Traveling with Kids

1. Iha área jogu ba labarik?

   I-ha a-re-a jo-gu ba la-ba-rik?

   Is there a play area for children?

   Usage

   Used on family trips to find a children's play area

   Grammar Note

   ba here acts as a preposition meaning "for"

2. Ita-boot iha menu ba labarik?

   I-ta-bo-ot i-ha me-nu ba la-ba-rik?

   Do you have a children's menu?

   Usage

   Used at a restaurant to ask for a children's menu

   Grammar Note

   Ita-boot is the polite form of "you," appropriate for addressing staff

3. Hau nia labarik tinan lima.

   Hau ni-a la-ba-rik ti-nan li-ma.

   My child is five years old.

   Usage

   Used to state a child's age, e.g. for discounts or facility rules

   Grammar Note

   tinan + number expresses age; nia is the possessive marker

4. Iha fatin ba troka fralda?

   I-ha fa-tin ba tro-ka fral-da?

   Is there a place to change diapers?

   Usage

   Used when traveling with a baby to find a diaper-changing facility

   Grammar Note

   "ba troka fralda" is a purpose phrase, "for changing diapers". Toilet is "sentina" and bathroom is "kaza de banhu" / "hariis fatin"; Portuguese "banheiro" is not used

5. Labarik atu tama selu hira?

   La-ba-rik a-tu ta-ma se-lu hi-ra?

   What is the admission price for children?

   Usage

   Used at tourist attractions to ask for children's ticket prices

   Grammar Note

   "hira" at the end of a clause asks "how much". "ativasaun" means activation, not admission; an entrance fee is expressed as "how much do you pay to enter"

6. Hau presiza hahaan ba bebee.

   Hau pre-si-za ha-ha-an ba be-bee.

   I need baby food for my child.

   Usage

   Used when traveling with a baby to request baby food

   Grammar Note

   "Baby" is "bebee" and "food" is "hahaan"; there is no word "ben-bebe"

7. Hau nia labarik hakarak sorvete.

   Hau ni-a la-ba-rik ha-ka-rak sor-ve-te.

   My child wants ice cream.

   Usage

   Used when a child is asking for something like ice cream

   Grammar Note

   hakarak is a desiderative verb followed by a noun or base verb

8. Iha eskola sábadu lokál?

   I-ha es-ko-la sa-ba-du lo-kal?

   Is there a local Saturday school?

   Usage

   Used to ask about weekend educational programs for children

   Grammar Note

   Days of the week in Tetum are almost entirely borrowed from Portuguese

9. Bele fó lisensa atu lori labarik ka lae?

   Be-le fo li-sen-sa a-tu lo-ri la-ba-rik ka la-e?

   Can we bring children along?

   Usage

   Used to ask if children are allowed to join an activity or tour

   Grammar Note

   "atu" introduces the purpose ("in order to"). "Permission" is "lisensa"; "todan" means heavy / weight and never means permission

10. Labarik sira gosta tebe-tebe.

    La-ba-rik si-ra gos-ta te-be-te-be.

    The children really love tebe-tebe (traditional dance).

    Usage

    Used to express that children are enjoying a cultural experience

    Grammar Note

    sira is a post-nominal plural marker meaning "they" or "-s"

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