Which languages are spoken in Curaçao?

Language & culture · 2 min read · Checked November 7, 2026

Short answer

Curaçao has three official languages: Papiamentu, Dutch and English. Papiamentu is what most people speak at home, and most locals also speak English, Dutch and Spanish, so visitors get by in English everywhere.

Three official languages

Curaçao's language law of 2007 names English, Dutch and Papiamentu as the official languages. Papiamentu is the island's own language, spoken at every level of society.

What people speak at home

In the 2023 census, the language people spoke most at home was:

Papiamentu: 78 percent
Spanish: 8.4 percent
Dutch: 7.9 percent
English: 3.8 percent

Spanish has grown the fastest since the 2011 census.

Will you get by in English?

Yes. Most people born and raised on the island speak English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu. In hotels, restaurants, shops and on tours, English is no problem.

A few words of Papiamentu

Locals love it when visitors try a few words:

Bon bini: welcome
Bon dia: good morning
Bon tardi: good afternoon
Bon nochi: good evening or good night
Kon ta bai?: how are you?
Mi ta bon, danki: I'm fine, thank you
Danki: thank you
Di nada: you're welcome
Te otro biaha: see you later

Papiamentu is one part of the island's identity. Another is its flag: read what the flag of Curaçao means.

Sources: the official languages law, CBS Netherlands, census 2023 and the Curaçao Tourist Board.

Photo: a mural explaining the Papiamentu word dushi by Hans Rompel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

What language is spoken in Curaçao?

Mostly Papiamentu. Papiamentu, Dutch and English are the official languages, and Spanish is widely spoken too.

Do people speak English in Curaçao?

Yes. Most locals speak English, and in hotels, restaurants, shops and on tours English is no problem.