Tetum: Getting Started
Last Updated on Sunday, 31 January 2010 16:29
Portuguese and Tetum are the official languages of Timor-Leste while Bahasa Indonesia and English are listed in the Constitution as "working languages". Of these, Tetum is the most widely spoken, and a few words will take you a long way. Here are a few words to get started but, for a comprehensive guide to the language, get a phrasebook such as the Lonely Planet's East Timor Phrasebook.
Accommodation
| I'm looking for a ...... | Hau buka hela.... |
| guesthouse | losmen/pensaun |
| hotel | otel |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Ita iha kuarto ruma mamuk? |
| I'd like ...... | Hau hakarak |
| a single room | kuarto mesak ida |
| to share a room | fahe kuarto ida |
Coversation
| Hello | Elo |
| Goodbye | Adeus |
| Yes | Sin/Diak/Los |
| Good morning | Bon dia |
| Good afternoon | Botarde |
| Good evening/night | Bonoite |
| No | Lae |
| Please | Favor ida/halo favor |
| Thank you (very much) | Obrigadu/a (barak) |
| You're welcome | La (iha) buat ida |
| Excuse me | Kolisensa |
| What's your name | Ita-nia naran saida |
| My name is ... | Hau-nia naran .... |
| Do you speak English? | Ita koalia Ingles? |
| I don't understand | Hau la kompriende |
| Today | Ohin |
| Tonight | Ohin kalan |
| Tomorrow | Aban |
| Yesterday | Horseik |
Emergencies
| Help | Ajuda |
| It's an emergency | Nee emergensia |
| I'm ill | Hau moras |
| Call a doctor | Bolu dotor |
| Call the police | Bolu polisia |
| I'm lost | Hau lakon tiha |
| Where are the toilets | Sentina iha nebe? |
Numbers
| 0 | nol |
| 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 |
| 20 | ruanulu |
| 100 | atas ida |
| 1000 | rihun ida |
Services
| Where is a/the .....? | ...... iha nebe? |
| bank | banku |
| general store | loja |
| market | basar/merkadu |
| post office | koreiu/kantor pos |
| telephone | telefone/wartel |
| toilet | sentina/WC |
| How much is it? | Folin hira? |
| What is this? | Nee saida |
| That's too expensive! | Kanun los! |
| I will give you ......dollars | Hau foo dollar ..... |
Getting Around
| When does the ... | Tuku hira maka ... |
| Leave/Arrive? | Ba/To? |
| bus | bis/biskota |
| minibus | mikrolet |
| plane | aviaun |
| Bus station | Terminal bis nian |
| Road to (Baucau) | Dalan ba (Baucau) |
| Petrol | Bensin |
| Diesel | Solar |
| Go straight ahead | Los deit |
| To the left | Fila ba liman karuk |
| To the right | Fila ba liman los |
| Near | Besik |
| Far | Dok |