We have lived here for over twenty years. in Tetun

Ami hela iha ne'e tinan rua nulu resin ona.

English → Tetun phrasebook

Grammar in this phrase

  • Aspect markers

    hela — 'currently' or 'reside'

    hela

    After a verb, 'hela' marks continuous aspect ('is ...-ing'). As a standalone verb it means 'live, reside'. Often paired with 'sei' for 'is still ...-ing'.

  • Aspect markers

    ona — 'already' (perfective)

    ona

    Placed after the verb (or after the object), 'ona' marks that something has already happened. Cannot stand alone — must belong to a sentence. See also 'tiha ona' for a stronger completed aspect.

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.

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