Nature & Outdoors

1. Foho ne'e naran saida?

   Fo-ho ne-e na-ran sai-da?

   What is the name of this mountain?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of a mountain or natural landmark

   Grammar Note

   naran saida is the standard way to ask "what is the name of..."

2. Tasi ne'e moos tebes ba nani.

   Ta-si ne-e mo-os te-bes ba na-ni.

   This sea is very clean and great for swimming.

   Usage

   Used to describe a clean and safe sea for swimming

   Grammar Note

   ba + verb indicates suitability or purpose, meaning "good for doing X". "Swim" is "nani" ("natar" means "rice paddy")

3. Ahi-fukun ne'e bonitu tebes bainhira loro sa'e.

   A-hi-fu-kun ne-e bo-ni-tu te-bes bain-hi-ra lo-ro sa-e.

   This volcano is beautiful at sunrise.

   Usage

   Used to describe the beauty of a volcanic landscape

   Grammar Note

   "Loro sa'e" (two words) is "sunrise" and "lorosa'e" (one word) is "east" — they are separate words. This card is about the time of day, so it uses "bainhira loro sa'e" (when the sun rises). "tebes" means "very"

4. Hau hakarak haree ai-funan iha ai-laran.

   Hau ha-ka-rak ha-re-e ai-fu-nan i-ha ai-la-ran.

   I want to see flowers in the forest.

   Usage

   Used to express interest in forest flowers or nature walks

   Grammar Note

   ai-funan is a compound of ai (tree/wood) and funan (flower). Forest is "ai laran" (inside the trees); Portuguese "floresta" is not used

5. Udan boot sei mai bainhira?

   U-dan bo-ot sei mai bain-hi-ra?

   When will the heavy rain come?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the arrival of heavy rain or monsoon season

   Grammar Note

   sei is a future tense marker placed before the verb

6. Ai-horis boot sira iha área protesaun nian.

   Ai-ho-ris bo-ot si-ra i-ha a-re-a pro-te-saun ni-an.

   Large trees are in the protected area.

   Usage

   Used to describe trees or plants in a protected nature reserve

   Grammar Note

   sira marks plurality; ai-horis boot sira means "large trees". "Protesaun" means protection; "X nian" forms "for X", the same pattern as "loja lembransa nian" (souvenir shop)

7. Bee-matan ne'e moos ba hemu?

   Be-e-ma-tan ne-e mo-os ba he-mu?

   Is the water from this spring safe to drink?

   Usage

   Used to ask if spring or natural water is safe to drink

   Grammar Note

   bee-matan compounds bee (water) and matan (eye/source), meaning "spring". The verb for "drink" is hemu; "inu" is not used.

8. Hau haree manu la baibain ida iha ai-laran.

   Hau ha-re-e ma-nu la bai-bain i-da i-ha ai-la-ran.

   I saw a rare bird in the forest.

   Usage

   Used to report a birdwatching or wildlife sighting

   Grammar Note

   ai-laran compounds ai (tree) and laran (inside/interior) to mean "in the forest". There is no single word for "rare"; it is expressed by negating "baibain" (ordinary) as "la baibain"

9. Tasi ibun ne'e di'ak ba la'o pasiar.

   Ta-si i-bun ne-e di-ak ba la-o pa-si-ar.

   This coastline is good for walking.

   Usage

   Used to recommend a coastal walk

   Grammar Note

   di'ak ba + verb forms a recommendation meaning "good for doing X". Coast is "tasi ibun" and strolling is "la'o pasiar" ("beira" and "kaminhada" are untranslated Portuguese)

10. Hakmatek! Haree lenuk iha tasi.

    Hak-ma-tek! Ha-re-e le-nuk i-ha ta-si.

    Quiet! Look at the sea turtle in the ocean.

    Usage

    Used to alert others to a wildlife sighting and ask for quiet

    Grammar Note

    Hakmatek is the imperative form of the verb meaning "to be quiet/still". Turtle is "lenuk"; Portuguese "tartaruga" is not used

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