Food & Drinks

1. Hau hakarak han

   Hau ha-ka-rak han

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Basic expression when you want to order food at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "hakarak" is a pre-verbal modal expressing desire. Tetum SVO order: subject (Hau) + modal (hakarak) + verb (han).

2. Hau hakarak hemu

   Hau ha-ka-rak he-mu

   I want to drink

   Usage

   Basic expression when ordering drinks

   Grammar Note

   "han" (eat) and "hemu" (drink) are the most basic food verbs in Tetum. The same "hakarak + verb" structure expresses desire for both.

3. Ne'e hira?

   Ne-e hi-ra?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Used at markets or food stalls to ask the price

   Grammar Note

   "hira" is the question word for quantity or price. Tetum tends to place question words at the end. Timor-Leste uses the US dollar (USD).

4. Etu manas ida

   E-tu ma-nas i-da

   One serving of hot rice, please

   Usage

   Cooked rice (etu) is the staple food in Timor-Leste. Basic ordering phrase at a local canteen

   Grammar Note

   Numerals follow nouns in Tetum: "etu manas ida" = rice + hot + one. Tetun distinguishes "etu" (cooked rice), "foos" (uncooked rice) and "hare" (the rice plant).

5. Ikan tunu

   I-kan tu-nu

   Grilled fish

   Usage

   Timor-Leste is an island nation with abundant fresh fish. A common menu item

   Grammar Note

   "ikan" is shared with Indonesian/Malay. "To grill/roast" is "tunu" (over coals: "lalar"); "moos" means clean and never means grilled.

6. Kafé ida fó mai hau

   Ka-fe i-da fo mai hau

   Please bring me one coffee

   Usage

   Timorese coffee is famous for its quality. Dili has many cafes worth visiting

   Grammar Note

   "fó mai hau" = "give toward me." Structure: "fó" (give) + "mai" (directional: toward) + "hau" (me). Directional verbs are common in Tetum.

7. Hahaan ne'e gostu

   Ha-ha-an ne-e gos-tu

   This food is delicious

   Usage

   Expression to compliment food. Will delight the cook or owner

   Grammar Note

   "Delicious / tasty" is furak, gostu, or midar; the Portuguese form "saboroso / saborozu" is not used in Tetun. "gostu" is a noun (taste) and an adjective (tasty).

8. Bee malirin ida

   Bee ma-li-rin i-da

   One cold water, please

   Usage

   In tropical Timor-Leste, cold water is essential

   Grammar Note

   "bee" is a native Tetun root for water. "Cold (to the touch)" is "malirin"; "fresku" is not used. Adjectives follow the noun in Tetun.

9. Konta fó mai hau

   Kon-ta fo mai hau

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Phrase to request the bill at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "konta" from Portuguese "conta" (bill/account). "fó mai hau" = give to me. Splitting the bill is not common practice in Timor-Leste.

10. La iha ai manas

    La i-ha ai ma-nas

    Without spice / Not spicy

    Usage

    Use if you cannot eat spicy food. Timorese cooking often uses chili

    Grammar Note

    Chilli is "ai manas" (ai = plant, manas = hot). "mean" only means the colour red and does not extend to chilli or spiciness. "la iha ai manas" = "there is no chilli in it."

11. Hau vejetarianu

    Hau ve-je-ta-ri-a-nu

    I am vegetarian

    Usage

    Phrase to communicate dietary restriction, using a Portuguese-derived word

    Grammar Note

    Tetum can express "to be" by placing a noun/adjective directly after the subject — no copula needed. "Hau vejetarianu" is a concise way to state one's diet.

12. Etu

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Ordering cooked rice; a different word from raw rice

13. Foos

    Uncooked rice

    Usage

    Buying raw rice at a market; a different word from cooked rice

14. Paun

    Bread

    Usage

    Use when buying at a shop

15. Mie

    Noodles

    Usage

    Use when ordering

16. Modo

    Vegetables / greens

    Usage

    Point at it in a market or eatery

17. Ai-han matak

    Raw / not cooked

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether food is uncooked; "matak" alone also means green, so it is paired with "ai-han" (food)

18. Midar

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describe or check the taste

19. Sopa

    Soup

    Usage

    Use when ordering

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