Flirting

1. Ó furak tebes ba hau

   o fu-rak te-bes ba hau

   You are very beautiful to me

   Grammar Note

   "Ba" is a directional/benefactive preposition. "Ba hau" = "to/for me".

2. Hau gosta matan ó nian

   hau gos-ta ma-tan o ni-an

   I like your eyes

   Grammar Note

   "Nian" is the post-nominal possessive particle: "matan ó nian" = "your eyes". "To like" is "gosta"; "haree" would mean "I look at your eyes", a different statement.

3. Hau hadomi ó

   hau ha-do-mi o

   I love you

   Usage

   In Timorese culture, "hadomi" is a sincere and meaningful expression of love

   Grammar Note

   "Hadomi" is a native Tetum verb meaning to love and cherish.

4. Ita bele ba han hamutuk?

   i-ta be-le ba han ha-mu-tuk

   Can we go eat together?

   Usage

   Inviting someone to eat together is a natural way to socialize in East Timor

   Grammar Note

   "Ita" = inclusive "we" (includes the listener). "Hamutuk" = together.

5. Hau hamnasa bainhira haree ó

   hau ham-na-sa bain-hi-ra ha-ree o

   I smile when I see you

   Grammar Note

   "Bainhira" = "when/whenever" — a temporal conjunction. "To see" is spelled "haree"; "hare" is a different word meaning "rice plant".

6. Hau hanoin ó nafatin

   hau ha-no-in o na-fa-tin

   I always think of you

   Grammar Note

   "Nafatin" means always/still/continuously — a key adverb in Tetum.

7. Ó hamnasa furak tebes

   o ham-na-sa fu-rak te-bes

   Your smile is very beautiful

   Grammar Note

   "Hamnasa" functions as both verb (to smile) and noun (smile/laughter).

8. Bele hemu kafé hamutuk?

   be-le he-mu ka-fe ha-mu-tuk

   Shall we drink coffee together?

   Usage

   East Timor produces excellent coffee — inviting someone for local coffee is very natural

   Grammar Note

   "Kafé" (from Portuguese "café") = coffee. East Timor is a major coffee producer.

9. Hau kontenti bainhira iha ó

   hau kon-ten-ti bain-hi-ra i-ha o

   I am happy when you are here

   Grammar Note

   "Iha" = to be present/exist, or "at/in" as a preposition. Very versatile in Tetum.

10. Bele hasoru malu dala ida tan?

    be-le ha-so-ru ma-lu da-la i-da tan

    Can we meet again?

    Grammar Note

    "Hasoru malu" = "to meet each other" — the reciprocal form of "to meet".

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