The children did somersaults on Leta’s bed. in Tetun
Labarik sira ohin kamballota fali iha Leta nia kama leten.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Aspect markers
fali — 'again' / 'back' / 'instead'
faliPlaced after the verb. Can mean 'again / back' or mark an unexpected reversal ('instead'). Context decides which.
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
- Labarik barak moras malária. Ne'e duni husu ba inan-aman atu uza muskiteiru ba labarik sira.Many children are sick with malaria. Therefore we appeal to parents to use mosquito nets for the children.
- Ami hasoru labarik na'in rua iha ne'ebá.We met two children there.
- Labarik la bele hemu serveja.Children are not allowed to drink beer.
- Brinkedus ne'e ba labarik, la'ós ba ema boot.This toy is for children, not for adults.
- Labarik sira riska tapa hodi haksoit ba.The children draw lines to play hopscotch.
- Molok atu bá eskola, aruma tiha kama lai.Before going to school, tidy up (your) bed.