Tetun phrases for travelers
A free phrasebook for visitors to Timor-Leste, organised by situation. Tetun (also spelled Tetum) is one of the two official languages of Timor-Leste and is spoken throughout Dili and the districts. Every phrase below is in Tetun-Prasa — the urban variety most visitors encounter.
Need a word not on this list? Use the full translator or browse the dictionary. For church and faith vocabulary, see Catholic prayers and faith phrases.
Greetings and basics
The standard greeting depends on time of day. Handshakes are common; kissing on both cheeks is normal between women who know each other.
- Olá / Benvindu
- Hello / Welcome
- Bondia
- Good morning
- Botardi
- Good afternoon
- Bonoiti
- Good evening
- Diak ka lae?
- How are you?
- Ha'u diak, obrigadu
- I'm fine, thank you
- Obrigadu (male) / Obrigada (female)
- Thank you
- La buat ida
- You're welcome
- Sin / Lae
- Yes / No
- Favór ida
- Please
- Deskulpa
- Excuse me / Sorry
- Adeus
- Goodbye
- Haree fali
- See you later
- Ita-nia naran saida?
- What's your name?
- Ha'u-nia naran…
- My name is…
- Haksolok hasoru ita
- Nice to meet you
- Ha'u la komprende
- I don't understand
- Ita bele koʼalia Inglés?
- Do you speak English?
- Ha'u koʼalia Tetun uitoan
- I speak a little Tetun
Numbers and counting
Tetun numbers 1–10 are native. From 100 upwards, Portuguese loanwords are usual.
- ida
- 1
- rua
- 2
- tolu
- 3
- haat
- 4
- lima
- 5
- neen
- 6
- hitu
- 7
- ualu
- 8
- sia
- 9
- sanulu
- 10
- ruanulu
- 20
- atus ida / sen
- 100
- rihun ida / mil
- 1000
- Hira?
- How many?
- Uitoan
- A little
- Barak
- A lot
Directions and getting around
- Iha ne'ebé…?
- Where is…?
- Sentina iha ne'ebé?
- Where is the bathroom?
- Otél iha ne'ebé?
- Where is the hotel?
- Aeroportu iha ne'ebé?
- Where is the airport?
- Oinsá ha'u bá…?
- How do I get to…?
- Karuk / Loos
- Left / Right
- Dereitu
- Straight ahead
- Para iha ne'e
- Stop here
- Dook
- It's far
- Besik
- It's near
- Táksi
- Taxi
- Bis / Mikroletu
- Bus
- To'o… presu hira?
- How much to…?
Restaurant and food
Timor-Leste's cuisine blends Portuguese, Indonesian, and local flavours. Coffee from Ermera is famous.
- Meza ba nain rua, favór ida
- A table for two, please
- Kartu hahán, favór ida
- The menu, please
- Ha'u hakarak…
- I'd like…
- Bee
- Water
- Kafé
- Coffee
- Xá
- Tea
- Etu
- Rice
- Ikan
- Fish
- Manu
- Chicken
- Naʼan
- Meat
- Modo
- Vegetables
- Aifuan
- Fruit
- La manas, favór ida
- No spicy, please
- Gostu duni
- It's delicious
- Konta, favór ida
- The bill, please
Shopping and money
- Ida ne'e presu hira?
- How much is this?
- Karun liu
- It's too expensive
- Bele hatún presu?
- Can you lower the price?
- Ha'u lori
- I'll take it
- Ha'u la hakarak
- I don't want it
- Simu dólar?
- Do you accept dollars?
- Boot / Kiik
- Big / Small
- Baratu / Karun
- Cheap / Expensive
- Merkadu
- Market
Time and dates
Tetun uses Portuguese month and weekday names. Dates are usually written day-month-year.
- Oras hira?
- What time is it?
- Ohin loron
- Today
- Aban
- Tomorrow
- Horiseik
- Yesterday
- Agora
- Now
- Depois
- Later
- Segunda
- Monday
- Tersa
- Tuesday
- Kuarta
- Wednesday
- Kinta
- Thursday
- Sesta
- Friday
- Sábadu
- Saturday
- Domingu
- Sunday
Emergencies and health
For emergencies in Timor-Leste dial 112 (police) or 115 (fire). Dili has several hospitals including Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares.
- Ajuda!
- Help!
- Bolu polísia
- Call the police
- Ha'u presiza doutór
- I need a doctor
- Ha'u moras
- I'm sick
- Ospitál iha ne'ebé?
- Where is the hospital?
- Farmásia iha ne'ebé?
- Where is the pharmacy?
- Moras iha ne'e
- It hurts here
- Ha'u manas-isin
- I have a fever
- Ha'u alérjiku ba…
- I'm allergic to…
- Ahi!
- Fire!
- Ha'u lakon
- I'm lost
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