Numbers

1. Ida

   I-da

   One (1)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 1. Also used for quantity, order, and as an indefinite article

   Grammar Note

   Tetum numerals 1–10 are native Austronesian words. "ida" follows the noun it quantifies (post-nominal). Also serves as an indefinite article: "ema ida" = a person.

2. Rua

   Ru-a

   Two (2)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 2

   Grammar Note

   "rua" shares the Austronesian root with Malay "dua" and related languages. Tetum is distantly related to Malay, Filipino, and other Austronesian languages.

3. Tolu

   To-lu

   Three (3)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 3

   Grammar Note

   "tolu" is cognate with Fijian "tolu" and reflects common Austronesian numeral roots. Tetum numerals demonstrate the wide reach of the Austronesian family.

4. Haat

   Four (4)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 4

   Grammar Note

   "haat" is a native Tetum numeral. Though sharing Austronesian roots with Malay "empat," the forms diverged significantly across the language family.

5. Lima

   Li-ma

   Five (5)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 5 — shared with Malay and Tagalog

   Grammar Note

   "lima" (5) is shared across many Austronesian languages and derives from the word for "hand" (5 fingers) — reflecting the quinary counting roots of the Austronesian family.

6. Neen

   Ne-en

   Six (6)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 6

   Grammar Note

   "neen" is native Tetum for 6. From eleven up, native numerals are built with resin ("sanulu resin ida" = ten plus one), and Portuguese numerals (onzi, dozi …) are used alongside them.

7. Hitu

   Hi-tu

   Seven (7)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 7

   Grammar Note

   "hitu" shares an Austronesian root with Malay "tujuh." Tetum numerals are placed after the noun they modify: "kuartu hitu" = room seven.

8. Walu

   Wa-lu

   Eight (8)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 8

   Grammar Note

   It is spelled walu in 18 sanulu resin walu, 80 walu-nulu, 800 atus walu; the variant spelling ualu also occurs. The root is shared with Polynesian "walu"; Tetum belongs to the Timor-Maluku branch of Austronesian.

9. Sia

   Si-a

   Nine (9)

   Usage

   Native Tetum numeral 9

   Grammar Note

   "sia" is native Tetum for 9. Tetum numerals 1–10 are all native Austronesian words, a feature that distinguishes them from the Portuguese-influenced higher numbers.

10. Sanulu

    Sa-nu-lu

    Ten (10)

    Usage

    Native Tetum numeral 10

    Grammar Note

    "sanulu" is native Tetum for 10. From eleven up, numbers are built with resin: "sanulu resin ida" (ten plus one = 11). Portuguese numerals (onzi 11, dozi 12, vinti 20, sentu 100) are used alongside them.

11. Vinte dolar

    Vin-te do-lar

    Twenty dollars

    Usage

    Practical currency expression. Timor-Leste uses the US dollar (USD)

    Grammar Note

    "vinte" is Portuguese for 20. Portuguese numerals are common where the loan is entrenched, such as sums of money, but native numerals do not drop out above ten (11 is sanulu resin ida / onzi; 20 is rua-nulu / vinti), and the native "sanulu resin lima" (15) is used too. Timor-Leste adopted the USD in 2000 and also mints its own centavo coins.

12. Hau tinan ruanulu resin hitu.

    Hau ti-nan ru-a-nu-lu re-sin hi-tu.

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Stating your own age, using the same "subject + tinan + number" frame as "Hau nia labarik tinan lima." (my child is five years old)

    Grammar Note

    Native Tetum numerals join the remainder with "resin" (over): sanulu resin ida = 11, ruanulu resin hitu = 27, i.e. "tens + resin + unit". Age is "subject + tinan + number" with no copula. Portuguese numerals are also widely used in everyday speech.

13. Tinan ne'e hau tinan ruanulu resin walu.

    Ti-nan ne-e hau ti-nan ru-a-nu-lu re-sin wa-lu.

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Putting "tinan ne'e" (this year) at the front is enough to mean "I turn … this year"

    Grammar Note

    "Ne'e" (this) follows its noun, so "tinan ne'e" is "this year". Because "tinan" serves both as the time noun and in the age phrase, it appears twice in the sentence. Eight stays "walu" after "resin" too (18 is "sanulu resin walu"); "resin" is used in numbers to introduce the unit (rua-nulu resin rua = 22).

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