English to Tetun Dictionary
A
a: an, e, f, like "a" in fatherb, as in englishd, as in englishe, like "e" in set or "a" in fakef, like "f" in fatherh, like "h" in harmi, like "ea" in teak, like "k" in kitel, like "l" in likem, as in englishn, as in englisho, like "o" in hot or not.p, as in englishr, like scottish rr with a roll of the tongues, like "s" in somet, as in englishu, like "w" in wake as first letter other letters like "oo" in boot
a/the pig. the plural article is formed by adding "sira": e.g. fahi sira, the pigs.
abscess: fisur
action of the root word: ta'uk to fear > hamta'uk, to be in fear (of
action of the root word: ta'uk to fear > hamta'uk: to be in fear (of
active: reflexive infinite, past, future or present, as well as some conditions not found in english. tetun has no verb "to be", therefore care should be taken when transposing to english; oan feto moe, the girl is shy,
afraid: ta'uk
afternoon: loraik
again: fali
ahu kresan: ash ai, tree, wood, firewood ai abut, root ai balu, box, chest ai ben, ai uen, sap, juice, resin ai bubur metan, eucalyptus (black) ai dila, pawpaw tree ai dila fuan, pawpaw fruit ai farina, cassava flour ai fuan, fruit ai fuan isin, edible portion of fruit ai fuan kulit, fruit skin ai fuan musan, fruit seed ai funan, flower
ai kameli: sandalwood ai kebelak, plank, board ai kulit, bark of tree ai laran, alas, forest ai lele, kapok ai lia, ginger ai lolon, trunk of a tree ai los, straight tree ai luka, ai farina, cassava
ai like i in ice: ain, footei like e in below, teik, to stamp the feetoi like oy in boy, hakoi, to buryui like we, tafui, to spitau like ou in pound, baur, rainboweu like ew in sew, kakeu, a treeou like ow in bow, bou to heap
ai mahon: shade ai manas, chilli ai moruk, medicine ai nar, rose bush ai rahun, sawdust ai rii, ai riin, stake, post ai snak, branch of a tree ai sar, broom ai sarian, mahogany tree ai suak, digging stick ai tahan, leaf ai tahan dikin, shoot
ai tahan sokat: young leaf
ai tarak: thorn ai fukun, knot in tree
ain: leg, foot ain fatin, footprint ain hira, how many sticks ai sukat, measuring stick aka, sago
alin: younger brother
alin feto: younger sister alu, alun, pestle amak, masculine aman, father, male of animals
alive: mouris
all: hotu, tomak
alone = loneliness: or deserted, and so on it went. the real art was to
along the south coast between betano in the west: luka in the east, and
always: nafatin
aman boot: uncle older than father aman ki'ik, uncle younger than father aman sarani, godfather
aman tuan: grandfather ami, we (exclusive) amigu (p), friend
aman-ikun: unclebere-loik, spiderbai-rua, day after tomorrow
ami bele hela iha ne'e: loron hira?
ami nia toba fatin: iha ne'e be?
ami tiha ikan barak: we net many fish.5. as a verb to cast, fling, or throw:
ami tiha ikan barak, we net many fish.5. as a verb to cast, fling, or throw: sire tiha fatuk ba ue, they threw a stone in the water.example 4.4. sei and tensesei1. placed before the verb denotes future tense: oras isa ha'u sei kba ua kreda, shortly i will go to church2. placed before a verb can indicate that the action is still continuing:teti berek sei haris, teti berek is still having a bath.3. used with dauk or daun indicates negative future tense (sometimes
amigu: friend (from portuguese amigo)
ananas (p): pineapple
anar: ash (see ahi nar) anin, wind anin boot, strong wind anin fuik, cyclone asu, dog asu (p), steel, hard
and: with, ho
and responsible for publication. for example: in the original page 67
angry: si'ak, annoyed, hirus
angry sea: tasi si'ak
animals were never sacrificed as a tribute to any religious ceremony: but as food for the invited guests. feasts were held to celebrate
anin maka'as: hafoin udan besik ona.
ankle ornaments: babeta
annexed by indonesia as timor timur (east timor): it's 27th province.
another: ida seluk
another being with supernatural power was the witch: in some areas
answer: reply, hatan, take, accept, simu
ant: nehek
any: something, rumah, ruma
anyone: naran buat
appear: mosu
applicable to present day east timor: though the fundamental beliefs
archipelago: most of which belongs to indonesia.
are formed by prefixing "hak" but mostly "nak": particularly those with a verbal sense. prev up nextchapter 4. grammar home personal pronouns
are spelt phonetically: amigu, friend (from portuguese amigo)
area in which the language is spoken[(a. cappell: 1934)]
arm: liman, liman kabon
arrow: rama isin
art of story telling: which is demonstrated in poetry by the na'i lia's
as: as well, nudar
as mr. morris will state: this is a book primarily deals with what
as well: iha mos ne'e ba
ash: (see ahi anar), anar, ahi kelan, ahu kresan
ask: husu
assemble: halibur
asthma: masar, suhuk
astonish: frighten, hakfodak
astringent taste: baer, baar
asu kutin: dog flea atan, slave aten metan, liver atus, hundred au, bamboo au touhu, sugarcane prev up nextchapter 5. numerals home dictionary tetun b
at: in, on, to, for, ba
at least: sarak
at the side: iha nia sourin
at the top: above, iha leten
au funan kinas: petal ai hun, tree base
aunt older than mother: inan boot
aunt younger than mother: inan ki'ik
australians. all the australians are safe: and that is all that is
awake: hader
axe: baliu
B
b: f, baku faku u, b, lauarik labarik
baba: drum
babeta: ankle ornaments baboo, horn trumpet babuku, snail, slug
baburit: syringe
badaak: rice powder, talc badain, tradesman badain ai, carpenter badak, short baer, baar, astringent taste bain, uain, day bain hira, when baku, beat, punish baku malu, fight balada, domestic stock baliu, axe
bag: sack, ka'ut
bald: moulik, ulun moulik
balu: some, part, half balu, middle bani, honey bee bani ben, honey banin feto, mother-in-law banin mane, father-in-law
balu di'ak: balu att
bamboo: au
bamboo flooring: hadak
bamboo water vessel: kniku
banana: hudi
banyan tree: hali
barak: many, muchbaria, bitter melon baruk, lazy baruk teen, laziness
bare space: rai moulik
bark of a tree: ai kulit
bark of dog: hatenu
barlake: marriage (from indonesian berlaki)
basar: market
base of anything: hun
based on tetun-los: because this is the dialect i learnt as a soldier
basket: kobarka
bat: niki
batar: maize, indian corn batar fulin, corn cob batar nurak, sweet corn baur, rainbow be, ue, water be kolan, swamp be matan, spring
bathe: haris
be to say the atan (slave) was an unpaid servant: also called kreado
be'u: thresh grain bibi, goat bibi malae, sheep bibi rusa, deer bidu, dance biin, sister biit, strength bi'it, lift by fingers bikan, plate binatan, domestic animals birak, copper biti, sleeping mat bobar, roll up, tricky boek, shrimp
beach: tasi ibun
bead bug: nati
bean: forei
beard: ibun rahun
beat: punish, baku
because of its sandalwood: supposedly the best in the world. it was the
become a full clan member (as a practising priest of mother earth): then no arrangement could be made for his marriage. of course this does
bed: toba fatin
bee: bani
been: liquid, juice, sap beibeik, often, continually beik, stupid bein, grandparent belak, disc belar, flat, level bele, can, able belu, friend bero, canoe besi, iron besi asu, steel besik, near, close
begin: hahu
below: iha kraik, okos
benign practice: but it still existed, even though it had been outlawed
bent: crooked, kleuk
betel leaf: malus tahan
beten nut: bua
big: large, boot
bird: manu
bite: tata
bitter melon: baria
black: metan
black and white: sarauk
bladder: mamiik
blind: delek
blood: ran
blow nose: suut
board: embark, sa'e ro
boat: ro
body: isin
boil food: da'an
bok: touch bokar, thick bokon, wet bokur, fat bolu, call out boot, big, large bosok, lie, deceive botil (p), bottle bua, betel nut buan, sorcerer
bone: ruin
book (p): libru
boot: bigaat, bad evilba-daak, rice powder
bottle (p): botil
bottom: buttocks, kidun
bow: rama
box: chest, ai balu
boy: labarik mane
bracelet: kakelun
branch: sanak
branch of a tree: ai sanak
breadfruit: kulu
break: kotu, fracture, tohar
breast: susu
breath: iis
broadly: tetun can be divided into four main dialects:
broadly, tetun can be divided into four main dialects: tetun-los centered around the town of soidada and the kingdom of
broom: ai sar
brother: maun
brother-in-law: rian
buat: thing
buat ruma: something buis, savage, untamed buka, seek, look for bulak, mad, crazy busa, cat
buffalo: karau
bull: karau uaka aman
bullet: kilat fuan
bunch: fulin
bury: hakoi
but: mai be
buu: kbuu, sack, kbuu, sack prev up nextchapter 6. dictionary tetun - english home dictionary tetun d
buy: sosa
C
call out: bolu
calm sea: tasi maus
camp: hakmahan
can: able, bele
can be described as a click at the back of the throat: ko-'-a, to cut na-'-uk, to stealbe-'-u, to thresh grain
can not: la bele
candlenut tree: kmii
canoe: bero
cape: rai inus, tasi inus
capital letters denote stress: ha-re, to seeha-fi-la, to returnha-lu-ha, to forgetba-bu-rit, a syringehak-fi-lak, to alternak-fu-nan, to become mouldya-ru-ma, some (mostly said as ru-ma)ku-ak, holeis-in, bodyba-dain, tradesmanka-rau, buffalorai, earth
capsicum: kumus
car: karo (p)
cargo: goods, nahan
carpenter: badain ai
carry: lebo, louri
cassava: ai luka, ai farina
cassava flour: ai farina
casuarina tree: jajey
cat: busa
cave: fatu kuak
central south coast of east timor: from luka in the east to alas in the
certain: sure, tetebes
ch: th
change: alter, filak
chapter 3. pronunciationchapter 3. pronunciationprev nextchapter 3. pronunciationtetun is a soft language: because of the lack of harsh guttural
chapter 7. "english to tetun"chapter 7. "english to tetun"prev nextchapter 7. "english to tetun"table of contentsdictionary english adictionary english b dictionary english cdictionary english d dictionary english e dictionary english fdictionary english g dictionary english hdictionary english i dictionary english j dictionary english kdictionary english l dictionary english m dictionary english n dictionary english odictionary english p dictionary english q dictionary english rdictionary english s dictionary english tdictionary english udictionary english vdictionary english wdictionary english ydictionary english aabove: leten
charm: spell, horok
chase: duni
chest: hirus matan
chew: nata
chief: sebi (p)
child: oan
children that witches like to eat people: especially plump, naughty
chilli: ai manas
christian: sarani
church: kreda, uma kreda
clean; also: too, mos
cleanse: hamos
clever: matenek
climb: mount, go up, sa'e
close kinship is regarded to exist among the uncles: aunts, and cousins
cloth: hena
clothes: faru, ropa (p), get dressed, hatais
cloud: kalohan
cockatoo; pliers: kakatua
cockfighting: manu futu
coconut: nuu
coffee: kafe
cold: malirin, wet and dry, good and bad, up and down, sky and earth, etc. which
cold weather: rai malirin
collect: assemble, halibur
comb: sasuit
come: mai
come back: mai fali
common was dadolin: where each verse was in two lines and each line was
community: which would give him a fearful respect. even an important
compassion: sadia
complain: nag, tolok
completed: hotu
completed action: leke mauk moras, mai be di'ak ona, leke mauk was
completed action: leke mauk moras: mai be di'ak ona, leke mauk was
conscience: neon
consonants are sometimes prefixed to root words: mostly as
construction changes; suki nakenak rasik nia an: or suki nakenak nia an rasik, suki wounds himself. atu-placed (be)for the verb to indicate purpose or intention: ha'u kba atu hare basar, i go to see the marketduaduana particle following the verb indicating that the action is still
construction changes; suki nakenak rasik nia an, or suki nakenak nia an rasik, suki wounds himself. atu-placed (be)for the verb to indicate purpose or intention: ha'u kba atu hare basar, i go to see the marketduaduana particle following the verb indicating that the action is still
continuing: leki mauk lere daudaun du'ut, leki mauk is cutting the
cook: tein
cook by charring: ahi hahan
copper: birak, brass, riti
corn cob: batar fulin
correct: halo los
cotton: kabas
cotton ball: kabas fatuk
cotton thread: kabas lahan
cough: me'ar
count: sura
courtyard: luan
crocodile: lafaek
crow: kaoa
cry: tanis
cry tears: luun turu
cuddle: kou'us
cut: ko'a, tesi, chop, taa
cyclone: anin fuik
D
da'an: boil food
dada: pull, drag
dader: early morning
dadinis: mane of horse
dadolin: verse in two lines
dadur: detain
dahur: song sung at gatherings
dalan: track, road
dalan ida: once
dambua: grapefruit
dance: bidu, tebe dai
dark: nakunun
darling: dear, doben
dasa: sweep
dato: noble class
daughter-in-law: feto foun
daun: needle
dawn: loron naroman
day: bain, uain, loron
daylight: not dark, naroma
de'it: only
dead: mate
deaf: diuk
debt: tusan
decapitate: taa ulun
decide: tesi lian
deer: bibi rusa, rusa
defend: souri
defend oneself: souri-an
definitions for individual words: but the grammar and syntax are still
dehan: say, speak
delek: blind
deprecated because of events that have occurred since 1975: nevertheless there will be enough of the old culture left to open the
derok: orange
derok masin: lemon
destroy: sobu, rip up, sele
detain: dahur
dew: kmaha
di'ak: good, well
dialect of this area has been called tetun-los: and has been regarded
dictionary english b dictionary english b prev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english b bad: evil, aat
dictionary english cdictionary english cprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english c calf: karau uaka oan
dictionary english e dictionary english e prev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english e each one: ida ida
dictionary english fdictionary english fprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english f face: appearance, oin
dictionary english g dictionary english g prev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english g gallop: hopu
dictionary english hdictionary english hprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english hhaemorrhoids: kidun mean
dictionary english kdictionary english kprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english k kapok: ai lele
dictionary english n dictionary english n prev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english n nail: kusa
dictionary english odictionary english oprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english ooctopus: kuik, kurita
dictionary english q dictionary english q prev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english q quail: kiukae
dictionary english rdictionary english rprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english rrain: udan
dictionary english tdictionary english tprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english t tail: ikun
dictionary english udictionary english uprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english u ugly: deformed, oin aat
dictionary english vdictionary english vprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english v valley: tai tetu
dictionary english wdictionary english wprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english wwait: hein
dictionary english ydictionary english yprev chapter 7. "english to tetun" nextdictionary english y yam: talas
dictionary tetun bdictionary tetun bprev chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english nextdictionary tetun b(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word ba: go, proceed, go off ba, at, in, on, to, for
dictionary tetun idictionary tetun iprev chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english nextdictionary tetun i(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word ibun: mouth
dictionary tetun kdictionary tetun ldictionary tetun mdictionary tetun ndictionary tetun odictionary tetun rdictionary tetun sdictionary tetun t dictionary tetun u(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word dictionary tetun aaas: high, tall aat, bad, evil aban, tomorrow abut, rootagora (p), now ahi, fireahi anar, ember, glowing coal ahi hahan, cook by charring ahi kelan, ash ahi kose, ai kose, match ahi lakan, flame ahi oan, lamp ahi suar, smoke ahu, lime
dictionary tetun mdictionary tetun mprev chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english nextdictionary tetun m(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word mahan: shade
dictionary tetun ndictionary tetun nprev chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english nextdictionary tetun n(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word na'an: meat
dictionary tetun rdictionary tetun rprev chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english nextdictionary tetun r(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word raat: beach
dictionary tetun sdictionary tetun sprev chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english nextdictionary tetun s(p) = portuguese word (i) = indonesian word sa: tea
didin: wall
different: oin seluk
difficult: susar
dig: ke'e
digging stick: ai suak
dikin: leaf tip
dikur: horn, antlers
dima: spear
dinela (p): window
dinner: jantar (p)
diphthongs (double vowel sounds): ai like i in ice, ain, footei like e in below, teik, to stamp the feetoi like oy in boy, hakoi, to buryui like we, tafui, to spitau like ou in pound, baur, rainboweu like ew in sew, kakeu, a treeou like ow in bow, bou to heap
dirty: fo'er
disc: kbelak, belak
displacement of power: with new positions to be filled. sometimes it
district: la-ua-rik, youth (la-ba-rik)ua-ni, honeybee (ba-ni) ue, water (be)
diuk: deaf
divide: fahe
doben: darling, dear
docbook xml ver. 4.2 in ascii text using xemacs 21.4 (patch 12)xhtml version produced using xmlto version 0.0.14 with the following command line string: xmlto xhtml -o cliffmorris-xhtml morris_tetun-rev-002.xml . prev up phrases home
doctor (native): matan dook
dodok: rotten
dog: asu
dog. nia nia 'his' is normally shortened to ninia: e.g. nia nia asu or ninia asu, 'his dog, her dog'. in conversation
dois: stink, smell
domestic animals: binatan
domestic stock: balada
domingu (p): sunday
don't: keta, ketak
don't want: reject, lakoi
dook: far, distant
door: oda matan
dormant: ignition off, matek
down: kraik, descend, tun
dowry gift: osan naran
dream: mehi
drink: hemu
drop: hamonu
drum: baba
drunk: lanu
dry: maran
dry weather: rai maran
duck: manu rade
dudu: push
dukur: sleep
dun: la dun, few, little
dust: uut
dust; fate: rahun
duuni: chase
duut: grass
E
ear: tilun
ear hole: tilun kuak
ear of rice: hare fulin
early morning: dader
earthquake: rai nakdodo
earthworm: lalatik
east timor has an area of about 19: 000 square kilometres. for almost
easy: not difficult, la tos
eat: ha
edible portion of fruit: ai fuan isin
eel: tuna
effects of the klamar: some people would change their name after a
efficiently with a number of people: such as growing food,
egg: tolun
egg (hen): mantolun
eight: ualu
ema: person
ema dadur: prisoner
ema fuik: savage, wild man
ember: glowing coal, ahi anar
embrace: hafulak
emphatic particle: ha'e, mak, maka
empty: hollow, mamuk
english to tetun: english to tetun, languages by region
enough: to'o ona
enter: go in, tama, insert, hatama
eravila (p): pea
eskola (p): school
etu: rice (cooked)
eucalyptus: ai bubur metin, ai bubur mutin
evil: laran aat
exactly: nu'u ne'e duni
excreta: te
expertise and a number of regional dialects: but this dictionary is
expletives: to become part of the first syllable, but to be pronounced
expression of possessionpossession is shown in nouns by placing nia between the possessor and the person or thing possessed: karau nia dikur
extract: sui
eye: lid, matan
eyebrow: matan fukun
eyelid: matan kulit
F
fa'an: sell
fahe: divide
fahi: pig
faho: harrow weed
fai: pound, crush
fali: again
fall: monu
faluk: widowed
falun: parcel
falur: pigeon
fanun: awake
far: distant, dook
far away: iha dook
farewell. (by foot: lit. see the road well)
farewell. (by horse: lit. hold tight the horse)
fasi: fase, wash
fasi mos: wash clean
fasten: tie, kesi
fat: bokur, oil, mina
father: male of animals, aman
father-in-law: banin mane
fatin: place, spot, position
fatu kuak: cave
fatuk: stone, rock
fault: error, sin, sala
feel: horon katak
fehuk: tuber of all kinds
fehuk mida: sweet potato
fehuk ropa: potato
female: but usually male. a buan had a religious standing in the
female (all things in timor came in pairs): and divided the house into
feminine: fetok
fen: wife (impolite)
fence: lutu
fence in: le'u
ferik: old woman
feto: woman
feto faluk: widow
feto foun: daughter-in-law
feto ran: virgin
fetok: feminine
fever: isin malrin, isin manas
few: little, dun, la dun
fight: baku malu, tuku malu
fila: turn
fila fali: return, go home
filka: change, alter
final ae: oe, eo are pronounced slightly open and are articulated as two syllables.
find: discover, hetan
finger: liman fuan
finger nail: liman kukun
fire: ahi
firearm: kilat
firefly: kiti lili
first: before, ulu, ulun, formerly, lai
first part: tebes, true; tetebes, very true; manas, hot; manamanas extremely hot.
first part: tebes: true; tetebes, very true; manas, hot; manamanas extremely hot.
fish: ikan
fish hook: ka'i lisin, kail
fishing net: redi
fitun: star
five: lima
flame: ahi lakan, lakan
flat: level, belar
flea: asu kutin, kutun
float: lele
flour: farina (p)
flow: suli
flower: ai fuan, fuan
fly: semo
fly (insect): lalar
fo: give
fo'er: dirty
foam of sea: furin
fodak: timid
fog: rai ahu
foho: mountain
foho rai: uthin
foin: just, already
fokit: pull, jerk
folin: price, cost
follow: obey, tuir
font-family: arial, sans-serif;
font-family: arial: sans-serif;
font-style: italic;
font-weight: bold;
food: han, nourishment, hahan
footprint: ain fatin
for the people. for ten years he struggled to completing a 10: 000 word
forehead: rentos
forei: bean
forei keli: soya bean
forei rai: peanut
forest: ai laran
forget: haluha
fork: garfu (p)
formerly: in the past, uluk
fos: rice (husked)
foun: new, young
four: haat
friend: amigu (p), belu
frog: kedo
from (place): housi
from (time): houri
from pacific linguistics at the australian national university: gpo box
fruit: ai fuan, heart, fuan
fruit seed: ai fuan musan
fruit skin: ai fuan kulit
fuak: pimply, fruitful
fuan: fruit, heart
fui: pour liquid
fuik: wild, savage
fukit: pull out
fulan: moon, month
fulin: bunch
full: nakonu
fulun: hair (of body), feathers
fuma (p): smoke tobacco
funan: flower
funu: war
furak: tasty, nice
furin: foam of sea
fusyr: abscess
futu: tie up
futun: parcel, package
future particle: sei
fuuk: hair of head
G
g: k, gabriel kabrielg, d, gentio dentiuc, k, cafe kafec or cceil;, s, ac u asuch, s, cha, sa qu, k, viqueque, ue kekev, u, vaca uaka or baka z, s, zeferino seferino
gap: space between, let, leet
garden: to'os
garfu (p): fork
garlic: lis asu
garment: tais
gather: collect, raut
gecko: tecki
genitals female: hu'in
giblet: kulan
giner: ai lia
girl: labarik feto
girth: kuta hetin
give: fo
give birth: hahouris
go: proceed, go off, ba, walk, travel, la'o
go away: get out, souruk
go out: sai
goat: bibi
god: maromak
godfather: aman sarani
gold: murak, osan mean
good: beautiful, kapas (p), goodness, kmanek, well, di'ak
goods: belongings, sasan
goose: manu rade boot
gosta (p): like
govern: rule, ukun
grandfather: aman tuan
grandmother: ina ferik
grandparent: bein
grapefruit: dambua
grass: duut
grass variety: hae
grass.ha-a causative prefix forming new verbs from verbs: nouns and adjectives:badak, short; habadak, to shorten; monu, to fall; hamonu, to drop; fodak, timid; hafodak, to startle. ha is a contraction of halo, thus halo badak is contracted to (>) habadak, literally 'make short'.ham-, han-particles prefixed to verbs, nouns, and adjectives to form verbs which
grass.ha-a causative prefix forming new verbs from verbs, nouns and adjectives: badak, short; habadak, to shorten; monu, to fall; hamonu, to drop; fodak, timid; hafodak, to startle. ha is a contraction of halo, thus halo badak is contracted to (>) habadak, literally 'make short'.ham-, han-particles prefixed to verbs, nouns, and adjectives to form verbs which
grave: rate
greedy: kan
green: unripe, matak, yellow, modok
grey: malahuk
groin: kelen solan, solan
ground: land, earth, world, rai
guard: rai hela
guess: si'ik
guru (i): teacher prev up nextdictionary tetun f home dictionary tetun h
H
h: ea
ha: eat
ha'e: emphatic particle
ha'e an emphatic particle stressing the word it precedes: not translatable
ha'u: i
ha'u nain: mine
ha-re: riceta-fe, to spiteha-hu, to beginko-a, to crow, to seeha-fi-la, to returnha-lu-ha, to forgetba-bu-rit, a syringehak-fi-lak, to alternak-fu-nan, to become mouldya-ru-ma, some (mostly said as ru-ma)ku-ak, holeis-in, bodyba-dain, tradesmanka-rau, buffalorai, earth
haas: mango
haat: four
hadak: bamboo flooring
hadi'ak: improve
hadomi: love, like very much
hae: grass variety, grassmalae, foreignersasoe, palm leaf capelaleo, hutkuleo, seasicknesskakae, cockatoo
haer: awake
hafetu: kick
hafila: return
hafoin: therefore, so, then
hafuik: whistle
hafulak: embrace
hahan: food, nourishment
hahanek: wound
hahouris: give birth
hahu: begin
hair (of body): feather, fulun
hair of head: fuuk
hak: nak
hakarak: want, desire
hakat: span of hand
hakat ain: step, pace
hakdirun: palm of hand
hakerek: write
hakilar: shout, yell
haklalak: shout
hakmahan: camp
hakoi: bury
haksi'ak: rowdy
haksoit: jump
haksolok: happy
haksumik: hide
halai: run away
halfodak: astonish, frighten
hali: banyan tree
halibur: assemble, collect
halimar: play
halo: make, work, construct, do
halo los: correct
halter: harness, kuda talin
haluha: forget
hamlaha: hungry
hamlet: village, knua
hamnasa: laugh
hamos: cleanse
hamrook: thirsty
hamutu: hamutuk, together
han: food
hananu: sing
hanek: plate
hanesa: hanesan, same, similar
hanoin: think, remember
hanourin: teach
happy: haksolok
hare: rice, see, look, to see sele, to destroy koko, to trylebo, to carry
hare fulin: ear of rice
hare kain: rice stem
hare natar: rice paddy
haris: bathe
harrow: weed, faho
harvesting: house building, feasts, and the animist religious ceremonies
hasai: take away
hasan: jaw, chin
hatais: clothes, get dressed
hatama: enter, insert
hatan: answer, reply
hatenu: bark of dog
hateten: dehan, speak, talk, say
hatudu: indicate, show way
have familiarity with any of the romance languages: use of the
he: possessive article, nia
he calls the tetun-los dialect: which he differentiates from
head: ulun
headache: ulun moras
hear: rona
heavy: todan
hein: wait
hela: live, stay, remain
hemu: drink
hena: cloth
here: iha ne'e
heritage will find the tetun-prasa version easier: especially if they
hetan: find, discover,
hide: hamsumik, conceal, subar, leather, karau kulit, skin, bark, kulit
high: tall, aas
high tide: tasi nakonu
hili: pick up
hillock: mound, rai kaburbur
hillside: rai sadere
hira: how many, how much
hirus: angry, annoyed
hirus matan: chest
his instinct outside his family: so that he can live in harmony at home
his life. in addition to this phrase book: he also published a more
hitu: seven
ho: and, with
hodi: take, carry
hold: grasp, drive car, kair
hole: kuak, rai kuak
hollow log for grinding: lesu
honey: beni ben
hopu: gallop
horn trumpet: baboo
horns: antlers, dikur
horok: charm, spell
horon: smell
horon katak: feel
horse: kuda
hot: manas
hot weather: rai manas
hotu: all, completed, too
hour: time, oras
houri: from (time)
house: uma
house roof: uma kakuluk
house ruins: uma krebek
house thatch: uma talin
housi: from (place)
how many: how much, hira
how many stick: ain hira
hu'in: genitals (female)
hudi: banana
hun: base of anything, trunk of tree
hunch: hindquarters, kidan
hundred: atus
hunger: laha
hungry: hamlaha
hunt: soro
husar: navel
husband: la'en
husik: leave, abandon
husu: ask
husu lia: question
huu: whisper, blow softly
hyphenated words are pronounced as two words: but the stress is on the last penultimate syllable:
hyphenated words are pronounced as two words, but the stress is on the last penultimate syllable: aman-ikun, unclebere-loik, spiderbai-rua, day after tomorrow
I
i: ha'u
ibun kulit: lip
ibun rahun: beard
ida: sira, one; a
ida de'it: one only
ida ida: each one
ida ne'e duni: this one, definitely
ida ne'e mazi: this one
ida seluk: another
ide ne'e: this one, this
ide ne'e ba: that those
ide ne'e be: which, who
iha: is, have, possess, to at, on, in
iha dook: far away
iha ha'u nia uma: ami iha oan rua.
iha karuk: on left
iha kidun: on the bottom
iha klaran: in middle
iha kraik: below
iha kuana: on right
iha laran: inside
iha leet: in between
iha leten: at the top, above
iha liman los: on right
iha mos ne'e ba: as well
iha ne'e: here
iha nia oin: in front of
iha nia sourin: at the side
iha okos: underside
iha oras ne'e: this time, then
iha tutin: on top
ihe ne'e ba: there
iis: breath
ikan: fish
ikun: tail
ikus: last
imi: you (plural)
imi nian: yours
immediately: kedan, kedas
improve: hadi'ak
in 1974: the last official portuguese census, the population was
in addition to the transcription: i also
in between: iha leet
in dili: the capital, it is always hot and there are only two seasons wet and dry.
in english: used in all dialects. the tetun-dili equivalent is mak,
in every village: the katuas would tell stories to the children to
in final -ek: -et, -ok, -ot the consonant is weakly pronounced.
in front of: iha nia oin
in language and custom: while those living on the north coast are
in middle: iha klaran
in our western culture: marriage between first cousins is not frowned
in such a way to be barely distinguishable: kba-but, troublemakerkbe-lak, disckdo-ran, water vessel
ina ferik: grandmother
inan boot: aunt older than mother
inan ki'ik: aunt younger than mother
increase: tau tan
indicate: show way, hatudu
indonesian loanwords: whereas tetun-prasa has a large number of words
inside: laran
insult: tarata, criticise, tolok malu
interchangeable from district to district: especially where tetun is
inus: nose
inus been: snot
invite: tene
iron: besi
iron pot: sanan besi
is: have, possess, iha
is spoken is very restricted: except tetun-dili, which has speakers
isin: body
isin malarin: fever
isin manas: fever
it is very unfortunate that cliff morris': who died on october 5,
it was not uncommon for a skilled lia na'in to recite for hours: all
ita: we (incl.), you (polite)
ita bele hatudu ba ha'u: dalan ba dili iha ne'e be?
ita nia: our
ita nian: ours
iu: shark
J
jackfruit: kulu naka
jambua: dambua, grapefruit
jantar (p): dinner
japanese: we had to cross a flooded stream. the usual method was to
jaw: chin, hasan
joga (p): play
joga surat (i): play cards prev up nextdictionary tetun i home dictionary tetun k
jump: haksoit
just: already, foin
K
k: l
ka: or
ka'an: sister-in-law
ka'i lisin: fish hook
ka'it: hook, girlfriend
ka'ut: bag, sack
kabas: cotton
kabas fatuk: cotton ball
kabas lahan: cotton thread
kabeer: smooth
kaben: wife (polite)
kabuar: round, plump
kabuk: pregnant
kabun: stomach
kabun dulas: stomach ache
kabun moras: stomach ache
kadeli: ring
kadi: sharpen
kado: saw
kafe: coffee
kail: fish hook
kair: hold, grasp, drive car
kakatua: cockatoo, pliers
kakelun: bracelet
kakeu: casuarina tree
kakorok: neck, throat
kaku: owl
kakuluk: roof
kakutak: brain
kal: maybe, perhaps
kalan: night
kalan ne'e: ami hakarak atu hetan toba fatin ida de'it.
kalen: tin
kalohan: cloud
kan: greedy
kanek: wound, injure
kanuru: spoon
kaoa: crow
kapas (p): good, capable, beautiful
karau: buffalo
karau kulit: hide, leather
karau uaka: oxen
karau uaka aman: bull
karau uaka oan: calf
kareta (p): truck, bus
karik: maybe, perhaps, if
karo (p): car
karudu: mint
karuk: left
katar: scratch, itchy
katuas: old man
kba-but: troublemakerkbe-lak, disckdo-ran, water vessel
kbas: kebas, shoulder
kbelak: disc
kdoran: water vessel
ke'e: dig
kedan: kedas, immediately, at once
kedo: frog
kela: cricket (insect)
kelen: thigh
kelen solan: groin
keleur ona: long time ago
kesi: fasten, tie
keta: ketak, don't
kfoli: loin-cloth
kfui: whistle
ki'ik: little, small
kiak: poor, orphan
kick: hafetu
kick by horse: kuda lubun
kidan: haunch, hindquarters
kidney: maksourin
kidun: bottom, buttocks
kidun mean: haemorrhoids
kiik: santa cruz for helping me understand the tetun language with
kilat: firearm
kilat fuan: bullet
kill: oho
kinas: petal
king: liurai
kinu: yellow
kinur: saffron
kiss: muu
kiss hand: re'i liman
kite: eagle, makikit
kiti lili: firefly, glow worm
kiukae: quail
klamar: soul, spirit
klaran: middle
kles: open, bare; a shred
kleuk: bent, crooked
kleur: long time
kloot: tight, narrow
klosan: young, single nobleman
kluni: pillow
kmaan: light, not heavy
kmaha: dew
kmanek: good, goodness
kmaus: rich
kmii: candlenut tree
knaar: work, job
knife: taha, tudik
kniku: bamboo water, vessel
knot in tree: ai fukun
known as kukulasak. in natural form she was an old woman: but had the
knua: hamlet, village
knuuk: nest
ko'a: cut
ko'a lia: speak, talk
ko-'-a: to cut na-'-uk, to stealbe-'-u, to thresh grain
kobarka: basket
kohe: purse
koko: try, attempt
kokok: touch, feel
kokorok: neck
kolar: smallpox
kole: kolen, tired; wages
kona: towards
kosar: sweat
kose: wipe, brush
kotu: break
kotu kotuk: saddle bag
kou'us: pregnant, cuddle
kraik: down
kreda: church
ku'u: pick, gather
kuak: hole
kuana: right
kuda hetin: girth
kuda ida: a horse; uma ida; a house, ema ida, a person; asu sira, the dogs; ema sira, the person, or the people.
kuda lubun: kick by horse
kuda luhan: stable
kuda tailn: halter, harness, rope
kudsa: sow seed, plant
kuik: kurita, octopus
kulan: giblet
kulit: hide, skin, bark
kulu: breadfruit
kulu naka: jackfruit
kunus: capsicum
kurita: octopus
kuru: scoop water
kusa: nail
kutun: flea
kuus: snot, nasal mucous
L
la: lae, no, not
la bele: can not
la buat ida: nothing
la dun barak: not much
la ida: none
la iha: none
la los: wrong
la to'o: lacking
la tos: easy, not difficult
la'en: husband
la'o: go, walk, travel, to walk > mala'ok, traveller, hatete, to talk > matetek, speaker; fuak, fruitful > mafuak, fruiting tree.
la'o de'it: on foot, walk only
la-os: nothing
la-ua-rik: youth (la-ba-rik)ua-ni, honeybee (ba-ni) ue, water (be)
labadain: spider
labarik: lauarik, youth
labarik feto: girl
labarik mane: boy
lacking: la to'o
laek: without, not any
lafaek: crocodile
lafatik: winnowing basket
laha: hunger, hunger > hamlaha, to be hungry. note: ham- and han- are interchangeable.lerek particle placed after verbs to indicate a state of rest, abandonment,
laha, hunger > hamlaha, to be hungry. note: ham- and han- are interchangeable.lerek particle placed after verbs to indicate a state of rest, abandonment,
lahan: thread
lahat: net for shrimps
laho: rat
lai: first, formerly
lakan: flame
lake: naliun, rebu
lakeru: pumpkin
laketeu: pigeon
lakleur: not long, soon
lakoi: don't want, refuse
lakon: lost
laku: possum
lalais (lailais): quickly
lalar: fly (insect)
lalatik: earthworm
lalehan: sky
lalenok: mirror
lalkika: unnecessary
laloron: wave
lamas: touch, feel
lamp: ahi oan
language: although standardised spelling and grammar are still a matter, but may appear in loan words (i.e. introduced words.) some
language is the foundation of cultural identity: the mutual
language now officially spoken and taught within the areas: tetun has
languages and dialects: with the town merely being the nearest to the
lantent: sleeping area
lanu: drunk
lapis (p): pencil
laran: inside, conscience
laran aat: evil
laran makerek: treacherous
laran moras: sick
lasan: penis
lasan fuan: testicles
last: ikus
later: liu tiha
laugh: hamnasa
laurel: bay leaf, loru tahan
laziness: baruk teen
lazy: baruk
le'u: fence in
leaf: ai tahan, tahan
leaf tip: dikin
lean against: support, sadere
leave: abandon, husik
lebo: carry
left: karuk
leg: foot, ain
leki berek halai tiha ona: leki berek has run away.4. as a verb, to fish with a net:
leki mauk lere daudaun du'ut: leki mauk is cutting the
lekirauk: monkey
lele: float
lemon: derok masin, saburaka siin, subraka siin
lemu: travel about
lena: sesame
lenuk: turtle
lere: trim, cut (garden, grass)
les: tear, rip
lesu: hollow log for grinding
let: leet, gap, space, between
leten: above
letter: changed to, examples
lia: word, speech
lia suik: secret
lian: voice, noise
libru (p): book
lie: deceive, bosok
lie down: toba
lift by fingers: bi'it
light: not heavy, kmaan
light rain: udan rahun
like: gosta (p)
lilin: wax
lima: five
liman: arm
liman fuan: finger
liman kabon: arm
liman kukuun: finger nail
liman tanen: palm
lime: ahu
line-height: 1.6;
lip: ibun kulit
lipa: sarong
liquid: juice, sap, been
lis asu: garlic
lis bot: onion
literally 'girl shy'. verbs beginning with h and o change with person. other verbs prefix k for the first person singular; ha'u kba: i go. 1st pers. sing., use letter k, ha'u ka i eat ha'u kba i go 2nd pers. sing., use letter m, o ma you eat 2nd pers. sing. (polite)., use letter h, ita ha you eat 3rd pers. sing., use letter n, nia na he eats 1st pers. pl. (inc)., use letter h, ami ha 2nd person. pl. (exc)., use letter h, ita ha we eat 3rd person pl., use letter r, sira ra they eat 3rd person pl. (belu), use letter r, sia ra they eat
little: small, ki'ik
liu: superlative
liu tan: more, too much
liu tiha: later
liur: outside
liur fatiun: toilet
liurai: king
live: stay, remain, hela
liver: aten metan
livestock that they owned: such as horses, buffaloes, goats, pigs as
loin-cloth: kfoli
loja (p): shop
loke: open
lolon: mass, body
long: naruk
long time: kleur
loraik: afternoon
loro: sun
loro lor: south
loro manas: midday
loro natuntun: midday
loro ruai: north
loro sa'e: sunrise, east
loron: day
loron naroman: dawn
loru: loru tahan, laurel tree, bay leaf
los: right, correct, straight
lost: lakon
lotuk: slender slim
louri: carry
love: like very much, hadomi
low tide: tasi tun
lroron monu: sunset, west
luan: courtyard
luhan: stable
lulik: sacred
lutu: fence
luun: tears
luun turu: cry tears
M
mad: crazy, bulak
made to include the more complex ritual language of poetry: which is
mahar: thick
mahogany: ai sarian
mai: come
mai be: but
mai fali: come back
maize: india corn, batar
mak: maka, empathic particle
maka'as: strong, sturdy
make: work, construct, do, halo
makerek: tricky, variegated
makikit: kite, eagle
maksourin: kidney
malae: stranger, foreigner
malahuk: grey
malairin: cold
male of names: mau, mauk
malu: mutual, reciprocal
maluk: relatives
malus tahan: betel leaf
mamar: soft, gentle
mamiik: bladder
mamuk: empty, hollow
man: male, mane
man is a spiller of blood: and is incapable of controlling his actions
manan: win, earn
manas: hot
mandarin: subraka lotuk
manduko: frog
mane: man, male
mane of horse: dadinis
mango: haas
mantolun: egg (hen)
manu: bird
manu futu: cockfighting
manu rade: duck
manu rade boot: goose
many: much, barak
maran: dry
margin: 0;
margin-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 30px;
market: basar
maromak: good
marriage. now that so many timorese are christian: the priests could be
masar: asthma
masculine: amak
masin: salt
masin maidar: sugar
mass: body, lolon
mast: ro rii
matak: green, unripe
matan: eye, lid
matan dook: native doctor
matan fukun: eyebrow
matan kulit: eyelid
matan oan: pupil
match: ahi kose, ai kose
mate: dead
mate klamar: spirit (of dead)
matek: dormant, ignition off
matenek: clever
mau: mauk, male of names
maun: brother
maus: tame
maybe: perhaps, kal, perhaps, if, karik
me'ar: cough
mean: red
meaning. it is not too much to suggest that when a language dies: a
measure: sukat
measuring stick: ai sukat
meat: na'an
meda: small marsupial
medicine: ai moruk
mehi: dream
meias (p): sock
melbourne: australia, october 2003
men) say: "only those with their eyes open can see."
mend: sew, sukiu
mesa: mesak, only, alone
mestre (p): teacher
metan: black
meti: short, reef
metin: solid, firm
midar: sweet
midday: loro manas, loro mnatutun
middle: balu, klaran
mihis: thin
mii: urinate, meina, fat, oil
milk: susu ben
mine: ha'u nain
mint: karudu
mirror: lelenok
mistress: nona
modo: vegetable
modo ben: soup
modok: green, yellow
moe: shy, ashamed
molok: before (time)
money: osan
monkey: lekirauk
monu: fall
moon: month, fulan
morangu (p): strawberry
moras: sick
more: resin, too much, liu tan
more again: tan
more; find: tan
mores. in this perspective: the newly re-established democratic
mortar: nesun
mos: clean; also too
mosquito: susuk
most unlikely angles. they are always steep with fast running streams: especially when it rains. the total area of timor is nearly 3,000
mosu: appear
mota: river
mota ain: river lower reaches
mota ibun: river mouth
mota suli: river bed
mother-in-law: banin feto
mould: utur
mouldy: nakfunan
moulik: bald
mountain: foho, rai foho
mountain foot: rai hun
mountain top: rai tutun
mourin: scent
mouris: alive
mout: sink
mouth: ibun
move: muda (p)
much of my own timorese cultural knowledge may be historic: and not
mud: clay, tahu
muda (p): move
murak: gold
musan: seed
muta: vomit
mutin: white
mutual: reciprocal, malu
muu: kiss
N
na'in: sir (polite title)
na'uk: steal
nafatin: always, ever
nahan: cargo, goods
nahe: spread out, divide
nahun: so, so much
nakali (be): boil (water)
nakded ar: tremble
nakdoko: rattle
nakfunan: mouldy
nakonu: full
nakukun: dark
naliun: lake
name: naran
nanal: tongue
nani: nanin swim
naran: name
naran buat: anyone
naran ida: whoever
naroma: daylight, not dark
naruk: long
nata: chew
natar: paddy field
nati: bed bug
naton ona have the same meaning. 4. used as an interjection; di'ak ona: well, alright.example 4.3. tiha and tensetiha1. placed after the verb forms past tense: bere lelik la'o tiha, bere
naton ona have the same meaning. 4. used as an interjection; di'ak ona, well, alright.example 4.3. tiha and tensetiha1. placed after the verb forms past tense: bere lelik la'o tiha, bere
navel: husar
ne'e: this, that
ne'e ba: that
ne'e be: which, who
ne'e di'ak ona: that is good enough, also to'o ona and
ne'e duni: therefore
ne'e mai: these
near: close, besik, close, rabat
neck: kokorok
needle: daun
neen: six
nehan: tooth
nehek: ant
neineik: slowly
neon: conscience
nest: knuuk
nesun: mortar
net for shrimps: lahat
new: young, foun
nia: he, possessive particle
nia can be dropped when the known ends a vowel provided n or k is added to the end of the noun: e.g. ha'u asun, my dog. ha'u nian, ha'un, ha'uk, nian, ninian etc. are used as possessive pronouns where there is no noun at the end of a
night: kalan
niki: bat (animal)
nine: sia
nipple: susu matan
no: not, la, lae
noble class: dato
non-christians alike: was living with the klamar (the souls of the
nona: mistress
none: la ida, la iha
nonook: silent, keep quiet
north: loro rai
nose: inus
nose or eyes: never through the mouth or genital orifices. not all
not bad. (lit. some good: some bad)
not long: soon, lakleur
not much: la dun barak
not yet: sei dauk
note: the letters c, g, j, q, v, w, x, y, z are not normally used in, root words beginning with h change to m, those ending in a vowel add k; also ma and mak are second person forms of ha and hak. na-, nak-, nam- prefix to form verbs in third person plural; also forms verbal nouns and adjectives. ra-, rak-, ram-, ran- prefix to form verbs in third person plural and also verbal nouns and adjectives., this applies to all parts of speech.
note: root words beginning with h change to m: those ending in a vowel add k; also ma and mak are second person forms of ha and hak. na-, nak-, nam- prefix to form verbs in third person plural; also forms verbal nouns and adjectives. ra-, rak-, ram-, ran- prefix to form verbs in third person plural and also verbal nouns and adjectives.
note: the letters c: g, j, q, v, w, x, y, z are not normally used in
nothing: la buat ida, la-os
nouns are both singular and plural: but can be made either by the insertion of "ida" for singular, "sira" for plural
nouns have no formal gender: but masculinity and femininity may be expressed by adding the following words to the noun:
nouns have no formal gender, but masculinity and femininity may be expressed by adding the following words to the noun: table 4.1. gender and nouns tetum dili other dialects malefemalemalefemalehumanmanefetomanefetoanimalamaninanamaninananimal amakinakplantmanefetomanenfeton
now: agora (p), past tense particle, ona
nu'u ne'e: so, therefore
nu'u ne'e duni: exactly
nu'u sa: why
nudar: as, as well
number of of tetun dialects: and the intrusion of the neighbouring languages, has not made the task of what constitutes
nurak: young immature
nuu: coconut
O
o: s, you, you (singular)
oan: child
oan fatin: uterus
oan feto: young girl
oan kiak: orphan
oan mane: boy;kuda inan, mare;ai dila manen, male pawpaw (one that does not bear fruit)., young boy
obrigado (p): thanks
obvious errors which is inevitable when an individual is author: editor
oda matan: door
odan: step
of death: birth and marriage.
of each. consequently: the total area in which each language or dialect
of expertise among these speakers: who will invariable have another
of paulo quintao da costa who authenticated the word list: it was
of the booklet: the word 'window' is denoted as being from portuguese
of the democratic republic of east timor: and the first weeks of my
often: continually, beibeik
ohin: ami hakarak atu ba uma kreda., today
ohin ne'e: ami ba atu hare basar.
oho: kill
oin: face, appearance
oin aat: ugly, deformed
oin kraik: sad
oin seluk: different
okos: below
old man: katuas
old woman: feik
on foot: walk only, la'o de'it
on left: iha karuk
on right: iha liman los
on the bottom: iha kidun
on top: iha tutin
ona: now; past tense particle
once: dala ida
one: ida
one only: ida de'it
onion: lis bot
only: de'it, alone, mesa, mesak
open: loke, bare, a shred, kles
opinion that tetun-terik and tetun-los are actually one and the same: whereas tetun-belu refers to the western dialect, split by the former
opposite side: sourin balu
or: ka
or one placed by the buan (sorcerer): who had very wide powers to
or permanence: nia mai lerek tasi ibun, he came to the seashore (infers
or permanence: nia mai lerek tasi ibun: he came to the seashore (infers
orange: sabruka, subraka, saburaka
oras: hour, time
oras ne'e: tuku hira?
orbit of the animist religion all living things have souls: both
origin: when it is clear that what was meant was the word 'dinela'.
orphan: oan kiak
osan: money
osan mean: gold
osan mutin: silver
osan naran: dowry gift
other: another, seluk
our: ita nia
ours: ita nian
outside: liur
overseas: tasi balun
owl: kaku, kuku
oxen: karau uaka
oyster: tiran
P
padding: 20px;
paddy field: natar
palm: liman tanen
palm of hand: hakdirun
palm wine: tuaka
paper: letter, book, surat
parcel: falun, package, futun
particles and participlesparticles and participlesprev chapter 4. grammar nextparticles and participles-anparticles placed after the verb to give it a reflexive meaning: nia oho an, he killed himself.when used with rasik means 'own' or 'self' the
particles and participlesparticles and participlesprev chapter 4. grammar nextparticles and participles-anparticles placed after the verb to give it a reflexive meaning:nia oho an: he killed himself.when used with rasik means 'own' or 'self' the
pawpaw tree: ai dila
pay: repay, selu
pea: eravila (p)
peanut: forei rai
pencil: lapis (p)
penis: lasan
person: ema
personal loss but the timorese said: "we are here to protect the
pestle: alu, alun
petal: ai funan kinas, kinas
peter: he learned how the friendship so freely given in 1942 had cost
philosophy that everything has a balancing opposite: such as hot and
pick: gather, ku'u
pick up: hili
pig: fahi
pigeon: falur, laketeu
pillow: kluni
pimply: fruitful, fuak
pineapple: ananas (p)
place: spot, position, fatin
plain: rai tetuk
plains (tetu: adjective), therefore the people who spoke the language
plank: board, ai kebelak
plant and animal. evil spirits came from creatures: especially those
plants became diseased: or failed for any other reason, like too much
plate: bikan, hanek
play: halimar, joga (p)
play cards: joga surat (i)
plough up: so'o
poor: orphan, kiak
portable: content based xml format (docbook xml version 4.2). secondary objectives were to pickup obvious spelling and layout problems.changes made to the structure of the document were limited to identifying structural levels such as chapters and examples. titles were added to major document sections.primary tools used were xemacs and dillo
possum: laku
post: stake, riin
pot: sanan
potato: fehuk ropa
pound: crush, fai
pour liquid: fui
practises the verb's action: hafetu, to kick > mafetuk, kicker; kair, to hold > makair lulik, the keeper of the sacred house;
practises the verb's action: hafetu: to kick > mafetuk, kicker; kair, to hold > makair lulik, the keeper of the sacred house;
precipice: rai horun
pregnant: kabuk, kou'us
price: cost, folin
produced to assist travellers to east timor: as a means of better
pronoun subjects and objects are not distinguished in tetun. 'we' and 'us' inclusive: includes those being spoken to
pull: drag, dada, jerk, fokit
pull out: fukit
pumpkin: lakeru
punch: strike, tuku
pupil: matan oan
purse: koje
purse (woven): tiu
push: dudu
put: place, tau
python: foho rai
Q
question: husu lia
questions: especially leading questions, merely because most people
quickly: lalais (lailais) prev up nextdictionary english p home dictionary english r
R
rabat: near, close
race to reap the crops before the rats consumes the year's crop. rats: of course, were the work of an evil spirit. the same was said if the
rahun: dust; fate
rai: ground, land, earth, world
rai ahu: fog
rai foho: mountain
rai hela: guard
rai henek: sand
rai horun: precipice
rai hun: mountain foot
rai inus: cape
rai kaburbur: hillock, mound
rai klean: slope (of hill)
rai kuak: hole
rai lolon: range
rai malirin: cold weather
rai manas: hot weather
rai maran: dry weather
rai moulik: bare space
rai nakdodo: earthquake
rai nakudu: dark
rai sadere: hillside
rai suut: volcano
rai tartutu: thunder
rai udan: wet weather
rainbow: baur
raining: udan tau
rama: bow
rama isin: arrow
ran: blood
range: rai lolon
rat: laho
rate: grave
rattle: nakdoko
raut: gather, collect
re'i liman: kiss hand
reben: ten thousand
rebu: lake
recognition of symbolic values and: often overlooked, the metaphorical
red: mean
redi: fishing net
regarded as the lingua franca in portuguese times: but is now being
relatives: maluk
rentos: forehead
resin: more
resin an adverb meaning 'extra': 'plus'. it also forms cardinal numbers over
restaurant: uma han
return: hafila, go home, fila fali
rian: brother-in-law
rice: hare
rice (cooked): etu
rice (husked): fos
rice paddy: hare natar
rice powder: talc, badaak
rice stem: hare kain
rich: kmaus
right: kuana, correct, straight, los
rihun: thousand
riin: post, stake
ring: kadeli
ripe: tasak
riti: copper, brass
river: mota
river (lower reaches): mota ain
river bed: mota suli
river mouth: mota ibun
ro: boat
ro ahi: steam ship
ro rii: mast
roast: sona, tunu
rohan: tip, extremity
roll up: bobar
rona: hear
roof: kakuluk
root: abut, ai abut
ropa (p): clothes
rope: talin
rosak: strong
rose: ai nar
rotten: dodok
rough sea: tasi boot
round: plump, kabuar
rowdy: haksi'ak
royalty). interspersed were matan dook (doctor): buan
rua: two
ruanulu: twenty
ruin: bone
rumah: ruma, any, something
run away: halai
rusa: deer
S
sa: what
sa ida: which, what
sa'e: climb, rise, mount, go up
sa'e ro: board, embark
sabaun (p): soap
sabruka: orange
sabulu: woman's sarong
saburaka: orange
saburaka siin: lemon
sack: buu, kbuu
sacred: lulik
sad: oin kraik
saddle bag: kuda kotuk
sadere: lean against, support
sadia: compassion
saffron: kinur
sago: akar
sai: go out
sakunar: scorpion
sala: fault, error, sin
salt: masin
salurik: umbrella
sama: trample
same: as the guests ate food supplied by the groom's relatives. when, similar, hanesa, hanesan
samea: snake
samodo: green snake
sanak: branch
sanan: pot
sanan besi: iron pot
sand: rai henek
sandalwood: ai kameli
sanulu: ten
sap: juice, resin, ai ben, ai uen
sarak: at least
sarani: christian
sarauk: black and white
sarong: lipa
sasan: goods, belongings
sasuit: comb
savage: untamed, buis, wild man, ema fuik
saw: kado
sawdust: ai rahun
say: speak, dehan
scent: mourin
school: eskola (p)
scoop water: kuru
scorch: burn, sunu
scorpion: sakunar
scratch: itchy, katar
se: who, whom
sea bottom: tasi kidun
seas: tasi
seas water: tasi be
sebi (p): chief
secret: lia suik
see: look, hare
seed: musan
seek: look for, buka
sei: future particle
sei dauk: not yet
sei la dauk mai or la dauk sei are just as correct. paulu sei dauk halo knaar ida ne'e: paulo will not do this work. note: same combination as above applies. sei dauk on its own means 'not yet' 4. placed before a verb can have the meaning of 'must' or 'obliged to':aida sei hemu ai moruk ne'e, aida must drink this medicine.o sei halo serbisu ida ne'e, you must do this work.prev up nextverbs home particles and participles
sei la dauk mai or la dauk sei are just as correct. paulu sei dauk halo knaar ida ne'e, paulo will not do this work. note: same combination as above applies. sei dauk on its own means 'not yet' 4. placed before a verb can have the meaning of 'must' or 'obliged to':aida sei hemu ai moruk ne'e, aida must drink this medicine.o sei halo serbisu ida ne'e, you must do this work.prev up nextverbs home particles and participles
sele: destroy, rip up
sell: fa'an
selu: pay, repay
seluk: other, another
semo: fly
sentina (p): toilet
serious misfortune so that the klamar would not know them any more: and nothing would persuade them to admit to being previously known by
serve meal: suru
sesame: lena
seven: hitu
shade: ai mahon, mahn
shark: iu
sharpen: kadi
sheep: bibi malae
shoot: ai tahan dikin
shop: loja (p)
shore: reef, meti
short: badak
shot: discharge of gun, tiru
shoulder: kbas, kebas
shout: haklalak, yell, hakilar
shrimp: boek
shut: close, taka, cork up, sulan
shy: ashamed, moe
si'ak: angry
si'ik: guess
sia: nine
sick: laran moras, moras, but is well know.3. placed after the word it qualifies as an adverb, meaning "enough",
siin: sour
silent: keep quiet, nonook
silver: osan mutin, and from the bride's family goats, pigs and cloth) the two
simu: answer, take, accept
sing: hananu
sink: mout
sir (polite title): na'i, na'in
sira: they
sire tiha fatuk ba ue: they threw a stone in the water.example 4.4. sei and tensesei1. placed before the verb denotes future tense: oras isa ha'u sei kba ua kreda, shortly i will go to church2. placed before a verb can indicate that the action is still continuing:teti berek sei haris, teti berek is still having a bath.3. used with dauk or daun indicates negative future tense (sometimes
sister: biin
sister-in-law: ka'an
sit: tur
six: neen
skull: ulun fatuk
sky: lalehan
slave: atan
sleep: dukur
sleeping area: lanten
sleeping mat: biti
slender: slim, lotuk
slope (of hill): rai klean
slow: neineik
small: little, uit oan
small marsupial: meda
smallpox: kolar
smell: horon
smoke: ahi suar
smoke tobacco: fuma (p)
smooth: kabeer
snail: slug, babuku
snake: samea, samodo
snot: inus been, kuus
so: so much, nahun, therefore, nu'u ne'e
so'o: plough up
soap: sabaun (p)
sobu: destroy
sock: meias (p)
soe: throw away, discard
soft: gentle, mamar
solan: groin
sold: firm, metin
some: part, half, balu
some english combinations like "ch": "th" are unpronounceable by timorese, "thing" being said as "ting".
some words are pronounced differently in two or more districts: buu, kbuu, sack
some words express emphatic degrees of the meaning by partial repetition: i.e. by omitting the last consonant in the
something: buat ruma
something);kuus: nasal mucus > hamkuss, to have a cold;
sona: roast
song sung at gatherings: dahur
soon: not long, la kleur
sorcerer: buan
soro: hunt
sosa: buy
soul: spirit, klamar
soup: modo ben
sour: siin
souri: defend
souri-an: defend oneself
sourin balu: opposite side
souru: weave
souruk: go away, get out
south: loro lor
sow seed: plant, kuda
soya bean: forei keli
span of hand: hakat
speak: say, heteten, dehan, talk, ko'a lia
spear: dima
spider: labadain
spirit (of dead): mate klamar
spit: tafui
spoon: kanuru
spread out: divide, nahe
spring: be matan
spur for cock fighting: tara
stable: corral, luhan kuda luhan
stake: post, ai rii, ai riin
standards: but it would be a mistake to regard the culture is in any
star: fitun
steal: na'uk
steam shop: ro ahi
steel: besi asu, hard, asu (p)
step: odan, pace, hakat ain
stink: smell, dois
stomach: kabun
stomach ache: kabun dulas, kabun moras
stone: rock, fatuk
stories - "land of the sleeping crocodile" at 3 hoadley av: frankston,
straight tree: ai los
stranger: foreigner, malae
strawberry: morangu (p)
strength: biit
strong: rosak, sturdy, maka'as
strong wind: anin boot, uarat
stupid: beik
subar: hide, conceal
subraka: orange
subraka lotuk: mandarin
subraka siin: lemon
suckle: susun
suffer: terus
sugar: masin midar
sugar cane: au touhu
suhuk: asthma
sui: extract
sukair: tamarind
sukat: measure
suku: mend, sew
sulan: shut, cork up
sulas: twist
suli: flow
sumik: secret
sun: loro
sunday: domingu (p)
sunrise: loro sa'e
sunset: west, loron monu
sunu: scorch, burn
superlative: liu
sura: count
surat: paper, letter, book
surik: sword
suru: serve meal
susar: difficult
susu: breast
susu ben: milk
susu matan: nipple
susuk: mosquito
susun: suckle
suut: blow nose
swallow: tolan
swamp: be kolan
sweat: kosar
sweep: dasa
sweet: midar
sweet corn: batar nurak
sweet potato: fehuk mida
swim: nani, nanin
sword: surik
syringe: baburit
T
ta'uk: afraid
taa: cut, chop
taa ulun: decapitate
tabaku: tobacco
tafui: spit
taha: knife
tahan: leaf
tahu: mud, clay
tai tetu: valley
tais: garment
taka: shut, close
take: carry, hodi
take away: hasai
taking them away: never to be seen again. some parents even told their
talas: yam
talc: badaak
talin: rope
tama: enter, go in
tamarind: sukair
tame: maus
tan: more, again, more; find
tan ba: why, because
tanis: cry
tara: spur for cock fighting
tarata: insult
tasi: sea
tasi balun: overseas
tasi be: sea water
tasi boot: rough sea
tasi ibun: beach
tasi inus: cape
tasi kidun: sea bottom
tasi maus: calm sea
tasi nakonu: high tide
tasi si'ak: angry sea
taska: ripe
tasti tun: low tide
tasty: nice, furak
tata: bite
tau: put, place
tautan: increase
te: excreta
tea: sa
teach: hanourin
teacher: guru (i), mestre (p)
tear: ripe, les
tears: luun
tebe dai: dance
tebes: truly
tein: cook
teki: gecko
ten: ruanulu resin ida, twenty one, literally, twenty plus one.ten, teen a participle affixed after a word to form nouns with a derogatory sense: baruk, lazu; baruk teen, laziness. prev up nexttense of verbs home chapter 5. numerals, sanulu
ten thousand: reben
ten: ruanulu resin ida: twenty one, literally, twenty plus one.ten, teen a participle affixed after a word to form nouns with a derogatory sense: baruk, lazu; baruk teen, laziness. prev up nexttense of verbs home chapter 5. numerals
tene: invite
tense of verbs tense of verbs prev chapter 4. grammar nexttense of verbs all verbs are naturally in the present tense: but may give the meaning of another tense by the context of sentence;example 4.1. tense in verbs nia ba basar aban, he will go to the market tomorrow; nia ba basar horisek, he went to the market yesterday.tense may also be indicated by tense particles: past tense ona, tiha future tense sei since all these particles can be used in other ways, examples are given of their use. example 4.2. ona and tenseona1. placed after the verb to form past tense: ami ha ona, we ate; mau bere ba ona baukau, mau bere went to baukau. ona in this use always indicates the immediate past (a short time ago).2. placed after the word (not a verb) it qualifies to denote a recently
tense of verbs tense of verbs prev chapter 4. grammar nexttense of verbs all verbs are naturally in the present tense, but may give the meaning of another tense by the context of sentence;example 4.1. tense in verbs nia ba basar aban, he will go to the market tomorrow; nia ba basar horisek, he went to the market yesterday.tense may also be indicated by tense particles: past tense ona, tiha future tense sei since all these particles can be used in other ways, examples are given of their use. example 4.2. ona and tenseona1. placed after the verb to form past tense: ami ha ona, we ate; mau bere ba ona baukau, mau bere went to baukau. ona in this use always indicates the immediate past (a short time ago).2. placed after the word (not a verb) it qualifies to denote a recently
terus: suffer
tesi: cut
testicles: lasan fuan
tetebes: certainly
tetun also has double vowels: which are an extension of a single sound, e.g.
tetun between vowels: as a break or hiatus, and is indicated by '. it
tetun has no special words for "a": "an", or "the" but "ida" meaning "one" can perform these functions, e.g. fahi ida
tetun-belu: spoken in the south-west of east timor and the
tetun-dili (also known as tetun-prasa): the dialect taught to the
tetun-english dictionary from his own fading memory: then with the help
tetun-prasa: tetun-terik and tetun-belu. contemporary linguists
tetun-terik: spoken in the north-west of east timor and the
text-align: center;
than for any other reason: the guests at a birth feast could easily be
thanks: obrigado (p)
that: ne'e ba, those, ida ne'e ba
that grew sandalwood: and with the land came people to harvest it.
that he went no further than the seashore) ma-: mak-particles prefixed to verbs to form nouns denoting the agent which
the: ida
the approximate sounds of the alphabet are: a, like "a" in fatherb, as in englishd, as in englishe, like "e" in set or "a" in fakef, like "f" in fatherh, like "h" in harmi, like "ea" in teak, like "k" in kitel, like "l" in likem, as in englishn, as in englisho, like "o" in hot or not.p, as in englishr, like scottish rr with a roll of the tongues, like "s" in somet, as in englishu, like "w" in wake as first letter other letters like "oo" in boot
the market; instead he went hunting. nia ba fila tiha soro: or nia ba
the people very dearly in the revenge carried out by the japanese: after the departure of the australian troops.
the terms had been agreed upon: and the initial gifts exchanged,
the wind is strong: therefore it will rain soon.
the world is adopting a new means of communication: a technology which
their heads. there were a number of traditional patterns: but the most
their original form: so it is possible to find all letters of the
their prior name: which was very disconcerting for the portuguese
their social position and education: as well as wealth, but they do not
then atan (slaves): ema rai (common people), dato (nobility and
there: iha ne'eba
therefore: ne'e duni, so, then, hafoin
these: ne'e mai
these articles should follow each person throughout their life: otherwise they had no protection against any klamar. also each person
they: sira, sia
thick: bokar, mahar
thigh: kelen
thin: mihis
thing: buat, ting
think: remember, hanoin
thirsty: hamrook
this: that, ne'e
this definitely: ida ne'e duni
this one: ida ne'e mai, this, ida ne'e
this section is a summary of the morphology and syntax of well-spoken tetun-los: though it should be noted that the
this time: then, iha oras ne'e
this work was conducted in september and october of 2003: the last
those who had a debt owing to them: or those who had an alliance with
thousand: rihun
thread: lahan
three: tolu
thresh grain: be'u
throw away: discard, soe
throw; past tense: tiha
thumbnail sketch of the psyche of east timorese culture: because it is
thunder: rai taruta
tie up: futu
tight: narrow, kloot
tiha fila soro: would mean instead he went hunting3. placed before ona it indicates that the action is completely finished:
tiha fila soro, would mean instead he went hunting3. placed before ona it indicates that the action is completely finished: leki berek halai tiha ona, leki berek has run away.4. as a verb, to fish with a net:
time and ceremony. the usual and preferred method was by hafoli (lit: to
timid: fodak
timor. the indigenous lunar calendar is similar to the chinese: the
timorese culture was oral: therefore it is only natural that the
tin: kalen
tip: extremity, rohan
tired; wages: kole, kolen
to: at, on, in, iha
to become a full member of the clan: as only married men and women were
to learn the language of this extraordinarily stoic: resilient and
to live. in the animist religion there was no church: and the family
tobacco: tabaku
today: loron ne'e, ohin, we are going to see the market.
together: hamutu, hamutuk
toilet: liur fatin, sentina (p)
tomorrow: aban
tongue: nanal
too: mos
tooth: nehan
top: summit, tutun
touch: bok, feel, kokok, feel, lamas
towards: kona
track: road, dalan
tradesman: badaqin
trample: sama
travel about: lemu
treacherous: laran makerek
tree: wood, firewood, ai
tree base: ai hun
tremble: nakdedar
tricky: bobar, variegated, makerek
trim: cut (garden), lere
truck: bus, kareta (p)
truly: tebes
trunk of tree: ai lolon, hun
try: attempt, koko
tuber of all kinds: fehuk
turn: fila
turtle: lenuk
twenty: ruanulu
twist: dulas
two: rua
two areas: where the woman of the house ruled supreme. because the
U
ualu: eight
uarta: strong wind
uat: vein
udan: rain
udan rahun: light rain
udan tau: raining
ue: water also be
uit oan: small, little
uit oan deit: very little
ukun: govern, rule
ular: worm
ulu: ulum, first, before, in front
uluk: formerly, in the past
ulun: head
ulun fatuk: skull
ulun moras: headache
ulun moulik: bald
uma: mau leto went home (some time ago).2. placed after the word it qualifies, to give the meaning of 'instead of': leki nahak la ba basar, nia ba tiha soro, leki nahak did not go to, house
uma han: restaurant
uma kakuluk: house roof
uma krebek: house ruins
uma kreda: church
uma talin: house thatch
uma, mau leto went home (some time ago).2. placed after the word it qualifies, to give the meaning of 'instead of': leki nahak la ba basar, nia ba tiha soro, leki nahak did not go to
umbrella: salurik
uncle older than brother: aman boot
uncle younger than brother: aman kiik
underside: iha okos
understood and transposable to other decimal systems. table 5.1. "decimal system"1 ida2 rua3 tolu4 haat5 lima6 neen7 nitu8 ualu9 sia10 sanulu11 sanulu resin ida21 ruanulu resin ida100 atus ida 246 atus rua haatnulu resin neen1000 ruhan idalarger numbers exist: but for practical purposes they are seldom used as most people using larger numbers do so in the portuguese or indonesian systems.prev up nextparticles and participles home chapter 6. dictionary tetun - english
unnecessary: lalika
until: to'o
upon: provided the nuptial couple were the children of a brother or
urinate: mii
used with la: lae): isulinu sei dauk mai, isulinu will not come. note:
used with la, lae): isulinu sei dauk mai, isulinu will not come. note:
uterus: oan fatin
utur: mould
uud: whale
uut: dust
V
variation: of which what is provided in mr. morris' book is but one
variation in the pronunciation and vocabulary: as the above languages
vegetable: modo
vein: uat
verse in two lines: dadolin
very little: uit oan deit
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vinegar: tua siin
virgin: feto ran
voice: noise, lian
volcano: rai suut
vomit: muta
W
w: oo
wall: didin
want: desire, hakarak
war: funu
wash: fasi, fase
wash clean: fasi mos
water: be, ue
water vessel: kdoran
wave: laloron
wax: lilin
we (exclusive): ami
we (incl): you (polite), ita
weave: souru
were of the plains (tetun: noun). there can be no argument as to the
wet: bokun
wet weather: rai udan
whale: uud
what: sa
when: bain hira
where: iha ne'e be
which: what, sa ida, who, ne'e be
which are against the needs of mother earth: where harmony will ensure
which who: ida ne'e be
while tetun is understood in all areas of timor: there is a wide
whisper: blow softly, huu
whistle: hakfuik, kfui
white: mutin
who: whom, se
who spent the first half of their lives in water: and also came from
whoever: naran ida
why: nu'u sa, because, tan ba
widow: feto faluk
widowed: faluk
wife (impolite): fen
wife (polite): kaben
wild: savage, fuik
win: earn, manan
wind: anin
window: dinela (p)
wine: tua
winnowing basket: lafatik
wipe: brush, kose
with 'm" where the phonetic sound is 'n': and this is what they have
with his wife and children. after about a year: all the relatives and
without: not any, laek
woman: feto
woman's song: sabulu
word: speech, lia
words which require emphasis repeat the first syllable of the word as a prefix: mouris, moumousis, alive. also refer to
words which require emphasis repeat the first syllable of the word as a prefix: mouris: moumousis, alive. also refer to
work: job, knaar
worked as the japanese soon followed the australian invasion: resulting
worm: ular
wound: hahanek, injure, kanek
write: harkerek
wrong: la los
Y
year: tinan
yellow: kinu
you (plural): imi
you (singular): o
young: immature, nurak, single nobleman, klosan
young boy: oan mane
young girl: oan feto
young leaf: ai tahan okat
younger brother: alin
younger sister: alin feto
yours: imi nian
youth: labarik, lauarik