Hotel

1. Hau iha rezerva

   Hau i-ha re-zer-va

   I have a reservation

   Usage

   Basic phrase used at hotel check-in

   Grammar Note

   To book is "rezerva" ("halo rezerva"); the spelling "rezservasaun" does not exist. In Tetun, "iha" covers both "there is/are" and "to have."

2. Kuartu ida livre iha ka lae?

   Ku-ar-tu i-da li-vre i-ha ka lae?

   Is there a room available?

   Usage

   Use when arriving at a hotel without a reservation

   Grammar Note

   "kuartu" from Portuguese "quarto" and "livre" from Portuguese "livre." Portuguese loanwords reflect the colonial period (1515–1975).

3. Folin ba kalan ida hira?

   Fo-lin ba ka-lan i-da hi-ra?

   How much per night?

   Usage

   Ask the nightly room rate

   Grammar Note

   Accommodation is counted in nights ("kalan"), not days. The word for price is "folin" (or "presu"); the spelling "prexu" does not occur.

4. Iha Wi-Fi ka lae?

   I-ha Wi-Fi ka lae?

   Is there WiFi?

   Usage

   Check for WiFi availability at a hotel or guesthouse

   Grammar Note

   "iha X ka lae?" is the most versatile "is there X?" construction. "iha" functions as an existential verb. Internet access in Timor-Leste has improved rapidly in recent years.

5. Hau hakarak hamoos kuartu

   Hau ha-ka-rak ha-mo-os ku-ar-tu

   I would like my room cleaned

   Usage

   Request housekeeping service

   Grammar Note

   "To clean" is "hamoos" (causative of "moos", clean); "hadia" means to repair or fix. "hakarak + verb" forms the desire construction "want to..."

6. Ar kondisionadu la servisu

   Ar kon-di-si-o-na-du la ser-vi-su

   The air conditioning is not working

   Usage

   Report a broken facility to the front desk

   Grammar Note

   "servisu" from Portuguese "serviço" (service/work). In Tetum it means "to function/work." "la servisu" = not working/broken.

7. Hau bele hetan xave kuartu?

   Hau be-le he-tan xa-ve ku-ar-tu?

   Can I get the room key?

   Usage

   Use after check-in or if you have lost your key

   Grammar Note

   "xave" is from Portuguese "chave" (key), spelled to match Tetum phonology. "bele hetan" = "can get/receive" — ability + resultative verb.

8. Halo cek out oras hira?

   Ha-lo cek out o-ras hi-ra?

   What time is check-out?

   Usage

   Confirm the check-out time

   Grammar Note

   "oras hira?" is the standard "what time?" pattern. Check-out is spelt "cek out" and the verb phrase is "halo cek out."

9. Iha bee manas ka lae?

   I-ha bee ma-nas ka lae?

   Is there hot water?

   Usage

   Important to check in budget guesthouses, as hot water is not always available

   Grammar Note

   "bee manas" (hot water) and "bee malirin" (cold water) are common collocations. "manas" (hot) follows the noun it modifies.

10. Hau hakarak sai ohin loron

    Hau ha-ka-rak sai o-hin lo-ron

    I would like to check out today

    Usage

    Phrase to inform the hotel of your check-out

    Grammar Note

    "ohin loron" emphasizes "today daytime." "ohin" alone also means "today." "sai" is a native Tetum verb meaning "to leave/exit."

11. Toalha

    Towel

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

12. Almofada

    Pillow

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

13. Manta

    Blanket

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

14. Sabaun

    Soap

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

15. Xampu

    Shampoo

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

16. Eskova nehan

    Toothbrush

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

17. Papel sentina

    Toilet paper

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

18. Favór ida hamoos kuartu

    Please clean the room

    Usage

    Ask for the room to be cleaned

19. Kuartu ne'ebé hakmatek

    A quiet room

    Usage

    Ask to be moved to a quieter room

20. Barulhu tebes

    It is too noisy

    Usage

    Complain about noise

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