Some people, even when they have everything, still whine, "Ah! What's going to come of us?" in Tetun
Ema balu, buat hotu-hotu iha mós, dada iis hela de'it, "Ah! Ita ne'e oinsá?"
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'.
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
- Sira ne'e oportunista de'it. Uluk rai susar, sira halai sai ba rai li'ur, maibé agora sira mai fali buka pozisaun iha governu.They are just opportunists. In the past when it was hard, they fled overseas, but now they have come back seeking positions in the government.
- Kuandu ema hala'o edukasaun sívika, sira hanorin povu kona ba lia polítiku nian, no mós kona ba direitu no responsabilidade reinu nian, atu foti povu nia konsiénsia polítiku.When people conduct civic education, they teach the people about political affairs, and also about the rights and responsibilities of the people, to raise their political awareness.
- Ema balu gosta baria, balu la gosta.Some people like bitter gourd, some don’t.
- Ema balu kanta di'ak, maibé ko'alia gagu.Some people sing well, but stutter when they speak.
- Joven sira, kuandu baruk gosta loos bá fa'an matan iha merkadu.Young people when they are bored love going to the market to look around.
- Ema boot servisu iha parlamentu, balu han matak povu nia osan.Some senior people who work in the parliament swindle the people of their money.