I’ll borrow your blanket to use for a while, as I feel very cold. in Tetun
Ha'u empresta ita nia kapote hodi uza lai, tanba sente malirin loos.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Aspect markers
lai — 'first' / polite request
laiAfter the verb or object, 'lai' means 'first, for a moment' — often softens a request by implying the action won't last long.
Intensifiers
Intensifiers (loos, tebes, demais, laduun)
loosPosition matters. 'loos' / 'tebes' / 'demais' follow the adjective ('barak loos' = very many). 'laduun' PRECEDES the adjective ('laduun diak' = not very good). 'liu tan' = even more.
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.
Translate your own text with the free English ↔ Tetun translator or look up individual words in the Tetun dictionary.
Related phrases
- Bainhira ami iha Maubisse ami sempre taka manta kal-kalan tanba malirin maka'as.When we are in Maubisse we cover ourselves with a blanket every night because it is very cold.
- Horibainhira ha'u iha Dare, rai malirin loos!Recently when I was in Dare, it was very cold!
- Iha Maubisse malirin para mate iha dadeer-saan.In Maubisse is very cold in the early morning.
- Iha foho Ramelau nia tutun, malirin loos.On the summit of Mount Ramelau it is very cold.
- Ami uza kareta ne'e ba ami nia an.We use this car for ourselves (i.e. for private use).
- Bee ne'e manas loos, aumenta tan bee malirin hodi halo morna de'it.The water is very hot. Add some cold water to make it just lukewarm.