Tetum (also spelled Tetun) is Timor-Leste’s national language and, with Portuguese, one of its two official languages. The words travellers use most are bondia (good morning), obrigadu / obrigada (thank you), favór ida (please), kolisensa (excuse me) and folin hira? (how much?).
Tetum is a Malayo-Polynesian language. Even a handful of phrases will go a long way, because Timorese people genuinely appreciate visitors who make the effort. Start with this one:
Ha’u hadomi o: I love you
Because Portuguese is the other official language, if you have spent time in Portugal, Brazil, or any Portuguese-speaking country, you already have a head start. There are also around 31 other local languages spoken across the country.
What is Tetum?
- Official status. Section 13 of the Constitution says Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages of Timor-Leste, and that Tetum and the other national languages “shall be valued and developed by the State”. Section 159 makes Indonesian and English working languages in the civil service “as long as deemed necessary”.
- Tetun-Prasa and Tetun-Terik. Tetun-Prasa (Tetum-Praça, “market Tetum”) is the lingua franca you will hear in Dili and around the country. Tetun-Terik is the older, more traditional rural variety. Government Decree 1/2004 defines official Tetum (Tetun Ofisiál) as a modern literary form of the most common vernacular, based on Tetun-Prasa, while regional varieties are protected as national languages.
- Portuguese loanwords. Centuries of contact left Tetum full of Portuguese words: bondia (bom dia), obrigadu (obrigado), eskola (escola), ospitál (hospital). Academic studies of Tetum texts found that about 32% (newspaper articles) to 35% (interview transcripts) of words are Portuguese loans.
- Latin alphabet, official spelling. Tetum is written in the Latin alphabet. The standard spelling was developed by the Instituto Nacional de Linguística (INL) of the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e and given force of law by Decree 1/2004. It must be used in schools, official publications and the media, and the INL is its “scientific guardian”.
- Tetum or Tetun? Both spellings are correct. Tetun is how the language writes its own name and what the official tourism site uses; Tetum is the older Portuguese-based spelling, still common in English.
How to pronounce Tetum
INL spelling is phonemic, so words are pronounced the way they are written. A few letters work differently from English:
| Spelling | How to say it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a, e, i, o, u | Five pure vowels, as in Spanish or Italian | lima (five) |
| Double vowels (aa, ee, oo…) | Hold the vowel longer; doubling changes meaning | bee (water) vs bé (the letter b), siin (sour) vs sin (yes) |
| ’ (apostrophe) | A glottal stop, the catch in “uh-oh”; some Dili speakers drop it | ha’u (I), di’ak (good), ko’alia (speak) |
| h | Always pronounced, unlike in Portuguese | hitu (seven), hira (how many) |
| x | ”sh” as in shop | xá (tea) |
| j | ”s” as in measure | Juñu (June) |
| ñ | ”ny” as in canyon (replaces Portuguese nh) | Juñu (June) |
| ll | ”lli” as in million (replaces Portuguese lh) | Jullu (July) |
| r / rr | r is a light tap; rr is a stronger rolled r | rua (two) |
| Stress and accents | Stress normally falls on the second-to-last syllable; an acute accent marks words that break the rule | favór, otél, nasionál |
You will also see a second spelling convention in Dili. The Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) teaching standard writes nh and lh where INL writes ñ and ll (for example milhaun vs millaun, “million”). This guide uses INL spelling.
Most-searched Tetum phrases
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Bondia | Good morning (the most common greeting) |
| Elo | Hello (informal) |
| Obrigadu (said by men) / Obrigada (said by women) | Thank you |
| Obrigadu barak / Obrigada barak | Thank you very much |
| Favór ida | Please |
| Kolisensa | Excuse me |
| Deskulpa | Sorry |
| Di’ak ka lae? | How are you? |
| Folin hira? | How much? |
| Sin / Lae | Yes / No |
| Atelogu | See you later |
| (…) iha Tetun dehan saida? | How do you say (…) in Tetum? |
Thank you follows the Portuguese pattern: the ending matches the speaker, so men usually say obrigadu and women obrigada. Grammatical gender is only optional in Tetum, so you will hear both used loosely and no one will mind.
Basic Greetings
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Elo | Hello |
| Ksolok Bodik Mai / Bemvindu | Welcome |
| Bondia / Dader di’ak | Good morning |
| Botarde / Lorokraik di’ak | Good afternoon |
| Bonoite / Kalan di’ak | Good evening / Good night |
| Atelogu | See you later |
| Sorti di’ak ba loron ohin | Have a nice day |
| Ha’u bá lai / Adeus / Até amañá | Goodbye |
| La’o didi’ak / Boa Viajem | Bon voyage |
| Sorti di’ak / Boasorte | Good luck |
| Sin | Yes |
| Lae | No |
Everyday Conversation
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Obrigadu barak (male) / Obrigada barak (female) | Thank you very much |
| Favór ida | Please |
| Deskulpa | I’m sorry |
| Kolisensa | Excuse me |
| Di’ak ka lae? | How are you? (lit. “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 … |
| Ita mai husi rai ida ne’ebé? | Where are you from? |
| Ha’u hosi … | I’m from … |
| Laran kontenti tebes atu hasoru malu ho ita | Pleased to meet you |
Language Help
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Ita, bele ko’alia Inglês? | Do you speak English? |
| Ita, bele ko’alia Tetun? | Do you speak Tetum? |
| Sin, ituan | Yes, a little |
| Ha’u la hatene ko’alia Tetun | I can’t speak Tetum |
| Ha’u komprende | I understand |
| Ha’u la komprende | I do not understand |
| 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 |
| (…) iha Tetun dehan saida? | How do you say (…) in Tetum? |
Emergencies
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Ajuda! | Help! |
| Ahi! | Fire! |
| Para! | Stop! |
| Bolu polisia! | Call the police! |
| Klínika iha ne’ebé? | Where is the clinic? |
| Di’ak lalais | Get well soon |
| Sai tiha husi ne’e! | Leave me alone! |
Dining
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Serbida / Han ho gostu | Bon appétit |
| Ha’u vejetarianu/a | I am vegetarian |
| Ha’u gosta (…) | I like (…) |
| 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 aimusan | I am allergic to nuts |
| Ha’u iha alerjia kona ba hahán hosi tasi | I am allergic to seafood |
| Ha’u iha alerjia kona ba manutolun | I am allergic to eggs |
| Sintina iha ne’ebé? | Where is the toilet? |
| Saúde! | Cheers! |
| Senhor/Senhora ne’e mak sei selu buat hotu-hotu | This gentleman/lady will pay for everything |
Directions
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Karuk | Left |
| Loos | Right |
| Ita bá ne’ebé? | Where are you going? |
| Dook ka lae? | How far is it? |
| Iha liman karuk/loos ka? | Is it on the left/right? |
| (…) iha ne’ebé? | Where is (…)? |
| Ha’u la’o sala tiha dalan | I’m lost |
Shopping
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Ida ne’e folin hira? | How much does this cost? |
| Karun loos! | That’s too expensive! |
| Ha’u fó dolar (number) | I will give you (number) dollars |
| Di’ak, osan mak ne’e | OK, here’s the money |
Special Occasions
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Ksolok loron natal nian no Boas entradas! | Merry Christmas and Happy New Year |
| Feliz Paskua | Happy Easter |
| Ksolok Loron Tinan Nian | Happy Birthday |
| Ita hakarak dansa ho ha’u? | Would you like to dance with me? |
Days of the Week
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Segunda | Monday |
| Tersa | Tuesday |
| Kuarta | Wednesday |
| Kinta | Thursday |
| Sesta | Friday |
| Sabadu | Saturday |
| Dumingu | Sunday |
Months
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| Janeiru | January |
| Fevreiru | February |
| Marsu | March |
| Abril | April |
| Maiu | May |
| Juñu | June |
| Jullu | July |
| Agostu | August |
| Setembru | September |
| Otubru | October |
| Novembru | November |
| Dezembru | December |
Numbers
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| ida | 1 |
| rua | 2 |
| tolu | 3 |
| haat | 4 |
| lima | 5 |
| neen | 6 |
| hitu | 7 |
| walu | 8 |
| sia | 9 |
| sanulu | 10 |
| sanulu-resin-ida | 11 |
| ruanulu | 20 |
| tolunulu | 30 |
| atus ida | 100 |
| rihun ida | 1,000 |
Portuguese vs Tetum in daily life
- Tetum is the everyday language. It is what you will hear in markets, on microlets and between friends, and the national media mainly use it. The official tourism site recommends simple Tetum greetings such as bondia and obrigadu.
- Portuguese is the language of law and formal life. Laws in the official gazette (Jornal da República) are published in Portuguese, and Decree 1/2004 gives Tetum and Portuguese priority on public signs, so expect bilingual signage.
- Indonesian and English are working languages. Indonesian is widely understood. English is spoken at hotels and by tour operators in Dili but is less common in rural areas.
- Mixing is normal. Because so much Tetum vocabulary comes from Portuguese, days of the week, months and many everyday words will look familiar to Portuguese and Spanish speakers. Away from Dili, many people’s first language is a local language rather than Tetum, so a few Tetum words and a smile work better than long sentences.
Where to learn Tetum
- Australian National University (ANU): Tetum 1 (TETM1002, beginner) and Tetum 2 (TETM1003, advanced-beginner) are university courses taught 100% online. Prescribed texts include Mai Aprende Tetum ho Ha’u (Adelaide Lopes) and the DIT Word-Finder.
- Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), Dili: the DIT Tetun department publishes a free interactive Tetun-English dictionary (over 11,600 Tetun headwords) and other learning materials at tetundit.tl, and has run Tetun courses in Dili. Check current course dates with DIT.
- Instituto Nacional de Linguística (INL), UNTL: the official authority for standard Tetum spelling. Its 2004 English paper The Standard Orthography of the Tetum Language explains the alphabet and spelling rules.
- Reference dictionary: Geoffrey Hull’s Standard Tetum-English Dictionary (1999) is the classic printed reference behind much of today’s standard spelling.
For longer conversations on the road, the official tourism site suggests a free online Tetun translator. Treat machine translation as a helper, not a substitute for a few memorised phrases.
Languages of Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is remarkably linguistically diverse. Beyond Tetum and Portuguese, the country has around 31 local languages, including: Adabe, Atauru, Baikeno, Bekais, Bunak, Fataluku, Galoli, Kemak, Makalero, Makasae, Mambai, Naueti, Tokodede, and Waimaha, among others.
Tetum itself has two main forms: Tetum Prasa (the urban, more widely spoken variety) and Tetum Terik (the more traditional inland form). The phrases above are in Tetum Prasa, which you will hear most in Dili and tourist areas.
Frequently asked questions
Is it Tetum or Tetun language?
Both names refer to the same language. Tetun is the spelling the language uses for itself and the one used by Timor-Leste’s official tourism site, while Tetum is the older Portuguese-influenced spelling that is still common in English. The official standard variety is called Tetun Ofisiál.
How do you say hello in Tetum?
The most common greetings depend on the time of day: bondia (good morning), botarde (good afternoon) and bonoite (good evening). Elo is a casual “hello”. With older people or officials, a time-of-day greeting is more polite.
How do you say thank you in Tetum?
Say obrigadu if you are a man or obrigada if you are a woman; add barak for “thank you very much” (obrigadu barak). The word comes from Portuguese obrigado/obrigada, and both forms are widely understood.
How do you say “how much” in Tetum?
Ask Folin hira? (“How much?”) or Ida ne’e folin hira? (“How much does this cost?”). Timor-Leste uses the US dollar, so you can say a price as dolar plus a number, for example Ha’u fó dolar lima (“I’ll give you five dollars”).
Is Tetum hard to learn?
Tetum is one of the more approachable languages for English speakers to start: it uses the Latin alphabet, the official spelling is phonemic (words are read as written), and roughly a third of everyday vocabulary in written texts comes from Portuguese. Australian National University’s two online courses take beginners to an advanced-beginner level, and a few greetings can be learned in an afternoon.
Do people in Timor-Leste speak Portuguese or English?
Portuguese is an official language and is used in law and government, but Tetum is what most people speak day to day. Indonesian is widely understood, and English is spoken in Dili hotels and by tour operators but less in rural areas.
Related Guides
- Languages of Timor-Leste: Tetum, Portuguese & More
- East Timor or Timor-Leste? The Country’s Name Explained
Sources
- Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (English), Government of Timor-Leste: Section 13 (official and national 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, use in education, official publications, media and signage
- Instituto Nacional de Linguística, The Standard Orthography of the Tetum Language (2004): vowels, glottal stop, x, j, ñ, ll, accents, double vowels, sin “yes”
- Timor-Leste official tourism site, Plan your trip: languages spoken, English in Dili, suggested greetings
- Gabriel de Jesus, Text Information Retrieval in Tetun: A Preliminary Study (2022): Portuguese loanword shares (32% and 35%), INL and DIT spelling standards, Tetum in the media
- Hajek and Williams-van Klinken, Language contact and gender in Tetun Dili (2019), University of Melbourne: optional gender agreement in Portuguese loans
- Australian National University, Tetum 1 (TETM1002) and Tetum 2 (TETM1003): online courses and prescribed texts
- Dili Institute of Technology, Tetun-English interactive dictionary announcement (2019): free dictionary, 11,600+ headwords