When the power keeps going on and off, it can damage electronic goods. in Tetun
Ahi lakan-mate beibeik bele estraga sasán eletróniku.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Possibility & probability
bele / parese / dala ruma / kala — possibility
beleTetun hedges less than English, but has a cluster of markers. 'bele' before the verb = can / may. 'parese' at the start = 'seems'. 'dala ruma' at the start of a clause = 'perhaps, sometimes'. 'kala / kal' before a number = 'approximately'.
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
- Mina rai bele sai bénsaun ba nasaun, maibé bele mós sai malisan.Petroleum can be a blessing to a nation, but can also become a curse.
- Ami rasik la bele ajuda ita, maibé ami bele husu ajuda ba ema seluk.We ourselves can’t help you, but we can ask for help from someone else.
- Tusan ne'e ha'u selu neineik-neineik, to'o tinan ida foin selu kotu.I paid off this debt slowly. It took me a year to pay it off completely.
- Ha'u nia matan hateke dook la moos, maibé se ha'u uza okulu haree moos loos.I can’t see clearly in the distance. But if I put a glasses, I can see clearly.
- Ha'u koir hela pulsa atu enxe ba telefone, para telefone ba ferik lai.I scrape off the phone recharge card to top up my phone, so I can call my mother.
- Ha'u nia namorada fulan oin bá eskola iha Portugál. Nia fila foin ami bele kaben.My girlfriend is going to study in Portugal. Only when she comes back can we marry.