The motorbike has run out of petrol. Let’s take it to fill it up. in Tetun
Motór nia mina maran loos, ita lori ba enxe tiha lai.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Aspect markers
lai — 'first' / polite request
laiAfter the verb or object, 'lai' means 'first, for a moment' — often softens a request by implying the action won't last long.
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.
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
- Motór nia mina maran ona, presiza bá enxe iha pertamina.The motorbike has run out of petrol, and needs to be filled up at the petrol station.
- Ó nia tanke mina kuak, karik ne'e mak mina naksuli hela de'it.Your petrol tank has a hole in it. Perhaps that's why petrol keeps leaking out.
- Ita la'o kalan, kuidadu rama ambon.If you go out at night, watch out for metal darts.
- Marco nia ain fitar tanba uluk nia monu ho motór.Marco’s let has a scar because he once fell off his motorbike.
- Foti na'an iha konjeladór atu orsida ita sona ba han meiudia.Take meat out of the freezer so we can fry it later for lunch.
- Ami nia osan rai iha banku. Ami presiza mak bele bá foti.We keep our money in the bank. We can go and take it out when we need it.