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Dominican Republic trivia: 48 questions and answers

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The country at a glance

  1. Which country shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic?

    1. A. Haiti
    2. B. Cuba
    3. C. Jamaica
    4. D. Puerto Rico
    Show the answer

    Haiti. Haiti occupies the western part of Hispaniola, and the Dominican Republic the eastern five-eighths.

  2. What is the capital of the Dominican Republic?

    1. A. Santo Domingo
    2. B. Santiago de los Caballeros
    3. C. Punta Cana
    4. D. Puerto Plata
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    Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo, on the Caribbean coast, is the capital and by far the largest city.

  3. What is the currency of the Dominican Republic?

    1. A. Dominican peso
    2. B. Dominican dollar
    3. C. Dominican colón
    4. D. Dominican real
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    Dominican peso. The currency is the Dominican peso (DOP). Prices are often written RD with the dollar sign.

  4. Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Spanish is the official language; the local variety is called Dominican Spanish.

History

  1. On 27 February 1844, Dominicans declared independence from which country?

    1. A. Haiti
    2. B. Spain
    3. C. France
    4. D. The United States
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    Haiti. In 1844 the country declared independence from Haiti, which had ruled the whole island since 1822.

  2. The Dominican Republic celebrates its Independence Day on 27 February.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Independence was declared on 27 February 1844, and the day is also the high point of carnival season.

  3. From 1936 to 1961, what was Santo Domingo officially called?

    1. A. Ciudad Trujillo
    2. B. Ciudad Duarte
    3. C. Ciudad Colón
    4. D. Ciudad Balaguer
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    Ciudad Trujillo. The dictator Rafael Trujillo named the capital Ciudad Trujillo after himself in 1936; it got its old name back after his death in 1961.

  4. The United States occupied the Dominican Republic from 1916 to 1934.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. The US occupation lasted from 1916 to 1924.

Food and drink

  1. What is the everyday Dominican lunch of white rice, red beans and stewed meat called?

    1. A. La bandera
    2. B. Los tres golpes
    3. C. El concón
    4. D. La yaroa
    Show the answer

    La bandera. La bandera, 'the flag', is the most popular lunch in the country: white rice, red beans and stewed meat.

  2. Mangú, the national breakfast dish, is made from which mashed ingredient?

    1. A. Green plantains
    2. B. Potatoes
    3. C. Pumpkin
    4. D. Chickpeas
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    Green plantains. Mangú is boiled green plantains mashed until smooth, topped with red onions softened in vinegar.

  3. What are "los tres golpes", the three hits, served with mangú?

    1. A. Fried cheese, fried salami and fried eggs
    2. B. Rice, beans and stewed meat
    3. C. Avocado, tomato and onion
    4. D. Rum, coffee and orange juice
    Show the answer

    Fried cheese, fried salami and fried eggs. Fried cheese, fried salami and fried eggs are the three hits; together with mangú they make the classic Dominican breakfast.

  4. The festive stew sancocho de siete carnes is made with how many kinds of meat?

    1. A. 7
    2. B. 3
    3. C. 5
    4. D. 12
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    7. 7: siete carnes means seven meats, such as chicken, beef, pork, goat and sausage, cooked with root vegetables and plantain.

  5. Habichuelas con dulce, a sweet dessert popular at Easter, is made mainly from what?

    1. A. Red beans
    2. B. Rice
    3. C. Corn
    4. D. Chickpeas
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    Red beans. It is made from red beans blended and cooked with coconut milk, evaporated milk, sugar, spices, raisins and sweet potato.

  6. Casabe, the crisp flatbread the Taíno ate long before the Spanish arrived, is made from which root?

    1. A. Cassava
    2. B. Potato
    3. C. Ginger
    4. D. Carrot
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    Cassava. Casabe is made from grated cassava (yuca). UNESCO listed the tradition of cassava bread in 2024.

  7. Tostones are made from ripe, sweet yellow plantains.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Tostones are made from green, unripe plantains, fried, flattened and fried a second time.

  8. Mamajuana is made by soaking tree bark and herbs in rum, red wine and honey.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The mix is left to soak for weeks and becomes a deep red drink that tastes a little like port.

Cities

  1. Which is the second largest city of the Dominican Republic?

    1. A. Santiago de los Caballeros
    2. B. La Romana
    3. C. Puerto Plata
    4. D. Barahona
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    Santiago de los Caballeros. Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Cibao valley, had about 770,000 people in the 2022 census.

  2. Which city is famous for one of the country's biggest carnivals, with masked devils called diablos cojuelos?

    1. A. La Vega
    2. B. Monte Cristi
    3. C. Jarabacoa
    4. D. Samaná
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    La Vega. La Vega's carnival in February is one of the biggest in the country, and the diablo cojuelo is its best-known character.

  3. From January to March, humpback whales come to Samaná Bay to give birth.

    True or false?

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    True. True. Thousands of North Atlantic humpback whales arrive every winter, and Samaná is the centre for whale watching.

  4. San Pedro de Macorís is famous for producing an unusually large number of professional players of which sport?

    1. A. Baseball
    2. B. Volleyball
    3. C. Tennis
    4. D. Golf
    Show the answer

    Baseball. Baseball: Cuban immigrants brought the game to San Pedro de Macorís in the late 1800s, and the city has produced many major league players.

Landmarks

  1. As of 2026, how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites does the Dominican Republic have?

    1. A. 1
    2. B. 3
    3. C. 5
    4. D. 7
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    1. It has 1: the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, listed in 1990.

  2. The huge cross-shaped Faro a Colón in Santo Domingo is a monument to whom?

    1. A. Christopher Columbus
    2. B. Juan Pablo Duarte
    3. C. Francis Drake
    4. D. Saint Dominic
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    Christopher Columbus. The Faro a Colón, the Columbus Lighthouse, honours Christopher Columbus and opened in 1992, 500 years after his first voyage.

  3. Altos de Chavón is a village built by Spanish settlers in the 1500s.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. It looks old, but it was built from 1976 as a recreation of a 16th-century Mediterranean village.

  4. Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean, is about how high?

    1. A. About 3,100 m
    2. B. About 1,500 m
    3. C. About 2,200 m
    4. D. About 4,800 m
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    About 3,100 m. It is about 3,100 m high; measurements range from about 3,087 to 3,101 m.

  5. What makes Lake Enriquillo special?

    1. A. Its surface lies below sea level, the lowest point in the Caribbean
    2. B. It is a crater lake at the top of a volcano
    3. C. It freezes over every winter
    4. D. It is the source of the Yaque del Norte
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    Its surface lies below sea level, the lowest point in the Caribbean. Its surface lies below sea level, the lowest point in the Caribbean: about 45 m below. It is also the largest lake in the Caribbean and home to American crocodiles.

  6. The Cathedral of Santo Domingo stands inside the Colonial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The cathedral, on Parque Colón, is part of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, listed by UNESCO in 1990.

Fun facts

  1. Larimar, a blue stone found only in the Dominican Republic, comes from the area around which city?

    1. A. Barahona
    2. B. Punta Cana
    3. C. Samaná
    4. D. Monte Cristi
    Show the answer

    Barahona. Larimar is found only in the mountains near Barahona, in the southwest.

  2. As of 2026, what does the Dominican flag show that no other national flag shows?

    1. A. A Bible
    2. B. An eagle
    3. C. A ship
    4. D. A star
    Show the answer

    A Bible. A Bible lies open in the coat of arms at the centre of the white cross, and no other national flag shows one.

  3. Which three instruments make up a traditional merengue band?

    1. A. Accordion, tambora drum and güira
    2. B. Steel drums, bass and trumpet
    3. C. Violin, piano and flute
    4. D. Bagpipes, drum and whistle
    Show the answer

    Accordion, tambora drum and güira. Accordion, tambora drum and güira: they are said to stand for the country's European, African and Taíno roots.

  4. Bachata used to be called "amargue", meaning bitterness, because so many songs are about heartbreak.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Amargue was its original name. Bachata was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2019.

  5. Hispaniola and which other Caribbean island are each shared by two countries?

    1. A. Saint Martin
    2. B. Trinidad
    3. C. Jamaica
    4. D. Puerto Rico
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    Saint Martin. Saint Martin is divided between France and the Netherlands; Hispaniola between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

  6. Which UN international day is held on 25 November, the anniversary of the Mirabal sisters' murder?

    1. A. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
    2. B. International Women's Day
    3. C. World Human Rights Day
    4. D. International Day of Peace
    Show the answer

    The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In 1999 the UN chose 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in memory of the Mirabal sisters.

  7. The beach town of Sosúa was settled by Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria in the early 1940s.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. About 800 Jewish refugees received Dominican visas between 1940 and 1945 and settled in Sosúa.

Words

  1. In the Dominican Republic, what is a "guagua"?

    1. A. A bus
    2. B. A market
    3. C. A drink
    4. D. A hat
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    A bus. A guagua is a bus, very often a crowded minibus.

  2. What is a "colmado"?

    1. A. A neighbourhood corner shop
    2. B. A motorbike taxi
    3. C. A rice dish
    4. D. A storm
    Show the answer

    A neighbourhood corner shop. A colmado is a neighbourhood corner shop, and often a place where people meet and chat.

  3. If a Dominican asks for "un chin", how much do they want?

    1. A. A little bit
    2. B. A lot
    3. C. Exactly half
    4. D. Nothing at all
    Show the answer

    A little bit. Un chin means a little bit, as in "un chin de azúcar", a little sugar.

  4. "Yipeta" is the Dominican word for a bicycle.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. A yipeta is an SUV, a four-wheel-drive car; the word comes from "jeep".

  5. The Spanish word "huracán", which gave English the word "hurricane", was borrowed from the Taíno language.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The Spanish took the word from the Taíno of the Caribbean in the early 1500s.

Phrases

  1. How do you ask for the bill in a restaurant?

    1. A. La cuenta, por favor
    2. B. ¡Buen provecho!
    3. C. Permiso
    4. D. Mucho gusto
    Show the answer

    La cuenta, por favor. "La cuenta, por favor" means "The bill, please".

  2. What does the very Dominican greeting "¿Qué lo qué?" mean?

    1. A. What's up?
    2. B. Goodbye!
    3. C. How much is it?
    4. D. Thank you!
    Show the answer

    What's up?. "¿Qué lo qué?" means "What's up?", a casual greeting among friends.

  3. What does "¡Buen provecho!" mean?

    1. A. Enjoy your meal!
    2. B. Cheers!
    3. C. Excuse me!
    4. D. Good night!
    Show the answer

    Enjoy your meal!. "¡Buen provecho!" means "Enjoy your meal!" and is said before eating or to people who are eating.

  4. In everyday Dominican Spanish, an "s" at the end of a syllable is often dropped or softened to a breathy "h".

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. "Las mesas" often sounds like "lah mesah", so "gracias" may sound like "gracia".

Local customs and tips

  1. When is the hurricane season in the Caribbean?

    1. A. June to November
    2. B. December to March
    3. C. March to May
    4. D. Only in January
    Show the answer

    June to November. The hurricane season normally runs from June to November, when the sea can also be rough.

  2. Tap water in the Dominican Republic is safe to drink.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Tap water is not drinkable; use bottled water, and be careful with ice.

  3. What must every traveller fill in online before flying into or out of the Dominican Republic?

    1. A. An entry and exit form, often called the e-Ticket
    2. B. A driving permit application
    3. C. A hotel registration card
    4. D. A currency declaration for any amount of cash
    Show the answer

    An entry and exit form, often called the e-Ticket. An entry and exit form, often called the e-Ticket, gives you a QR code; you can fill it in up to 7 days before arrival.

  4. What do most restaurant bills in the Dominican Republic already include?

    1. A. 18 percent tax and a 10 percent service charge
    2. B. No tax and no service charge
    3. C. A 5 percent tourist fee only
    4. D. A fixed charge for bread
    Show the answer

    18 percent tax and a 10 percent service charge. Bills usually add 18 percent tax and a 10 percent service charge; many people leave about 10 percent more for very good service.

  5. As of September 2026, British visitors can stay up to 30 days for tourism without a visa.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. As of September 2026, British tourists can stay 30 days without a visa and can pay to extend their stay.

  6. What is the national emergency number in the Dominican Republic?

    1. A. 911
    2. B. 999
    3. C. 000
    4. D. 066
    Show the answer

    911. 911 is the national emergency number, although it does not yet cover the whole country; outside Santo Domingo you can also call the tourist police, Politur.

Answer key

The country at a glance

  1. A. Haiti
  2. A. Santo Domingo
  3. A. Dominican peso
  4. True

History

  1. A. Haiti
  2. True
  3. A. Ciudad Trujillo
  4. False

Food and drink

  1. A. La bandera
  2. A. Green plantains
  3. A. Fried cheese, fried salami and fried eggs
  4. A. 7
  5. A. Red beans
  6. A. Cassava
  7. False
  8. True

Cities

  1. A. Santiago de los Caballeros
  2. A. La Vega
  3. True
  4. A. Baseball

Landmarks

  1. A. 1
  2. A. Christopher Columbus
  3. False
  4. A. About 3,100 m
  5. A. Its surface lies below sea level, the lowest point in the Caribbean
  6. True

Fun facts

  1. A. Barahona
  2. A. A Bible
  3. A. Accordion, tambora drum and güira
  4. True
  5. A. Saint Martin
  6. A. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
  7. True

Words

  1. A. A bus
  2. A. A neighbourhood corner shop
  3. A. A little bit
  4. False
  5. True

Phrases

  1. A. La cuenta, por favor
  2. A. What's up?
  3. A. Enjoy your meal!
  4. True

Local customs and tips

  1. A. June to November
  2. False
  3. A. An entry and exit form, often called the e-Ticket
  4. A. 18 percent tax and a 10 percent service charge
  5. True
  6. A. 911

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