Swa -- #Curaçao Expressions on the #AtoZChallenge 2015

swa

[swAH]

(just like the swa in swap or swatch or swan)
Literally: brother-in-law (from the Dutch zwager)
In context: man, bro

Swa is to Papiamentu what man (or bro) is to English.

Watch out for that lamppost, swa.

One of the You Know You've Lived in Curaçao tenets is

"... you end your sentences in swa." 

Yes, even when not speaking to your brother-in-law or, for that matter, to any member of your family. (And yes, the implication is that you're sleeping with the sister of whoever you're talking to, but no one takes that literally. And women use it, too. To other women.)

You, mopping your sweaty forehead: "It's hot today, swa."
(English: It's hot today, man.) 

Leaving a party at 5:00 am, to your host: "Great party, swa!"
(English: Great party, bro!)

I really like this photo, swa.

It rounds out nicely some expressions you already know:

"Ai no, swa!"
(English: Aw, man! -- the kind of thing you'd say after missing an easy shot on the tennis court, or playing pool or soccer) 

"Hopi master, swa!"
(English: F*ckin' A, man!) 

"Néchi, swa!"
(English: Looking spiffy, man!) 

"Ei ta palu, swa."
(English: Abso-f*ckin'-lutely, bro.) 

"Hopi ferfelu, swa."
(English: Not cool, man.) 

"Hopi laf, swa."
(English: This is lame, bro.)

The floating market in Punda. Hopi néchi, swa!

And it can also be used as a greeting:

"Hey, swa. Kon ta?"
(English: Hey, bro. How's it going?)

But it's never used to refer to someone. You'd never say, for instance, "Look at that swa over there, the one with the red shirt," or "Yeah, I know Edson. He's my swa."

Felis djaweps, swa!

Oh, and to Debbie of The Doglady's Den: congratulations, swa! She guessed right on yesterday's renchi, and is in the draw (again!) to win a copy of The Miracle of Small Things, short stories about Curaçao :)