Looking for practical Luo to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo 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 Luo 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 Luo 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.
Naki
Olá(Naki)
Asante
Obrigadu(Asante)
Naki chuo
Bondia(Naki chuo)
Naki ng'ato
Bona tarde(Naki ng'ato)
Naki owadgi
Bona noite(Naki owadgi)
Naki buya
Bona noite(Naki buya)
Ting' kendo
Ami hanesan(Ting' kendo)
Naki
Adeus(Naki)
Ine ng'ama in?
Quale naran ida?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Inyalo John
Naran hau John.(Inyalo John)
Okwere?
Kona ba o?(Okwere?)
Naki konyo
Diak ba halo ho o.(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
Keta fala Inglês?
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Nyingi.
Hau la hatene.
Tende konyo chalo.
Favor fala ba moris.
Naki konyo to?
Keta bele fala fali?
Ith gi toilet?
Onde mak banheira?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Konyo chike.
Virar ba hadau.
Konyo duto.
Virar ba direita.
Yie chalo.
Baa diretamente.
Ning'eyo koro?
Iha ne'e barak?
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Ticket ida, favor.
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Nin gi chalo.
Hau nune'e.
Ith gi SIM card?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Sim
Ayi
La
Kaka
Talvez
Akwong'
Hau hakarak
Ayi Akwong'
Hau la hakarak
Ong'eyo
Nia mak diak
Ine owuon?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Naki gi chalo?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Nind gi chalo
Hau precisa ajuda
Chakre
Hakarak momentu
Naki
Hau mós
Ayi koro
La problema
Naki chalo
Parabens
Naki buo
Parabens ba aniversario
Naki chalo gi chalo
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Niko neno.
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Niko piny.
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Okwong' ni on map?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Dhi here, please.
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Esa mak baratu demais.
I konyo kanyo?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Chakruok, plis.
Fatu, por favor.
Isango ni gi?
Servisu iha ka?
Nin gi vegeterian.
Hau vegetarian.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Owino ni gi dho.
Esa mak saboru.
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Liga ba polícia
Nedhi ambulance
Liga ba ambulansia
Aneedo daktari
Hau precisa doutor
Akwong' gi chalo
Hau sente sick
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Naki hospital mar koro?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Okwong' mana
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Nying' my passport
Hau hasai passport
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Konyo!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita(Naki konyo)
Nying' konyo joma
Kita halo reunião(Nying' konyo joma)
Naki konyo nigi?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Chieng' ni file ni
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha(Chieng' ni file ni)
Asante gi chako
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu(Asante gi chako)
Nying' konyo gi nyaka
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo ni?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi
Hau sei volta ba ita(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Dede ni Friday
Prazo mak sexta-feira(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.