Essential phrases, pronunciation, and the words that open doors
Tetun is the lingua franca of Timor-Leste: the language that connects the country's 30+ local languages and ethnic groups. It's co-official with Portuguese, but Tetun is what people actually speak in daily life. In Dili, you'll hear it everywhere: at the market, on the mikrolet, at the restaurant.
You don't need Tetun to travel here: English is spoken in tourism, hotels, and dive shops. But learning even five phrases transforms your experience. Timorese people respond to efforts to speak their language with genuine warmth. A "bondia" at the market, a "obrigadu" to your driver, a "diak" when someone asks how you are: these small acts of respect open conversations, earn smiles, and create connections that no English-only interaction can.
Tetun is phonetic: words are pronounced as they're spelled, with a few key rules. Vowels are clean and consistent: 'a' as in "father", 'e' as in "bed", 'i' as in "machine", 'o' as in "go", 'u' as in "moon". There are no silent letters and no tonal distinctions.
The letter 'c' is always pronounced like "ch" in "church": so "café" sounds like "chah-feh" and "colega" sounds like "cho-leh-gah". Meanwhile, "ema" (person) sounds like "eh-mah". The 'x' sounds like "sh":"Xanana" is "Shah-nah-nah". The combination 'nh' sounds like the Spanish "ñ":"senhora" (lady) sounds like "sen-yoh-rah". Stress generally falls on the second-to-last syllable.
Tetun borrows heavily from Portuguese: you'll recognize words like "obrigadu" (thank you), "deskulpa" (excuse me), "oras" (hour/time), and "presu" (price). If you speak any Portuguese or Spanish, you'll have a significant head start.
Bondia: Good morning (used until around noon). This is the single most useful word in Tetun. Say it to everyone: your hotel receptionist, the market vendor, the person you pass on a trail. It's always received warmly.
Botardi: Good afternoon (noon until around 6pm). Bonoiti: Good evening/goodnight. These follow the same pattern as Portuguese greetings.
Diak ka? How are you? (literally: "Good?"). The standard greeting, often paired with "bondia" or "botardi". Diak: Fine/good. The all-purpose positive response. Diak liu: Very good/excellent. Hau diak: I'm good.
To'ok: See you later / goodbye (informal). Adeus: Goodbye (more formal, from Portuguese). Hau bá lai: I'm going now (casual departure).
Sin: Yes. Lae: No. Obrigadu: Thank you (said by men). Obrigada: Thank you (said by women). The gender distinction follows Portuguese convention. Nada: You're welcome / it's nothing.
Deskulpa: Excuse me / sorry. Used to get attention, apologize, or pass through a crowd. Favór ida: Please (literally "one favor"). Hau la komprende: I don't understand. Ita boot ko'alia inglés? Do you speak English?
Hau nia naran... My name is... Ita boot nia naran sa? What is your name? (polite). "Ita boot" is the respectful form of "you": use it with anyone you've just met, anyone older than you, and in any situation where you'd use "vous" in French or "usted" in Spanish.
Ida: 1. Rua: 2. Tolu: 3. Haat: 4. Lima: 5. Neen: 6. Hitu: 7. Ualu: 8. Sia: 9. Sanulu: 10. Sanulu-resin-ida: 11. Ruanulu: 20. Tolunulu: 30. Atus ida: 100.
Folin hira? How much? (the most useful phrase at any market). Karu liu: Too expensive. Bele menus? Can you reduce? (gentle haggling, not aggressive, Timorese markets don't have a strong haggling culture). Selu: Pay. Troku: Change (as in small change/coins).
Timor-Leste uses US Dollars, so you'll use English numbers for prices in practice. But knowing Tetun numbers helps at rural markets where English isn't spoken.
Han: Eat. Hemu: Drink. Bee: Water. Kafé: Coffee. Susu: Milk. Masin: Salt. Ai-manas: Chili (literally "hot wood"). Ikan: Fish. Na'an: Meat. Modo: Vegetables. Hare: Rice. Batar: Corn.
Bee manas: Hot water (literally "hot water"). Bee malirin: Cold water. Serbeja: Beer. Sukaer: Sugar. Mina: Oil.
Diak tebes! Delicious! / Very good! (the compliment that makes any cook's day). Han ona: I've already eaten (useful when declining offers of food politely, though accepting is always appreciated).
Iha ne'ebé?
Where? (literally "at where?"). Iha ne'e: Here. Iha ne'ebá: Over there. Loos: Straight ahead. Karuk: Left. Liman loos: Right (literally "right hand").
Dook:
Far. Besik: Near/close. Bele para iha ne'e: Can you stop here? (essential for mikrolets and taxis). Hau hakarak bá... I want to go to... La'o: Walk. Motorizada: Motorbike. Kareta: Car.
Oras hira?
What time? Ohin: Today. Aban: Tomorrow. Horiseik: Yesterday. Dadeer: Morning. Lokraik: Afternoon/evening.
Bele ajuda hau? Can you help me? Hau moras: I'm sick. Ospitál iha ne'ebé? Where is the hospital? Perigu: Danger/dangerous. Seguru: Safe.
Bele foti foto? Can I take a photo? (always ask, this phrase shows respect). Bonitu: Beautiful. Furak: Beautiful/pretty (more Tetun than the Portuguese-derived "bonitu"). Matak: Green. Mean: Red. Mutin: White.
Hau gosta Timor-Leste: I like Timor-Leste (this sentence, said with a smile, will get you invited to dinner). Ema Timor diak liu: Timorese people are very good/kind (and they are).
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"Ita boot" (you, formal) for strangers, elders, and respectful address. "Ó" (you, informal) for friends.
Many borrowed words: obrigadu, deskulpa, bom, igreja (church), estrada (road), merkadu (market).
Year-round: the language doesn't have a season. But visiting during Independence Day (May 20) or cultural ceremonies gives you more opportunity to hear Tetun spoken in meaningful contexts.
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