Banking & ATM

1. Banku iha ne'ebé?

   Where is the bank?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a bank

   Grammar Note

   "iha ne'ebé?" asks "where is it?" — "iha" functions as a preposition here. "Bank" is "banku" (the homonym banku hodi tuur means bench).

2. Hau hakarak troka osan.

   I want to exchange money.

   Usage

   Requesting currency exchange

   Grammar Note

   "hakarak + verb" is the basic Tetum pattern for expressing desire to do something

3. Hau presiza retira osan husi ATM.

   I need to withdraw money from an ATM.

   Usage

   Saying you need to withdraw cash from an ATM

   Grammar Note

   "husi" is the Tetum preposition meaning "from" — marks the origin or source

4. Taxa troka saida?

   What is the exchange rate?

   Usage

   Asking about the current exchange rate

   Grammar Note

   "saida" is the Tetum question word for "what". It often appears at the end

5. Hau hakarak haruka osan ba Japaun.

   I want to send money to Japan.

   Usage

   Requesting an international money transfer

   Grammar Note

   "ba" is the Tetum directional preposition meaning "to" or "towards"

6. Iha taxa servisu?

   Is there a service fee?

   Usage

   Asking if there is a transaction or service fee

   Grammar Note

   "Iha taxa servisu?" is an existential question asking "Is there a service fee?"

7. Hau labele uza kartaun kréditu ne'e.

   I cannot use this credit card.

   Usage

   Explaining that a credit card is not working or accepted

   Grammar Note

   "labele" = "la" (neg) + "bele" (can). Combined to mean "cannot"

8. Hau hakarak depózitu osan.

   I want to deposit money.

   Usage

   Making a deposit at a bank

   Grammar Note

   Portuguese financial terms are commonly used in East Timor's banking sector

9. Hau lakon kartaun hau nian.

   I lost my card.

   Usage

   Reporting a lost bank or credit card

   Grammar Note

   "nian" is Tetum's post-nominal possessive marker. "hau nian" means "mine / my"

10. Banku loke iha oras hira?

    What time does the bank open?

    Usage

    Asking about bank opening hours

    Grammar Note

    "iha oras hira?" means "at what time?" — "oras" means hour and "hira" means how many

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