Learn Cape Verdean Creole (Kabuverdianu) – Part 1: 20 Basic Words and Phrases
Hello guys! 👋
Welcome to Part 1 of our series “20 Useful Words and Phrases in Kabuverdianu” — the Cape Verdean Creole spoken in the beautiful islands of Cabo Verde, off the west coast of Africa.
If you’ve ever visited Cape Verde, you’ve probably heard people speaking fast, melodic, and full of emotion — that’s Kabuverdianu! It’s a Creole language based on Portuguese, but it has its own rhythm, expressions, and charm that make it truly unique.
Whether you’re planning a trip, reconnecting with your roots, or just curious about this fascinating language, this is the perfect place to start.
🗣️ 20 Basic and Useful Words in Kabuverdianu
| English | Kabuverdianu (Creole) |
|---|---|
| More | Más |
| Less | Menus |
| With | Ku |
| From | Di |
| To | Pa |
| Enough | Dja txiga |
| Too much | Dimas |
| Something | Algun kuza |
| Anything | Kualker kuza |
| Nothing | Nada |
| I think so | N ta pensa ma sin / N ta pensa ki sin |
| I think not | N ta pensa ma nau |
| It is late | Sta tardi |
| It is all right | Sta dretu |
| It is not all right | Ka sta dretu |
| I would like | N ta gostaba |
| I am busy | N sta okupadu |
| What is that called in Creole? | Modi ki ta txomadu kel-la na kriolu? |
| How do you say…? | Modi ki bu ta fla…? |
| How do you spell…? | Modi ki bu ta skrebe…? |
💬 Examples in Daily Conversation
Here are a few simple examples to help you practice:
- Ku kel = with that
- Dja txiga, n ka kre más = that’s enough, I don’t want more
- N ta pensa ma sin = I think so
- Sta dretu! = It’s all right! / Okay!
- N sta okupadu li = I’m busy here
- Modi ki bu ta fla “friend” na kriolu? = How do you say “friend” in Creole?
You’ll notice that Kabuverdianu sentences are short and rhythmical, and the tone plays an important role in how natural it sounds.
🏝️ About the Language
Kabuverdianu is spoken across all the islands of Cape Verde, but each island has its own accent and small variations. The words here are mainly from the Santiago variety — one of the most widely spoken forms, especially in the capital, Praia.
It’s a living language — warm, expressive, and full of emotion. People use it at home, with friends, in music (like morna and funaná), and even online.