Cooking & Markets

1. Hahaan ne'e halo oinsá?

   How do you make this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how a local dish is prepared.

   Grammar Note

   "oinsá" is the interrogative adverb "how"; Tetun leaves the clause in statement order and puts it at the end. "Food" is "hahaan" (the doubled vowel marks length).

2. Hau hakarak sosa ai farina iha merkadu.

   I want to buy cassava at the market.

   Usage

   Used to buy cassava, a staple food in Timor-Leste, at a local market.

   Grammar Note

   Cassava is "ai farina". "fehuk ropa" means Irish potato, not cassava.

3. Ai manas ne'e gostu liu.

   This chili is very flavorful.

   Usage

   Used to compliment the chili, an essential ingredient in Timorese cooking.

   Grammar Note

   "liu" marks comparison or emphasis. "Tasty / delicious" is furak, gostu, midar — "sabroza" is not used. Chilli is written "ai manas" as two words.

4. Bele hanorin hau halo batar?

   Can you teach me how to make corn dishes?

   Usage

   Used to learn how to cook with corn, another Timorese staple food.

   Grammar Note

   "bele" before a verb expresses ability or permission.

5. Kafé Timor nia gostu hanesan saida?

   What does Timorese coffee taste like?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the flavor of Timorese coffee, a famous export.

   Grammar Note

   "gosta" is the verb "to like", not "to taste". The noun for taste/flavour is "gostu" (or "sabór"). Coffee is spelled "kafé".

6. Hau presiza azeite ba te'in.

   I need olive oil for cooking.

   Usage

   Used to request a cooking ingredient.

   Grammar Note

   "te'in" is the native Tetum word for "to cook".

7. Temperus ne'e forte liu. Sona uluk!

   This spice is too strong. Fry it first!

   Usage

   Used when giving cooking instructions about spices.

   Grammar Note

   "liu" after an adjective means "too" (excessively). "Spice/seasoning" is "temperus"; "tahu" means tofu. "To fry" is "sona" ("sona ho mina" = fry in oil); "te'in" is the general verb "to cook".

8. Te'in hamutuk, aprende hamutuk.

   Let's cook together and learn together.

   Usage

   Used in cooking classes or communal cooking settings.

   Grammar Note

   "hamutuk" is a native Tetum word meaning "together", reflecting communal spirit.

9. Ikan husi tasi bele halo hahaan saida?

   What dishes are made from sea fish?

   Usage

   Used to ask about seafood dishes in coastal Timor-Leste.

   Grammar Note

   "ikan" (fish) is shared with Malay/Indonesian; "husi" means "from". "tetu" means to weigh and has nothing to do with cooking. "Food/dish" is "hahaan".

10. Hahaan ne'e manas ka gostu liu?

    Is this food spicy or very tasty?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the characteristics of a dish.

    Grammar Note

    "ka" means "or" in alternative questions. "maran" means dry, not spicy — spicy and hot are both "manas".

11. Masin

    Salt

    Usage

    Ask for seasoning or check an ingredient

12. Masin-midar

    Sugar

    Usage

    Sugar; literally "sweet salt"

13. Mina

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Check what the dish is cooked in

14. Manteiga

    Butter

    Usage

    Check for dairy or order it

15. Bani-been

    Honey

    Usage

    Check an ingredient or order it

16. Liis bombai

    Onion

    Usage

    Check for it or ask to leave it out. Onion is "liis bombai" / "liis boot"; bare "liis" also covers garlic

17. Ai manas

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    Point at it to add or avoid heat

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