Art & Museums

1. Muzeu arte / galeria iha ne'ebé?

   Mu-zeu ar-te / ga-le-ri-a i-ha ne-e-be?

   Where is the art museum / gallery?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of an art museum or gallery

   Grammar Note

   "Iha ne'ebé?" = where is it? "Iha" serves both as a copula and preposition in Tetum

2. Sira loke iha oras hira?

   Si-ra lo-ke i-ha o-ras hi-ra?

   What are the opening hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about opening hours

   Grammar Note

   "To open" is "loke"; "lohi" does not mean open. Clock time is asked with "iha oras hira?"

3. Atu tama presiza selu hira?

   A-tu ta-ma pre-si-za se-lu hi-ra?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the admission price

   Grammar Note

   "nain hira" counts people and cannot be used for an amount of money. Amounts use "hira" with the verb "selu" (to pay). The noun for price is "folin" or "presu".

4. Iha laran halo foto bele ka lae?

   I-ha la-ran ha-lo fo-to be-le ka la-e?

   Is photography allowed inside?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether photography is permitted inside

   Grammar Note

   "Bele ka lae?" = can or not? (yes/no question). "Lae" = no/not. "Bele" = can/allowed

5. Iha gia audio ka lae?

   I-ha gi-a au-di-o ka la-e?

   Do you have an audio guide?

   Usage

   Used to ask for an audio guide

   Grammar Note

   "Iha ... ka lae?" = is there...? "Guide" is "gia" (also "matadalan"). For "audio guide", "audio" is simply postposed.

6. Arte lokál / tradisionál nia koleksaun iha ne'ebé?

   Ar-te lo-kal / tra-di-si-o-nal ni-a ko-lek-saun i-ha ne-e-be?

   Where is the collection of local / traditional art?

   Usage

   Used to locate the local or traditional art collection

   Grammar Note

   "Nia" is a genitive/possessive marker in Tetum. "Arte lokál nia koleksaun" = local art's collection

7. Arte ne'e bonitu tebes — artista ne'e sé?

   Ar-te ne-e bo-ni-tu te-bes — ar-tis-ta ne-e se?

   This artwork is stunning — who is the artist?

   Usage

   Used to express admiration and ask who the artist is

   Grammar Note

   "Sé?" = who in Tetum. "Tebes" = really/very (emphasis particle). "Bonitu" from Portuguese

8. Hau bele sosa kopia arte ne'e ka lae?

   Hau be-le so-sa ko-pi-a ar-te ne-e ka la-e?

   Can I buy a print / reproduction of this work?

   Usage

   Used to ask about buying a print or reproduction

   Grammar Note

   "Hau bele sosa" = I can buy. Adding "ka lae" makes it a yes/no question

9. Iha visita ho gia ka lae?

   I-ha vi-si-ta ho gi-a ka la-e?

   Is there a guided tour available?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether guided tours are offered

   Grammar Note

   "Ho" = with (preposition). "Guide" is "gia" (also "matadalan" / "matadalan ba turista"); the Portuguese spelling "guia" is not used.

10. Hau hakarak partisipa iha workshop arte ida.

    Hau ha-ka-rak par-ti-si-pa i-ha workshop ar-te i-da.

    I'd like to attend an art workshop.

    Usage

    Used to express interest in joining an art workshop

    Grammar Note

    "Hakarak" = to want/wish. "Ida" = one/a (numeral used as indefinite article in Tetum)

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