Sustainability & Eco

1. Iha ne'ebé mak hau bele halo rikiku ba ida ne'e?

   I-ha ne-e-be mak hau be-le ha-lo ri-ki-ku ba i-da ne-e?

   Where can I recycle this?

   Usage

   Used when asking where to find a recycling facility

   Grammar Note

   "bele" is the modal "can". "Where" is "iha ne'ebé" ("iha ne'e" means "here" and cannot form the question). It is not certain that "rikiku" for "recycling" is used in Tetun

2. Ita iha saku bele uza fila-fali?

   I-ta i-ha sa-ku be-le u-za fi-la-fa-li?

   Do you have reusable bags?

   Usage

   Ask at a shop to avoid single-use plastic bags

   Grammar Note

   "fila-fali" means "back again / returning" and implies repetition or reuse

3. Iha akomodasaun ne'ebé di'ak ba ambiente?

   I-ha a-ko-mo-da-saun ne-e-be di-ak ba am-bi-en-te?

   Is there eco-friendly accommodation?

   Usage

   Used when searching for eco-conscious lodging

   Grammar Note

   "di'ak ba" means "good for / beneficial to" and is used to describe suitability or eco-friendliness

4. Hau hakarak enxe hau nia botir bee.

   Hau ha-ka-rak en-xe hau ni-a bo-tir bee.

   I'd like to refill my water bottle.

   Usage

   Use this to request a refill and reduce plastic waste

   Grammar Note

   "hakarak" is the Tetum verb meaning "to want / wish"

5. Iha hahaan vejetarianu ka vegan?

   I-ha ha-ha-an ve-je-ta-ri-a-nu ka ve-gan?

   Are there vegetarian or vegan options?

   Usage

   Ask at restaurants to find meat-free or plant-based options

   Grammar Note

   "ka" is the conjunction "or". "Vegetarian" is "vejetarianu" ("vegetariano" is untranslated Portuguese). There is no established word for "vegan"

6. Oinsá hau bele bá ... liu hosi transporte públiku?

   Oin-sa hau be-le ba ... li-u ho-si trans-por-te pu-bli-ku?

   How can I get to... by public transport?

   Usage

   Use when asking for public transit directions

   Grammar Note

   "Through, via, by means of" is written as two words, liu hosi (as in povu hili … liu hosi eleisaun nasionál, "the people choose through a national election"). It is not written solid as liuhosi. The verb "to go" is bá, distinct from the preposition ba.

7. Merkadu organiku besik liu iha ne'ebé?

   Mer-ka-du or-ga-ni-ku be-sik liu i-ha ne-e-be?

   Where is the nearest organic market?

   Usage

   Use when looking for locally grown or organic produce

   Grammar Note

   "besik liu" means "most near / closest" — "liu" is a comparative/superlative particle meaning "more / most"

8. Favór uza falun mínimu.

   Fa-vor u-za fa-lun mi-ni-mu.

   Please use minimal packaging.

   Usage

   Use at shops or markets to request minimal packaging

   Grammar Note

   "favór" is borrowed from Portuguese "por favor" and is used in Tetum as a polite request word

9. Aktividade ekoturizmu saida mak iha ne'e?

   Ak-ti-vi-da-de e-ko-tu-riz-mu sai-da mak i-ha ne-e?

   What eco-tourism activities are available here?

   Usage

   Use when seeking eco-tourism experiences in the area

   Grammar Note

   "saida mak" is a Tetum question expression meaning "what is it / what?"

10. Hau hakarak kompensa hau nia pegada karbonu.

    Hau ha-ka-rak kom-pen-sa hau ni-a pe-ga-da kar-bo-nu.

    I want to offset my carbon footprint.

    Usage

    Use when asking about carbon offset or green initiatives

    Grammar Note

    "Pegada karbonu" ("carbon footprint") simply transfers Portuguese pegada de carbono and it is not certain it is used in Tetun; the same applies to "kompensa"

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