In Timor-Leste, civilians are not allowed to be armed. in Tetun
Iha Timor-Leste, ema sivíl la bele kaer kilat.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Negation
la — 'not' (general negation)
laPlaced before verbs and adjectives to negate them. For contrastive 'not X but Y' use 'laós'; for 'not yet' use 'seidauk'; for 'no longer' wrap 'la ... ona' around the verb.
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'.
Prohibition & permission
keta / lalika / la bele — prohibition
la beleThree strengths of 'don't': 'lalika(n)' is softest — 'no need to, don't bother'. 'keta' is a direct prohibitive command. 'la bele' = 'not allowed, must not'.
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
- Tuir lei ne'ebé vigora iha Timor-Leste, ema sivíl la bele kaer kilat.According to the law which is in force in East Timor, civilians are not allowed to carry arms.
- Iha 2017, Sr Xanana Gusmão mak Timor-leste nia negosiadór prinsipál iha negosiasaun ho Austrália kona ba Tasi Timor.In 2017, Mr Xanana Gusmão was Timor-Leste's chief negotiator in the negotiations with Australia over the Timor Sea.
- Ha'u nia nasaun Timor-Leste.My country is Timor-Leste.
- Timor-leste seidauk uza enerjia solár.Timor-Leste doesn't yet use solar energy.
- Komérsiu iha Timor-leste la'o susar tebes.Business in Timor-Leste is moving very slowly.
- Timor-leste esporta kafé barak ba iha Amérika.Timor-Leste exports a lot of coffee to America.