I am six years older than he is. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• Comparison

  liu — comparison 'more / most'

  liu

  Tetun comparison uses 'X liu Y' not 'mais X' — the adjective stays put and 'liu' follows. With a focus 'mak' it becomes superlative. Avoid Portuguese-style 'melhor' or 'mais boot'.

• Possession

  nia / nian — possession

  nia

  'nia' goes BEFORE the thing possessed; 'nian' goes AFTER. Both function the same way; position decides which form. 'nia' is also the 3rd-person pronoun (he / she / it) — disambiguate by position.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Ó tuan kaluk ona, sei halimar ho labarik!You're so much older than them, and still playing with kids!
• Ferik sira gosta liu konde fuuk duké kesi fuuk.Older women prefer rolling their hair into a bun than tying it.
• Mana ne'e idade ona, ko'alia saida ita halo tuir de'it.Older sister is getting on in years, whatever she says we just do.
• Iha kompañia foun ida loke vaga, maibé nia kritéria feto idade 25 mai kraik, tenke isin lotuk no bonita. Vaga ba servisu saida mak ne'e?!A new company has announced vacancies, but the criteria includes being no more than 25 years old, being slim and pretty. What sort of job is that?!
• Imi nia uma boot liu ami nian.Your house is bigger than ours.
• Bonoiti, maun.Good evening/night, older brother.