We all live close to each other. in Tetun
Ami hotu hela bes-besik malu.
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'.
Reciprocal
malu — 'each other'
malu'malu' follows the verb to mark reciprocal action. Common in political / news idioms: 'haree malu diak' (get on well), 'diskuti malu' (argue), 'haan malu' (oppose one another), '(liafuan) la haan malu' (testimonies don't match).
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 hirus malu to'o ida-ida buka fatuk hodi tuda malu.They were angry at each other, to the extent that they each looked for rocks and threw them at each other.
- Hotu-hotu hamriik halo kabuar atu bele haree malu.All stand in a circle so you can see each other.
- Ita mesak raan ida de'it mak haree malu hanesan fali ema seluk!We're all related, yet treat each other as outsiders!
- Maun-alin tenke hela dodook malu para saudades malu nafatin.Brothers and sisters should live far apart so that they keep missing each other.
- Ita hotu hakarak moris iha dame nia laran.We all want to live in peace (with others)
- Dulce ho Joana seidauk koñese malu.Dulce and Joana don’t know each other yet.