We men's involvement in this process is only as supporters. in Tetun
Ami mane nia envolvimentu iha prosesu ne'e mak atu fó de'it apoiu.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Focus
mak — focus marker
mak'mak' focuses the preceding constituent — used when English would bold or cleft ('it was X who...'). Also forms the superlative with 'liu'.
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
- Kolega ne'e oin osan; ita sosa buat ruma fó ba nia mak nia di'ak ho ita.This friend is happy only if given money or presents. Only if we buy something for her does she get on with us.
- Ema uitoan de'it mak mai.Only a few people came.
- Feto tuur ketak, mane tuur ketak.Women and men sit apart.
- Ha'u foin aprende kaer kareta.I've only just learned to drive.
- Udan ona, maibé suviska de'it.It's raining, but only drizzling.
- Nia hela iha ne'ebá loron ida-rua de'it.He stayed there only a day or two.