Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Tetun. Tetum. Timor Lorosa'e. Timor-Leste. Timór-Leste. East Timor. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Tetun Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Tetun words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...

Olá.
Haló.
Hello.
Adeus.
Goodbye.
Ita ko'alia Inglés?
Do you speak English?
Ha'u la kompriende.
I don't understand.
Ituan.
A little.
Sin/Lo'os/Di'ak. Lae.
Yes. No.
Folin hira?
How much is it?
Karun liu. Di'ak.
Too expensive. OK.
Favór ida.
Please.
Obrigadu (barak). (man)
Obrigada (barak). (woman)
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Ita-nia naran saida?
What is your name?
Ha'u-nia naran ...
My name is ...
Di'ak ka lae?
How are you?
Di'ak. Ita di'ak ka lae?
Fine. And you?
... iha ne'ebé?
Where is ...?
Sintina iha ne'ebé? Mane/Feto
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Diskulpa. Kolisensa.
Sorry. Excuse me.
La iha problema.
No problem.
Ha'u hakarak ...
I want ...
Ha'u la hakarak ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Ita hosi ne'ebé?
Where are you from?
Ha'u hosi Austrália.*
I am from Australia.
Konta, favór ida.
The bill, please.
Ha'u la'o sala tiha dalan.
I'm lost.
Para! Hein!
Stop! Wait!
Iha ne'e, iha ne'ebá.
Here, there.
Taxi. Otél. Aeroporto. Bis para fatin.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop.
Ha'u gosta ...
I like ...
Ha'u la gosta ...
I don't like ...
ida, rua, tolu, ha'at, lima.
one, two , three, four, five.
ne'en, hitu, ualu, sia, sanulu.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
Amérika - America
Kanadá - Canada
Inglatera - England
Irlánda - Ireland
Nova Zelândia - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Saúde!
Cheers!
di'ak / at
good / bad
bot / ki'ik
big / small
besik / dok
near / far
menus / tan
less / more
ida tan / natón
another one / enough
Ha'u vejetarianu. (man)
Ha'u vejetariana. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Ha'u la han na'an.
I don't eat meat.
... na'an manu.
... chicken.
... ikan.
... fish.
Ha'u iha alerjia kona ba aimusan.
I am allergic to nuts.
... forai.
... peanuts.
... ikan.
... fish.
... hahán hosi tasi.
... seafood.
... manutolun.
... eggs.