Tuku hira agora?
What time is it?
Usage
Basic question for current time
Grammar Note
"tuku hira" = "what time"
Ohin loron saida?
What day of the week is it?
Usage
Ask what day of the week it is
Grammar Note
To ask what day of the week it is, ask Ohin loron saida? (lit. "today day which"). "nomer hira" is not used
Ohin / Aban / Horiseik.
Today / Tomorrow / Yesterday.
Usage
Basic time reference words
Grammar Note
All are native Tetun words rather than Portuguese loans. Yesterday is "horiseik" (not "ikidaun")
Semana ne'e / Semana oin / Semana kotuk.
This week / Next week / Last week.
Usage
Week reference expressions
Grammar Note
"kotuk" = "behind/past". Next week is "semana oin" (the week ahead); "semana aban" is not used
Iha dadeer / meiudia / lokraik / kalan.
In the morning / at midday / in the afternoon / at night.
Usage
Time-of-day expressions
Grammar Note
"Iha" marks time location
Ohin loron hira?
What is today's date?
Usage
Ask today's date
Grammar Note
Dates are given in the order "Ohin loron ...". An example is Ohin loron lima, fulan walu ("Today is the 5th of August"). Hira is a quantity question word that follows the noun it modifies, so loron hira asks for the day of the month. Same frame as Ohin loron saida?, which asks the day of the week.
Loke / taka iha tuku hira?
At what time does it open / close?
Usage
Ask opening/closing time
Grammar Note
"iha tuku hira" = "at what time"
Atu to'o iha ne'ebá, haan tempu hira?
How long will it take to get there?
Usage
Ask how long it takes to get somewhere
Grammar Note
Duration is asked with the set phrase ...haan tempu hira? (literally "eats how much time"). Haan tempu on its own means "to take (a lot of) time". Atu marks an action about to happen.
Mai hasoru malu iha tuku tolu lokraik.
Let's meet at 3 pm.
Usage
Set a meeting time
Grammar Note
"Mai" = invitation/suggestion
Tuku rua ho balu / falta minutu sanulu resin lima para tuku lima.
Half past two / quarter to five.
Usage
Express half-past and quarter-to times
Grammar Note
Tetun does not normally say "a quarter to" or "a quarter past". Half past is tuku X ho balu (Agora tuku sanulu ho balu = "It's half past ten"); minutes to the next hour use falta minutu Y para tuku X (falta minutu sanulu-resin lima para tuku tolu = "a quarter to three"). Meia and kuartu belong to the Portuguese system, and kuartu in Tetun means "bedroom".
Loke iha Sabadu ho Domingu ka lae?
Is it open on weekends?
Usage
Check weekend opening
Grammar Note
"ka lae" = "or not". The weekend is "Sabdu-Domingu" (Saturday and Sunday side by side). "loron semana" means "day of the week", not "weekend"
Iha ne'e uza oras saida?
What time zone are we in?
Usage
Ask about the time zone
Grammar Note
There is no direct Tetun term for "time zone"; zones are named oras + place, e.g. Oras Timor Lorosa'e ("East Timor Time", abbreviated OTL). The question is therefore phrased as "which time do you use here?". Fuso orária is untranslated Portuguese fuso horário, and its gender agreement is broken as well.
Sedu liu / Tarde liu ona.
It's too early / too late.
Usage
Express too early or too late
Grammar Note
"ona" = "already" (emphasis)
Hahú iha tuku hira / remata iha tuku hira?
When does it start / end?
Usage
Ask start and end times
Grammar Note
"tuku hira" = "what time"
Loron / oras hira tan to'o...?
How many days / hours until…?
Usage
Ask how long until a deadline
Grammar Note
"tan" = "more/still"
Husi segunda-feira to'o sesta-feira.
From Monday to Friday.
Usage
Express a range of days
Grammar Note
Weekday names from Portuguese
Fulan hira agora?
What month is it?
Usage
Ask what month it is
Grammar Note
"fulan" = month (calendar)
Hau hakarak marka enkontru ba [loron/tuku].
I'd like to make an appointment for [date/time].
Usage
Book an appointment for a specific date/time
Grammar Note
"hakarak" = "want to"
Loron ida
One day
Usage
Word for a duration of "one day"
Semana ida
One week
Usage
Word for a one-week duration
Fulan ida
One month
Usage
Word for a one-month duration
Tinan ida
One year
Usage
Word for a one-year duration
Segunda-feira
Monday
Usage
Word for the day "Monday"
Tersa-feira
Tuesday
Usage
Word for the day "Tuesday"
Kuarta-feira
Wednesday
Usage
Word for the day "Wednesday"
Kinta-feira
Thursday
Usage
Word for the day "Thursday"
Sesta-feira
Friday
Usage
Word for the day "Friday"
Sabadu
Saturday
Usage
Word for the day "Saturday"
Domingu
Sunday
Usage
Word for the day "Sunday"
Ohin
Today
Usage
Word to point at and say "today"
Aban
Tomorrow
Usage
Word to point at and say "tomorrow"
Horiseik
Yesterday
Usage
Word to point at and say "yesterday"
Agora
Now
Usage
Word for "right now"
Depois
Later
Usage
Word for "later"
Oras ida
One hour
Usage
Word for a duration of "one hour"
Oras rua
Two hours
Usage
Word for a duration of "two hours"
Minutu tolu-nulu
Thirty minutes
Usage
Word for a duration of "thirty minutes"
Dadeer
Morning
Usage
Word for the time of day "morning"
Meiudia
Midday
Usage
Word for the time of day "midday"
Lokraik
Afternoon
Usage
Word for the time of day "afternoon"
Kalan
Night
Usage
Word for the time of day "night"
Loro-loron
Every day
Usage
Word for the frequency "every day"
Semana ne'e
This week
Usage
Word for "this week" on its own
Semana oin
Next week
Usage
Word for "next week" on its own
Semana kotuk
Last week
Usage
Word for "last week" on its own
Sabadu ho Domingu
Weekend
Usage
Word for "weekend"
Janeiru
January
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Fevereiru
February
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Marsu
March
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Abríl
April
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Maiu
May
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Junhu
June
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Julhu
July
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Agostu
August
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Setembru
September
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Outubru
October
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Novembru
November
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
Dezembru
December
Usage
Give a date or make a booking
More Tetum phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences