All stand in a circle so you can see each other. in Tetun
Hotu-hotu hamriik halo kabuar atu bele haree malu.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Possibility & probability
bele / parese / dala ruma / kala — possibility
beleTetun hedges less than English, but has a cluster of markers. 'bele' before the verb = can / may. 'parese' at the start = 'seems'. 'dala ruma' at the start of a clause = 'perhaps, sometimes'. 'kala / kal' before a number = 'approximately'.
Reciprocal
malu — 'each other'
malu'malu' follows the verb to mark reciprocal action. Common in political / news idioms: 'haree malu diak' (get on well), 'diskuti malu' (argue), 'haan malu' (oppose one another), '(liafuan) la haan malu' (testimonies don't match).
More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.
Translate your own text with the free English ↔ Tetun translator or look up individual words in the Tetun dictionary.
Related phrases
- Sira hirus malu to'o ida-ida buka fatuk hodi tuda malu.They were angry at each other, to the extent that they each looked for rocks and threw them at each other.
- Ha'u nia matan hateke dook la moos, maibé se ha'u uza okulu haree moos loos.I can’t see clearly in the distance. But if I put a glasses, I can see clearly.
- Ami hotu hela bes-besik malu.We all live close to each other.
- Ita mesak raan ida de'it mak haree malu hanesan fali ema seluk!We're all related, yet treat each other as outsiders!
- Keta hein malu. Haree servisu sira ne'e, halo uluk bal-balu ona.Don't wait for each other. When you see what needs to be done, start on some of it.
- Ha'u ohin servisu ful! La bele halo tan!I've worked all day! I can't do any more!