Hau moras. Presiza doutór.
Hau mo-ras. Pre-si-za dou-tor.
I am sick. I need a doctor.
Usage
Emergency expression used when feeling ill and needing medical help
Grammar Note
In Tetum, subjects can be dropped, so "Moras. Presiza doutór." is also understood. "Doctor" is "doutór" (feminine "doutora"); it is not spelled "dotor".
Hau isin-lolon moras.
Hau i-sin-lo-lon mo-ras.
My whole body hurts.
Usage
Used to describe full-body pain or aching
Grammar Note
isin-lolon is a compound of isin (body) and lolon (whole/all)
Hau kabun moras.
Hau ka-bun mo-ras.
I have a stomachache.
Usage
Used to describe stomach pain
Grammar Note
kabun means "stomach / belly"; moras (painful) follows it. (laran moras leans toward "heartache")
Hau isin manas.
Hau i-sin ma-nas.
I have a fever.
Usage
Used to report having a fever
Grammar Note
"Have a fever" is "isin manas" (lit. "body is hot"). "temperatura aas" is a descriptive paraphrase.
Ospitál iha ne'ebé?
Os-pi-tal i-ha ne-e-be?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Used to ask for the location of a hospital
Grammar Note
ne'ebé is the locative interrogative meaning "where"
Medikamentu ne'e hanesan saida?
Me-di-ka-men-tu ne-e ha-ne-san sai-da?
What is this medicine?
Usage
Used to ask about a prescribed or recommended medicine
Grammar Note
hanesan saida forms an identity question meaning "what is it"
Hau iha alerjia ba aimoruk ne'e.
Hau i-ha a-ler-ji-a ba ai-mo-ruk ne-e.
I am allergic to this medicine.
Usage
Used to inform a doctor about a drug allergy
Grammar Note
"aimoruk" traditionally meant "herbal remedy" but is now used for medicine generally. "Allergy" is "alerjia"; it is not spelled "alergia" / "alérjia". The possessor verb is "iha".
Hau presiza insulina.
Hau pre-si-za in-su-li-na.
I need insulin.
Usage
Used by diabetic patients requesting insulin at a pharmacy or hospital
Grammar Note
Many medical terms in Tetum are direct borrowings from Portuguese
Hau mos moras iha ulun.
Hau mos mo-ras i-ha u-lun.
I also have a headache.
Usage
Used to report a headache
Grammar Note
mos is an additive adverb meaning "also" or "too"
Bele hakerek reseita aimoruk?
Be-le ha-ke-rek re-sei-ta ai-mo-ruk?
Can you write a medicine prescription?
Usage
Used to request a written prescription from a doctor
Grammar Note
bele + verb forms a polite request ("can you..."). "Prescription" is "reseita aimoruk"; "rekomendasaun" means recommendation, not prescription
Hau isin-rua
I am pregnant
Usage
Critical before any medication or X-ray
Diabetes
Usage
Tell medical staff about this condition
Tensaun aas
High blood pressure
Usage
Tell medical staff about this condition
Fuan moras
Heart disease
Usage
Tell medical staff about this condition. "Heart disease" is "fuan moras" (heart + be ill).
Asma
Asthma
Usage
Tell medical staff about this condition
Hau susar atu dada iis
I have trouble breathing
Usage
Report breathing difficulty urgently
Oin halai
I feel dizzy
Usage
Report dizziness. "dizzy" is "oin halai"
Raan sai
I am bleeding
Usage
Report bleeding
Ruin tohar
A bone is broken
Usage
Report a suspected fracture
Kanek
Wound / cut
Usage
Show a cut or open wound
Kanek sunu
I have a burn
Usage
Report a burn
Hau me'ar
I have a cough
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist you have a cough
Seguru
Insurance
Usage
Ask about paying via insurance
Grupu raan
Blood group
Usage
Blood group; "raan" is blood. "Tipu raan" means the same
Atestadu médiku
Doctor's certificate
Usage
A doctor's certificate, needed for insurance claims
Baixa
Hospitalization
Usage
Being hospitalised or staying in hospital as an in-patient; being discharged is "alta"
Isin malirin
Chills
Usage
Feeling cold or chilled because of illness; shivering from fever is "bedoko"
Kostupadu
Common cold
Usage
Describes having a cold; influenza is "gripe"
Husu doutór!
Hu-su dou-tor!
Please call a doctor
Usage
Asks someone on the spot to call a doctor, for instance when a person has collapsed
Grammar Note
The object slot of "Husu polísia!" filled with "doutór". Tetun imperatives are the bare verb.
Hau isin todan.
Hau i-sin to-dan.
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Tells a doctor that you feel heavy and without energy, as with a fever or exhaustion
Grammar Note
Same "Hau isin + state word" frame as "Hau isin manas." "Isin todan" means "lethargic, lacking energy" (similar: isin baruk). On its own "todan" means "heavy".
Hau muta dala barak.
Hau mu-ta da-la ba-rak.
I have vomited several times
Usage
Tells a doctor that you have been throwing up repeatedly
Grammar Note
The "Hau + verb" frame ("Hau moras" and others). Tetun verbs do not inflect; tense comes from context. "Dala barak" is the form for "often".
Hau presiza deskansa ka lae?
Hau pre-si-za des-kan-sa ka la-e?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Checks with the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
The "Hau presiza X" frame with the yes-no tag "ka lae?" (as in "Dalan ne'e lori ba [destinasaun] ka lae?"). "Deskansa" means "rest" (as in "fatin atu deskansa").
Diaréia
Diarrhea
Usage
Tell medical staff about diarrhea. There are two words for it, diaréia and kabun moras.
Tee toos
Constipation
Usage
Tell medical staff about constipation. Constipation is tee toos; tee is defecation/stool and toos is hard. The adjective teen toos also means "stingy", so do not say it about a person
Tee
Poop
Usage
The everyday word for human stool, and as a verb "to defecate". Tee means defecate; (human) faeces, excrement, poo, and is not impolite. Animal dung is a different word, teen
Mii
Pee
Usage
The everyday word for urine, and as a verb "to urinate". Mii means urinate; urine, and is not impolite. It is also the word inside mii midar (diabetes, literally "sweet urine")
Hau tee been.
I have diarrhea.
Usage
Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
The "Hau + verb" frame. "Tee been" means "have diarrhoea". Been means water.
Hau iha tee toos.
Hau i-ha tee toos.
I'm constipated.
Usage
Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
The same "Hau iha + noun" frame as "Hau iha alerjia ba aimoruk ne'e." The adjective "teen toos" also means "stingy", so the noun tee toos is used here.
Hau hakarak mii.
Hau ha-ka-rak mii.
I need to pee.
Usage
Used to tell a companion or a child that you need to pee
Grammar Note
"Hau hakarak + verb" means "I want to ..." Example: "Hau hakarak troka osan." Mii works as a verb.
Hau hakarak tee.
Hau ha-ka-rak tee.
I need to poop.
Usage
Used to tell a companion or a child that you need to poop
Grammar Note
The "Hau hakarak + verb" frame. As a verb, tee means "to defecate".
More Tetum phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences