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

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority