If you ('older brother') are thirsty, you can drink some water. in Tetun
Se maun hamrook, bele hemu bee.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Conditionals
se / karik — conditionals
se'se' opens a definite conditional ('if X, then Y'). 'karik' sits at the end of a clause and hedges it ('perhaps'); it can also mark an uncertain conditional.
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'.
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
- Bá hola kafé rahun iha loja para ita halo kafé hemu.Go and get some powdered coffee from the shop so we can make some coffee to drink.
- Bee ne'e merak, bele hariis maibé la bele hemu.This water is murky. You can use it to bathe but not to drink.
- 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.
- Fui ha'u nia bee iha kaneka halo nakonu para hemu dala ida de'it.Pour my water into a glass, filling it up, so that I can drink it all at once.
- Helena hakarak hemu bee.Helena wants to drink water.
- Bonoiti, maun.Good evening/night, older brother.