Looking for practical Krio to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Krio 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: when a Tetum phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Krio wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Krio 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.
Hello
Olá
Tenki
Obrigadu
Gud mɔnin
Bondia
Gud aftanun
Bona tarde
Gud ivnin
Bona noite
Gud nait
Bona noite
Si yu leta
Ami hanesan
Bai
Adeus
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Quale naran ida?
Ma neym na John
Naran hau John.
Ow yu de?
Kona ba o?
Naes fo mit yu
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Yu sabi English?
Keta fala Inglês?
A no sabi Hindi well.
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
A no sabi.
Hau la hatene.
Plis, tok slow.
Favor fala ba moris.
Yu fit tok dat again?
Keta bele fala fali?
Weh na di toilet?
Onde mak banheira?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Turn left.
Virar ba hadau.
Turn right.
Virar ba direita.
Go straight.
Baa diretamente.
Ow much na di fare?
Iha ne'e barak?
One ticket, plis.
Ticket ida, favor.
E far from ya?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
A don lost.
Hau nune'e.
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yes
Sim
No
La
Maybe
Talvez
A mi agree
Hau hakarak
A no agree
Hau la hakarak
Dat na fine
Nia mak diak
Wet in you tink?
Ita nian ideia sa?
You fit help me?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
A need help
Hau precisa ajuda
Wait small
Hakarak momentu
A sorry
Hau mós
No problem
La problema
Congratulations
Parabens
Happy birthday
Parabens ba aniversario
Get safe trip
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Weh na di train station?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Weh na di bus stop?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Which platform na im?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Wetin time e go lef?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Dis na di right way?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
E dey near here
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
E far from here
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Stop here, pliz
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
How long e go tek?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
How much dis cost?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Dat too expensive.
Esa mak baratu demais.
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
I fit pay by card?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
I wan table for two.
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Di bill, please.
Fatu, por favor.
Service dey include?
Servisu iha ka?
I na vegetarian.
Hau vegetarian.
No spicy food, please.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Dis dey sweet.
Esa mak saboru.
I fit get di menu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
A glass of water, please.
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Call di police
Liga ba polícia
Call ambulance
Liga ba ambulansia
A need doctor
Hau precisa doutor
A dey feel sick
Hau sente sick
A get allergy for peanuts
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
E dey pain here
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
A don lose mi passport
Hau hasai passport
You fit call mi hotel?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Help!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Na nice for meet you
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Make we plan wan meeting
Kita halo reunião
Wetin time go work for you?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
A go send di report tiday
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Abeg find di file wey attach
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Tenki for your time
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
A dey look forward for work with you
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
You fit clarify dat point?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Make I get back to you
Hau sei volta ba ita
Di deadline na Friday
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.