Adjectives

1. Boot

   Bo-ot

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. Ki'ik

   Ki-ik

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. Todan

   To-dan

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. Kmaan

   Kma-an

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. For bright use naroman

5. Karun

   Ka-run

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

6. Baratu

   Ba-ra-tu

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

7. Manas

   Ma-nas

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   For hot food or water. Hot weather is Loron manas

8. Malirin

   Ma-li-rin

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects. Cold weather is Tempu malirin

9. Foun

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. Tuan

    Tu-an

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    Old, of an object. For elderly people use katuas / ferik

11. Foin sa'e

    Foin sa-e

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. Katuas

    Ka-tu-as

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    An elderly man; an elderly woman is ferik

13. Moos

    Mo-os

    Clean

    Usage

    Praises cleanliness (for "beautiful" use furak)

14. Foer

    Fo-er

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. Di'ak

    Di-ak

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. Aat

    A-at

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. Besik

    Be-sik

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

18. Dook

    Do-ok

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

19. Sedu

    Se-du

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is lalais

20. Tarde

    Tar-de

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late for a time. Slow in speed is neineik

21. Barak

    Ba-rak

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. Uitoan

    U-i-to-an

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. Loron manas

    Lo-ron ma-nas

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    The weather is hot. For a hot object just say manas

24. Tempu malirin

    Tem-pu ma-li-rin

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    The weather is cold. For a cold object just say malirin

25. Gostu

    Gos-tu

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment during a meal. "Delicious" is furak / gostu / midar; the Portuguese form saboroso is not used in Tetun

26. Kontenti

    Kon-ten-ti

    Happy / content

    Usage

    Used to share how enjoyable an experience was (literally "happy / content"). Kontenti is more common than haksolok in Dili

27. Barak liu

    More

    Usage

    Ask for more of something

28. Uitoan de'it

    Just a little

    Usage

    Ask for only a small amount

29. Metade

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half the amount

30. Hotu-hotu

    All

    Usage

    Say you want all of it

31. Natoon ona

    That is enough

    Usage

    Say stop when someone is serving you

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