Languages of Timor-Leste: Tetum, Portuguese & More

Master Tetun, understand Portuguese influence, and navigate Timor-Leste’s complex multilingual landscape

Overview

Timor-Leste presents one of the world’s most fascinating multilingual environments, where over 30 languages coexist within a nation of 1.3 million people.

Language Landscape

Official Languages

Under Section 13 of the Constitution, Timor-Leste has two official languages:

Tetum: official and national language. The standard form, Tetun Ofisiál, is based on Tetun-Prasa, the lingua franca, as defined by Government Decree 1/2004
Portuguese: official language, used in law, government and education

Working Languages

Indonesian: Widely understood, especially by adults
English: Growing usage, international business

Indigenous Languages (30+)

Fataluku: Eastern region, 37,000 speakers
Mambae: Central mountains, 131,000 speakers
Kemak: Western region, 80,000 speakers
Bunak: Western region, 84,000 speakers
Makasae: Eastern region, 70,000 speakers
Plus more than 25 other local languages

Essential Tetun Phrases

Basic Greetings & Politeness

Greetings

Bondia (bon-DEE-ah) - Good morning
Botarde (bo-TAR-deh) - Good afternoon
Bonoite (bo-NOY-teh) - Good evening/night
Elo (EH-lo) - Hello (informal)
Ksolok bodik mai - Welcome
Bemvindu - Welcome (Portuguese influence)

Responses & Politeness

Sin (seen) - Yes
Lae (lah-eh) - No
Obrigadu (male) / Obrigada (female) - Thank you
Obrigadu barak - Thank you very much
Favór ida - Please
Deskulpa - I’m sorry
Kolisensa - Excuse me
Perdão - Pardon/Forgiveness

Farewells

Atelogu - See you later
Ha’u bá lai - I’m going now
Adeus - Goodbye (formal)
Até amañá - Until tomorrow
Sorti di’ak - Good luck
La’o didi’ak - Have a good trip

Emergency & Safety

Ajuda! - Help!
Ahi! - Fire!
Para! - Stop!
Bolu polisia! - Call the police!
Ha’u presiza ajuda - I need help
Ha’u moras - I’m sick
Ospitál iha ne’ebé? - Where is the hospital?

Conversational Tetun

Getting to Know People

Introductions

Di’ak ka lae? - How are you? (literally “Are you well or not?”)
Ha’u di’ak. Obrigadu/a. Ita mos di’ak? - I’m fine, thanks. And you?
Kleur ona la hetan ita - Long time no see
Ita nia naran saida? - What is your name?
Ha’u nia naran… - My name is…
Laran kontenti tebes atu hasoru malu ho ita - Pleased to meet you

Origins & Background

Ita mai husi rai ida ne’ebé? - Where are you from?
Ha’u hosi… - I’m from…
Ha’u mai husi rai… - I came from…
Ita servisu saida? - What is your job?
Ita iha família boot? - Do you have a big family?
Ita hela iha ne’ebé? - Where do you live?

Language Communication

Language Abilities

Ita bele ko’alia Inglês? - Do you speak English?
Ita bele ko’alia Tetun? - Do you speak Tetun?
Sin, ituan - Yes, a little
Ha’u la hatene ko’alia Tetun - I can’t speak Tetun
Ha’u komprende - I understand
Ha’u la komprende - I do not understand
Lian ida deit la to’o - One language is never enough

Communication Help

(…) iha Tetun dehan saida? - How do you say (…) in Tetun?
Favór ida ko’alia neneik ituan - Please speak more slowly
Favór ida bele dehan fali - Please say that again
Favór ida hakerek - Please write it down
Ha’u bele aprende Tetun ho ita? - Can I learn Tetun with you?

Cultural Context Phrases

Showing Respect

Ha’u respeita ita-nia kultura - I respect your culture
Ha’u hakarak aprende - I want to learn
Ita bele hatudu ha’u? - Can you show me?
Ida ne’e tradisional ka? - Is this traditional?
Ha’u tenki halo saida? - What should I do?

Cultural Participation

Bele partisipa ka? - May I participate?
Ha’u bele ajuda? - Can I help?
Ida ne’e importante tebes - This is very important
Ha’u hakarak komprende - I want to understand
Obrigadu ba ita-nia pasiénsia - Thank you for your patience

Food & Dining

Meal Interactions

Dining Etiquette

Serbida / Han ho gostu - Bon appetit
Ha’u bele han ho ita? - May I eat with you?
Hahán saborozu tebes - The food is very delicious
Obrigadu ba hahán - Thank you for the food
Ha’u bosu ona - I’m full
Saúde! - Cheers!

Dietary Requirements

Ha’u vejetarianu (man) / Ha’u vejetariana (woman) - I am vegetarian
Ha’u la han na’an - I don’t eat meat
Ha’u la han na’an manu - I don’t eat chicken
Ha’u la han ikan - I don’t eat fish
Ha’u iha alerjia kona ba… - I am allergic to…
Ha’u la bele han hahán manas - I can’t eat spicy food

Food Preferences

Ha’u gosta (…) - I like (…)
Ha’u la gosta (…) - I don’t like (…)
Ida ne’e saborozu - This is delicious
Bele hetan hahán tradisional? - Can I get traditional food?
Ita rekomenda saida? - What do you recommend?

Food Vocabulary

Basic Foods

Hare - Rice
Batar - Corn
Ikan - Fish
Na’an - Meat
Manu - Chicken
Karau - Beef
Fahi - Pork
Manutolun - Eggs
Modo - Vegetables
Ai-fuan - Fruits

Drinks

Bee - Water
Kafe - Coffee
Xá - Tea
Tuak - Palm wine
Tua sabraka - Rice wine
Serveja - Beer
Sumu - Juice

Common Questions

Ne’e saida? - What is this?
Sintina iha ne’ebé? - Where is the toilet?
Ha’u bele selu ho osan ka? - Can I pay with money?
Folin hira? - How much does it cost?
Bele hetan tan? - Can I have more?

Basic Directions

Karuk - Left
Loos - Right
Oin - Forward/Ahead
Kotuk - Back/Behind
Leten - Up/Above
Kraik - Down/Below
Klaran - Middle/Center

Location Questions

(…) iha ne’ebé? - Where is (…)?
Merkadu iha ne’ebé? - Where is the market?
Ospitál iha ne’ebé? - Where is the hospital?
Hotél iha ne’ebé? - Where is the hotel?
Praia iha ne’ebé? - Where is the beach?
Igreja iha ne’ebé? - Where is the church?

Distance & Travel

Dook ka lae? - How far is it?
Besik ka lae? - Is it close?
Ita bele ba pe? - Can we walk there?
Presiza transporte? - Do we need transportation?
Dalan di’ak ka? - Is the road good?
Tempu hira ba to’o? - How long to get there?

Getting Help

Ha’u la’o sala tiha dalan - I’m lost
Ita bele hatudu dalan? - Can you show me the way?
Ha’u hakarak ba (…) - I want to go to (…)
Ita bele lori ha’u ba ne’ebá? - Can you take me there?
Obrigadu ba ajuda - Thank you for the help

Shopping & Money

Shopping Phrases

Ida ne’e folin hira? - How much does this cost?
Karun loos! - That’s too expensive!
Ita bele hamenus folin? - Can you reduce the price?
Presu finál hira? - What’s the final price?
Ha’u fó dolar (…) - I will give you (…) dollars
Di’ak, osan mak ne’e - OK, here’s the money
Ha’u bele selu ho kartu? - Can I pay with card?

Market Interactions

Ita iha (…) ka? - Do you have (…)?
Ha’u hakarak sosa (…) - I want to buy (…)
Bele haree deit ka? - Can I just look?
Ida ne’e halo iha ne’ebé? - Where is this made?
Ida ne’e tradisional ka? - Is this traditional?
Kualidade di’ak ka? - Is the quality good?

Bargaining

Folin aas tebes - The price is too high
Ha’u turista, maibé… - I’m a tourist, but…
Presu lokal hira? - What’s the local price?
Ita bele halo deskontu? - Can you give a discount?
Ha’u sosa barak - I’m buying many things
Presu finál ida deit - One final price

Special Occasions & Celebrations

Religious Holidays

Ksolok loron Natal - Merry Christmas
Tinan foun boot - Happy New Year
Feliz Paskua - Happy Easter
Loron Santu nian - Saints’ Day
Semana Santa - Holy Week

National Holidays

Ksolok Loron Independénsia - Happy Independence Day
Loron Kultura nian - Cultural Day
Loron Juventude nian - Youth Day
Loron Konsientiza nian - Consciousness Day

Personal Celebrations

Ksolok Loron Tinan Nian - Happy Birthday
Ksolok Kaben - Congratulations on your wedding
Ksolok gradua - Congratulations on graduation
Moris foun - New birth (congratulations)
Susesu boot - Great success

Time & Calendar

Days of the Week

Segunda - Monday
Tersa - Tuesday
Kuarta - Wednesday
Kinta - Thursday
Sesta - Friday
Sabadu - Saturday
Dumingu - Sunday

Months

Janeiru - January
Fevreiru - February
Marsu - March
Abril - April
Maiu - May
Juñu - June
Jullu - July
Agostu - August
Setembru - September
Otubru - October
Novembru - November
Dezembru - December

Time Expressions

Ohin - Today
Horsa - Yesterday
Amañá - Tomorrow
Tempu ida ne’e - This time
Tempu naruk - Long time
Lalais - Fast/Quick
Neneik - Slow

Numbers & Counting

Basic Numbers (0-10)

Zero - Zero
Ida - One
Rua - Two
Tolu - Three
Haat - Four
Lima - Five
Neen - Six
Hitu - Seven
Walu - Eight
Sia - Nine
Sanulu - Ten

Teens (11-19)

Sanulu-resin-ida - Eleven
Sanulu-resin-rua - Twelve
Sanulu-resin-tolu - Thirteen
Sanulu-resin-haat - Fourteen
Sanulu-resin-lima - Fifteen
Sanulu-resin-neen - Sixteen
Sanulu-resin-hitu - Seventeen
Sanulu-resin-walu - Eighteen
Sanulu-resin-sia - Nineteen

Tens (20-90)

Ruanulu - Twenty
Tolunulu - Thirty
Haatnulu - Forty
Limanulu - Fifty
Neennulu - Sixty
Hitunulu - Seventy
Walunulu - Eighty
Sianulu - Ninety

Large Numbers

Atus ida - One hundred
Atus rua - Two hundred
Rihun ida - One thousand
Rihun lima - Five thousand
Rihun sanulu - Ten thousand
Millaun ida - One million

Ordinal Numbers

Dahuluk - First
Daruak - Second
Datoluk - Third
Dahaak - Fourth
Dahitak - Last

Regional Language Variations

Major Indigenous Languages

Fataluku (Eastern Region)

Speakers: 37,000+ (Lautém)
Basic Greetings: “Inu marana” (Good morning)
Cultural Note: Non-Austronesian language family
Usage: Dominant in Lospalos, Tutuala areas

Mambae (Central Mountains)

Speakers: 131,000+ (Aileu, Ainaro, Manufahi)
Basic Greetings: “Nee kala” (Good day)
Cultural Note: Coffee-growing regions
Usage: Mountain communities, traditional areas

Kemak (Western Region)

Speakers: 80,000+ (Bobonaro, Ermera)
Basic Greetings: “Solae” (Hello)
Cultural Note: Border regions with Indonesia
Usage: Maliana, Ermera areas

Bunak (Western Region)

Speakers: 84,000+ (Bobonaro, Cova Lima)
Basic Greetings: “Maha” (Hello)
Cultural Note: Cross-border with Indonesian West Timor
Usage: Suai, Maliana regions

Makasae (Eastern Region)

Speakers: 70,000+ (Baucau, Lautem, Viqueque)
Basic Greetings: “Mania” (Hello)
Cultural Note: Coastal and mountain communities
Usage: Baucau, Quelicai areas

Local Languages by Family

Austronesian languages (including dialects) Adabe, Atauru, Baikeno, Bekais, Dadu’a, Galoli, Habun, Idalaka, Idaté, Isní, Kairui, Kemak, Lakalai, Lolein, Makuva, Mambae, Mideki, Nanaek, Naueti, Rahesuk, Raklungu, Resuk, Sa’ane, Tetum Prasa, Tetum Terik, Tokodede, Waimaha, Waima’a

Papuan (Trans-New Guinea) languages Bunak, Fataluku, Makalero, Makasae, Oirata

Portuguese Language Context

Colonial Influence

Historical Period: 1515-1975 (460 years)
Current Status: Official language, government, education
Usage: Formal situations, documentation, higher education
Speakers: Approximately 25-30% fluent

Essential Portuguese Phrases

Bom dia - Good morning
Boa tarde - Good afternoon
Boa noite - Good evening/night
Obrigado/a - Thank you
Por favor - Please
Desculpe - Excuse me/Sorry
Não falo português - I don’t speak Portuguese
Fala inglês? - Do you speak English?

Portuguese-Tetun Blend

Many Tetun phrases incorporate Portuguese words:

Bondia (Tetun + Portuguese)
Botarde (Tetun + Portuguese)
Bonoite (Tetun + Portuguese)
Obrigadu/a (Portuguese in Tetun)
Favór (Portuguese in Tetun)

Communication Cultural Context

Linguistic Hierarchy

Formal Situations: Portuguese preferred
Government/Business: Portuguese required
Education: Portuguese instruction
Daily Life: Tetun dominant
Traditional Ceremonies: Local languages
Tourism: English increasingly used

Regional Communication Patterns

Dili (Capital)

Tetun: Universal communication
Portuguese: Government, business, education
English: Tourism, international business
Indonesian: Older population

Rural Areas

Local language: Primary communication
Tetun: Inter-community communication
Portuguese: Limited to formal situations
Indonesian: Older generation

Border Regions

Indonesian: Cross-border communication
Local languages: Shared with Indonesia
Tetun: National communication
Portuguese: Official matters

Age-Based Language Patterns

Older Generation (50+)

Indonesian: Education language during occupation
Local languages: Childhood and community
Tetun: Post-independence communication
Portuguese: Limited formal education

Middle Generation (30-50)

Indonesian: School education
Tetun: Independence movement
Local languages: Family communication
Portuguese: Post-independence learning
English: International exposure

Younger Generation (Under 30)

Tetun: Primary communication
Portuguese: School instruction
English: International communication
Local languages: Family heritage
Indonesian: Understanding only

Practical Communication Tips

Language Strategy for Travelers

Priority Learning Order

Essential Tetun: Greetings, basic needs, politeness
Key Portuguese: Formal situations, documentation
Local Phrases: Region-specific basic greetings
English Backup: International communication

Cultural Communication Guidelines

Respectful Approach

Always attempt local language first
Show appreciation for language teaching
Be patient with communication barriers
Use gestures and visual aids when needed
Acknowledge multiple language heritage

Conversation Starters

Ask about local language names
Show interest in language learning
Discuss language preservation
Ask about family languages
Inquire about regional variations

Non-Verbal Communication

Important Gestures

Handshaking: Standard greeting
Head nodding: Agreement and respect
Open palms: Peaceful intentions
Covering heart: Sincerity
Bowing slightly: Respect to elders

Gestures to Avoid

Pointing with finger: Use open hand
Foot pointing: Disrespectful
Loud voices: Considered rude
Interrupting: Wait for speaking turns
Back turning: Show attention when spoken to

Language Learning Resources

Courses and dictionaries

Australian National University (ANU): Tetum 1 (TETM1002) and Tetum 2 (TETM1003) are university courses taught fully online
Dili Institute of Technology (DIT): free interactive Tetun-English dictionary (over 11,600 Tetun headwords) and learning materials at tetundit.tl
Instituto Nacional de Linguística (INL): the official authority for standard Tetum spelling, used in this guide

Learning in Timor-Leste

DIT, Dili: has run Tetun courses in Dili; check current course dates with DIT
Everyday practice: homestays, guides and markets are the best places to use your phrases
More phrases, pronunciation tips and where to study: Tetum language: essential phrases

Pronunciation Guide

Tetun Pronunciation Rules

Vowels: Similar to Spanish/Italian
’: Glottal stop (brief pause)
Stress: Usually on penultimate syllable
Consonants: Generally soft pronunciation

Common Pronunciation

Timor-Leste: TEE-mor LESH-teh
Tetun: TEH-toon
Dili: DEE-lee
Obrigadu: oh-bree-GAH-doo
Bondia: bone-DEE-ah

Frequently asked questions

Why do they speak Portuguese in Timor-Leste?

Because of history and a deliberate choice at independence. Portugal ruled the territory for more than four centuries, until 1975, and Portuguese was the language of its administration. When independence was restored in 2002, Section 13 of the Constitution made Portuguese and Tetum the two official languages, while Section 159 made Indonesian and English working languages. Today Portuguese is used in law, government and education, and Tetum, the everyday language, has absorbed many Portuguese words, such as bondia (good morning) and obrigadu (thank you). Read more in our history of Timor-Leste.

Sources

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (English), Government of Timor-Leste: Section 13 (official languages) and Section 159 (working languages)
Government Decree 1/2004 on the standard orthography of Tetum, Jornal da República: INL orthography, Tetun Ofisiál based on Tetun-Prasa
Instituto Nacional de Linguística, The Standard Orthography of the Tetum Language (2004): spelling used in the phrase lists
Australian National University, Tetum 1 (TETM1002) and Tetum 2 (TETM1003): online courses
Dili Institute of Technology, Tetun-English interactive dictionary announcement (2019): free dictionary, 11,600+ headwords