Transportation

1. Hau bele ba iha... oinsá?

   Hau be-le ba i-ha... oin-sa?

   How can I get to...?

   Usage

   Ask for directions — fill in "..." with your destination

   Grammar Note

   "oinsá" means "how" in Tetum. "bele" is a pre-verbal modal for ability. Tetum often places question words at the end of the sentence.

2. Iha mikrolét ba Dili sentru ka lae?

   I-ha mi-kro-let ba Di-li sen-tru ka lae?

   Is there a microlet going to Dili center?

   Usage

   "Mikrolét" is the main public transport in Timor-Leste — a shared minibus

   Grammar Note

   Mikrolét are colourful shared minibuses running numbered routes. To ask whether something exists, put "Iha" at the front and "ka lae" at the end. Centre is "sentru" ("naroman" means "bright", not "town centre").

3. Para iha ne'e

   Pa-ra i-ha ne-e

   Stop here, please

   Usage

   Used to tell a taxi or microlet driver to stop

   Grammar Note

   "Para" is borrowed from the Portuguese verb "parar" (to stop). Tetum imperative sentences can use the bare verb form directly.

4. Ita bele bolu taksi ida ba hau?

   I-ta be-le bo-lu tak-si i-da ba hau?

   Can you get me a taxi?

   Usage

   Ask a hotel or shop to arrange a taxi for you

   Grammar Note

   Taxis in Timor-Leste are often called "taxi vermelho" (red taxi). Most do not use meters, so negotiate the price beforehand.

5. Aeroportu iha ne'ebé?

   A-e-ro-por-tu i-ha ne-e-be?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Ask for directions to Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili

   Grammar Note

   "Ne'ebé" is the Tetun question word "where"; "iha ne'ebé?" is the standard "where is…?" formula, with the question word at the end. Nebe is a variant spelling of the same word.

6. Ba Dili, selu hira?

   Ba Di-li, se-lu hi-ra?

   How much to Dili?

   Usage

   Use before negotiating the fare with a taxi or shared bus

   Grammar Note

   "[destination], selu hira?" is the fare question ("Baa Cristo Rei, selu hira?"). Timor-Leste uses USD; transport fares require prior negotiation. "hira" asks for quantity or price.

7. Hau lakon dalan

   Hau la-kon da-lan

   I am lost

   Usage

   First thing to say when you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   "lakon" = to lose, "dalan" = road. "lakon dalan" = to be lost (on the way). "lakon" alone means "lost/gone".

8. Iha mapa ida ka lae?

   I-ha ma-pa i-da ka lae?

   Is there a map?

   Usage

   Ask for a map at a tourist office or hotel

   Grammar Note

   "iha ... ka lae?" is the standard "is there a...?" formula. "ida" can act as an indefinite article in addition to its literal meaning "one."

9. Dalan boot ne'e iha ne'ebé?

   Da-lan bo-ot ne-e i-ha ne-e-be?

   Where is this main road?

   Usage

   Use while pointing to a road name to confirm the location

   Grammar Note

   "boot" is a native Tetum adjective meaning "big/large" and by extension "main." Adjectives follow the noun in Tetum (post-nominal). Road is "dalan"; "odamatan" means "door" and cannot be used here.

10. Ita boot bele hatete mai hau?

    I-ta boot be-le ha-te-te mai hau?

    Could you please tell me?

    Usage

    Polite way to ask an older person or a stranger for information

    Grammar Note

    "Ita boot" = "ita" (you) + "boot" (big/great) — an honorific for elders or respected persons. Tetum distinguishes "ita" (formal) from "o" (casual) for "you."

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