Tetun Phrasebook for Travelers

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).

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).