Tetum phrasebook

Tetum or Tetun (Lia-Tetun) is a national language and one of the two official languages of East Timor. Tetum has two major forms, i.e. Tetum Prasa aka Tetum Dili and Tetum Terik. The former is quite heavily influenced by Portuguese and is used in Dili and many nearby cities, as well as in the city of Baucau, while the latter is not and is mainly used in Viqueque and a few other places in the southern part of East Timor, as well as in West Timor, Indonesia.

Nasalized a

Nasalized i

Nasalized o

As in moon

Nasalized u

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?)

Spanish+Portuguese

0 - zero

1 - ida

2 - rua

3 - tolu

4 - haat

5 - lima

6 - neen

7 - hitu

8 - walu

9 - sia

10 - sanulu

11 - sanulu resin ida

12 - sanulu resin rua

13 - sanulu resin tolu

14 - sanulu resin haat

15 - sanulu resin lima

16 - sanulu resin neen

17 - sanulu resin hitu

18 - sanulu resin walu

19 - sanulu resin sia

20 - ruanulu

25 - ruanulu resin lima

30 - tolunulu

40 - haatnulu

50 - limanulu

60 - neennulu

70 - hitunulu

80 - walunulu

90 - sianulu

100 - atus ida

200 - atus rua

300 - atus tolu

400 - atus haat

500 - atus lima

1000 - rihun ida

2000 - rihun rua

1,000,000 - milloun ida

1. Sunday - Dumingu
2. Monday - Segunda
3. Tuesday - Tersa
4. Wednesday - Kuarta
5. Thursday - Kinta
6. Friday - Sesta
7. 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 ___________.

Do you have rooms available?

Ita iha ruma mamuk?

I'd like a single room / a room for two.

Ha'u hakarak kuartu mesak ida / ida be ema na'in rua.

How much for one night?

Kalan ida selu hira?

Is there somewhere to wash clothes?

Iha ne iha fatin ruma atu fasi roupa?

Do you change money here?

Ita troka osan iha ne ka lae?

I'm checking out.

Ha'u ba ona.

Can I pay by credit card?

Ha'u bele selu ho kartaun kréditu ka lae?