In Lospalos there are very many caves. In the past people used to live in them. in Tetun
Iha Lospalos fatuk kuak barak loos. Tempu uluk ema hela iha laran.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Aspect markers
hela — 'currently' or 'reside'
helaAfter a verb, 'hela' marks continuous aspect ('is ...-ing'). As a standalone verb it means 'live, reside'. Often paired with 'sei' for 'is still ...-ing'.
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.
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
- Ema barak mate. Iha mós ema kanek na'in hitu mak ami konsege lori ba ospitál, maski dook.Many people died. There were also seven injured people whom we managed to take to hospital, even though it was a long way.
- Ami nia uma kloot loos, ema barak bá la di'ak.Our house is very narrow/small, so not many people can go.
- Komunidade barak mak ba foho tanba rona katak tasi sa'e.Many people evacuated to the hills because they heard there was a tsunami.
- Média fó sai informasaun katak rai Aceh kona tsunami no ema barak mate.The media reported that there was a tsunami in Aceh, with many people dying.
- Horiseik joven grupu rua seran malu iha Hudi Laran halo ema kanek barak.Yesterday two groups of young people attacked one another in Hudi Laran, injuring many people.
- Fa'an sasán, di'ak liu hatuun folin para ema barak bá sosa.If you’re selling things, it’s better to reduce the price so that many people will go and buy them.