Tetum phrasebook

Tetum or Tetun (Lia-Tetun) is a national language and one of the two official languages of East Timor.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a

an

Nasalized a

e

en

i

in

Nasalized i

o

on

Nasalized o

u

As in moon

un

Nasalized u

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Ola / Elo ( )
Hello. (informal): Oi ( )
How are you?: Diak ka lai? / O di'ak ka lae? ( )
Fine, thank you.: Diak, obrigadu (m)/ obrigada (f) ( )
What is your name?: Ita nia naran saida? / O nia naran sa? ( )
My name is ______ .: Ha'u nia naran _____. / Men dak narana _____.
Nice to meet you.: . (Obrigo burodo )
Please.: Ibrig./Favór ida.
Thank you.: . (Obrigadu (m), Obrigada (f) (barak.) )
You're welcome.: La iha buat ida. / Lalika temi.
Yes.: Sin / Lo'os ( )
No.: Lae ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention): Kolisensa. ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Deskupa. ( )
I'm sorry.: Deskupa. (days kool pah)
Goodbye: Ha'u ba lai. (Hepeye)
Goodbye (informal): . (Heppi)
I can't speak _____.: Man sain diaka tocoya _____.
Do you speak English?: Ita bele ko'alia Inglés? ( )
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? ( ?)
Help!: Ajuda! (AH-jooh-dah!)
Look out!: ! ( )
Good morning.: Bondia / Dader diak / Boasdias. ( )
Good afternoon.: Botarde / Lorokraik daik / Boastarde. ( )
Good evening.: ( )
Good night.: Bonoite ( )
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: Hau la komprende. ( )
Where is the toilet?: Sintina iha ne'ebe? (seen-tee-NAH ee-hah nih-aybay?)

Problems

Numbers System

Spanish+Portuguese

Numbers

½ - medya

0 - cera

1 - una

2 - dova

3 - tra

4 - juatra

5 - cinga

6 - sesa

7 - sitta

8 - okta

9 - nuva

10 - desa

11 - unzoa

12 - donzoa

13 - trazoa

14 - kuturza

15 - kuinguza

16 - desajsesa

17 - desajsitta

18 - desajokta

19 - desajnuva

20 - veyenta

25 - veyentajcinga

30 - treyyenta

40 - juarhanta

50 - cinguanta

60 - sesanta

70 - sittanta

80 - okkanta

90 - nuwanta

100 - centa

200 - dovacenta

300 - tracenta

400 - quatrentosa

500 - quinentosa

1000 - milla

2000 - dosa milla

1,000,000 - una millionna

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

Sunday - Dumingu
Monday - Segunda
Tuesday - Tersa
Wednesday - Kuarta
Thursday - Kinta
Friday - Sesta
Saturday - Sabadu


What day is today?: Ohin sa loron? / Ohin loron saida?

Today is ___________.: Ohin loron ___________.

What day will be tomorrow?: Aban loron saida?

Tomorrow will be ___________.: Aban loron ___________.

What day was yesterday?: Horseik loron saida?

Yesterday was ___________.: Horseik loron ___________.

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority

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