Looking for practical Kituba to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kituba phrase first, then the Tetum translation (Tetum) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Tetum.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tetum-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kituba to Tetum translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Mbote
Olá
Matondo
Obrigadu
Mbote na ntanga
Bondia
Mbote na moke
Bona tarde
Mbote na nsuka
Bona noite
Malamu na lola
Bona noite
Tala moke
Ami hanesan
Kende malamu
Adeus
Nani na yo?
Quale naran ida?
Nani na ngai John
Naran hau John.
Oyo olingi?
Kona ba o?
Nionso na yo
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo azali koloba Lingala?
Keta fala Inglês?
Nani nazali koloba Hindi malamu te
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Nani nazali koyeba te
Hau la hatene.
Soki, koloba na mbala moke
Favor fala ba moris.
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Keta bele fala fali?
Bato ya mbala eza wapi?
Onde mak banheira?
Nani nakoki kokende na centre ya ville?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Tika na ngonga ya mabele
Virar ba hadau.
Tika na ngonga ya likolo
Virar ba direita.
Yaka na mbala moke
Baa diretamente.
Mbongo ya nzela ezali boni?
Iha ne'e barak?
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Ticket ida, favor.
Eza mbali na awa?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Nani nazali na nzela te
Hau nune'e.
Nani nakoki kotonga SIM card wapi?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eee
Sim
Te
La
Pamba
Talvez
Nani na yo
Hau hakarak
Nani te na yo
Hau la hakarak
Eza malamu
Nia mak diak
Oyo olingi nini?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Okanisa ngai?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Nalingi lisungi
Hau precisa ajuda
Tika moke
Hakarak momentu
Nasalisa
Hau mós
Te na mabe
La problema
Mbote na yo
Parabens
Mbote na mokolo ya mbotama
Parabens ba aniversario
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nani esika ya ndako ya treni?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Nani esika ya ndako ya bisi?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Nani esika ya platform?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Nani ntango ebandaka?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Nani nzela ya malamu?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Eza na nsima
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Eza na mbali
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Okoki na ngai na mape?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Kanga awa, s'il vous plaît
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Nani ntango ebandaka?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbuta nini?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Eza mingi mbala
Esa mak baratu demais.(eza mingi mbala)
Oyo oza na ntina ya moke?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?(oyo oza na ntina ya moke)
Nakanisa na carte?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?(nakanisa na carte)
Nalingi mesa ya mibale
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.(nalingi mesa ya mibale)
Bilanga, s'il vous plaît
Fatu, por favor.(bilanga, s'il vous plaît)
Eza na mosala?
Servisu iha ka?(eza na mosala)
Nani moke
Hau vegetarian.(nani moke)
Te mbongo ya mpasi, s'il vous plaît
Labele comida spicy, por favor.(te mbongo ya mpasi)
Oyo eza malamu
Esa mak saboru.(oyo eza malamu)
Nakanisa menu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?(nakanisa menu)
Mokolo ya mai, s'il vous plaît
Kopa agua, por favor.(mokolo ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tanga polisi
Liga ba polícia
Tanga ambulance
Liga ba ambulansia
Nazali na nganga
Hau precisa doutor
Nazali na maladi
Hau sente sick
Nayebi na maladi ya mbala
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Hospital ya libanda ezali wapi?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Ezalaka na nzala awa
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Nasali pasi ya passport na ngai
Hau hasai passport
Okoki kolinga hotel na ngai?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Lendaki!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nki na yo
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Tondima kosala libanda
Kita halo reunião
Ntango nini eza malamu na yo?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Nakanisa lipanda lelo
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Tosala nzela lelo?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Soki, tanga file oyo ekomi na likolo
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Mersi po na ntango na yo
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Nabondeli na kosala na yo
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Okoki kolakisa yango?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Nakanisa yo na nsima
Hau sei volta ba ita
Tango ya nsuka eza na Mokolo ya zamba
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.