?
Kantu ta e tarifa?(Kantu ta e tarifa?)
Ticket mosi, mokolo.
Un tiket, por fabor(Un tiket, por fabor)
Nki feti na wapi?
Ta leu for di aki?(Ta leu for di aki?)
Nkeni zola.
Mi ta perdo(Mi ta perdo)
Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?
Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?(Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Si
Te
No
Kasi
Quizás
Nkiadi
Mi ta akordá
Nkiadi te
Mi no ta akordá
Oyo ke nkiadi malamu
Esaki ta suena bon
Nkiadi nini?
Kiko bo ta pensa?
Okanza kudi nki?
Bo por yuda mi?
Nkiadi kudi nki
Mi mester yuda
Lela na nki
Spera un momentu
Nkiadi na nki
Mi ta diskulpa
Te na nki
No tin problema
Tata na nki
Felicidades
Mokolo ya mbote
Feliz cumpleaños
Tala na nzala ya malamu
Ten un viahe seguro
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?
Unda ta e stasyon di tren?(Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?)
Wana wanga na bus?
Unda ta e parada di bus?(Wana wanga na bus?)
Nki platform yai?
Kual plataforma ta?(Nki platform yai?)
Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?
Kico ora e ta bai?(Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Yai ke nzila ya nki?
Esaki ta e manera correctu?(Yai ke nzila ya nki?)
Eza na nsi ya nzo
E ta cerca aki(Eza na nsi ya nzo)
Eza na mosi ya nzo
E ta leu for di aki(Eza na mosi ya nzo)
Okanisa ngai na mape?
Poei mostra mi na e mapa?(Okanisa ngai na mape?)
Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît
Para aki, por fabor(Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)
Nki ntangu yina yenda?
Kantu tempu e ta tuma?(Nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nki yina kudi?
Kiko ta e precio di esaki?(nki yina kudi)
Yina kele na nsi
Esaki ta demasiado caro.(yina kele na nsi)
Ona kima ki nsi?
Bo tin algo mas barato?(ona kima ki nsi)
Ncanza kudi na kadi?
Porke mi por paga ku tarjeta?(ncanza kudi na kadi)
Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi
Mi ke un mesa pa dos.(nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)
Kadi, ndakisa
E cuenta, por fabor.(kadi, ndakisa)
Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na?
E servicio ta inkludí?(kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)
Ndi muvegetari
Mi ta vegetariano.(ndi muvegetari)
Kaka mfu, ndakisa
No komida picante, por fabor.(kaka mfu, ndakisa)
Yina kele na nsi
Esaki ta sabroso.(yina kele na nsi)
Ncanza na menu?
Porke mi por tin e menu?(ncanza na menu)
Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa
Un bashi di awa, por fabor.(ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Landa boma
Llama polis
Landa ambulance
Llama un ambulansia
Nkeni mosi
Mi mester un doktor
Nkeni na mbisi
Mi ta sinti mal
Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu
Mi ta alergiko pa maní
Wana hospital ya mbote?
Unda ta e hospital mas cercano?
Eka na nki
Ta doli aki
Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai
Mi a perde mi pasaporte
Olanda hotel na ngai?
Bo por llama mi hotel?
Tala!
Yuda!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nzo ya kima
Bon dii pa conoce bo(Nzò ya kima)
Tukala na mbandu
Deja nos programa un reuníon(Tukàla na mbàndu)
Nki nsi ya ntangu?
Kiko ora ta bon pa bo?(Nki nsi ya ntángu?)
Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu
Mi ta manda e report di awor(Ndi zòla ku sendèla nsi ya lufùlu)
Tukala na kanda se
Por ta papia mañan?(Tukàla na kànda sè?)
Tula nsi ya file ya kima
Por fabor, haya e file anexa(Tùla nsi ya file ya kima)
Mosi na nsi ya ntangu
Danki pa bo tempo(Mòsi na nsi ya ntángu)
Ndi zola ku zola na yo
Mi ta spera pa traha ku bo(Ndi zòla ku zòla na yò)
Nki o zola ku zola nki?
Bo por klarifica esaki?(Nki o zòla ku zòla nki?)
Ndi zola ku yindula na yo
Deja mi a volve na bo(Ndi zòla ku yìndula na yò)
Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo
E deadline ta dia dushi(Nsi ya kima yìna nsi ya mposò)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.