Looking for practical Malagasy to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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.
Salama
Olá
Misaotra
Obrigadu
Salama maraina
Bondia
Salama tolakandro
Bona tarde
Salama hariva
Bona noite
Alina tsara
Bona noite
Hizara indray
Ami hanesan
Veloma
Adeus
Inona no anaranao?
Quale naran ida?
Ny anarako dia John
Naran hau John.
Inona ny vaovao?
Kona ba o?
Faly mihaona aminao
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?
Keta fala Inglês?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho
Hau la fala Hindi diak.(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Tsy azoko
Hau la hatene.(Tsy azoko)
Azafady, miteny moramora
Favor fala ba moris.
Azonao averina ve izany?
Keta bele fala fali?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
Onde mak banheira?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Mivadika ankavia
Virar ba hadau.
Mivadika ankavanana
Virar ba direita.
Mandehana mivantana
Baa diretamente.
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
Iha ne'e barak?
Tapakila iray, azafady
Ticket ida, favor.
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Very very
Hau nune'e.
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eny
Sim
Tsia
La
Angamba
Talvez
Manaiky aho
Hau hakarak
Tsy manaiky aho
Hau la hakarak
Tsara izany
Nia mak diak
Inona ny hevitrao?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Mila fanampiana aho
Hau precisa ajuda
Miandrasa kely
Hakarak momentu
Miala tsiny aho
Hau mós
Tsy olana
La problema
Arahabaina
Parabens
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
Parabens ba aniversario
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aiza ny gara?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Iza ny sehatra?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Eto akaiky izy.
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Lavitra eto izy.
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Mijanona eto, azafady.
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ohatrinona ity?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Maharitra be loatra izany
Esa mak baratu demais.(maharitra be loatra izany)
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)
Ny faktiora, azafady
Fatu, por favor.(ny faktiora, azafady)
Misy ny serivisy ve?
Servisu iha ka?(misy ny serivisy ve)
Vegetariana aho
Hau vegetarian.(vegetariana aho)
Aza misy sakafo maharary, azafady
Labele comida spicy, por favor.(aza misy sakafo maharary, azafady)
Tsara be ity
Esa mak saboru.(tsara be ity)
Afaka mahazo ny menu ve aho?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?(afaka mahazo ny menu ve aho)
Rano iray vera, azafady
Kopa agua, por favor.(rano iray vera, azafady)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Antsoy ny polisy
Liga ba polícia
Antsoy ny ambulance
Liga ba ambulansia
Mila dokotera aho
Hau precisa doutor
Mahatsapa ho marary aho
Hau sente sick
Misy allergie amin'ny voanjo aho
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Aiza ny hopitaly akaiky indrindra?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Maharary eto
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Very ny pasipaoroko
Hau hasai passport
Azonao atao ve ny miantso ny hotelyko?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Vonjeo!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Faly mihaona aminao
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Andao handamina fivoriana
Kita halo reunião
Inona ny ora mety aminao?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Halehoko ny tatitra anio
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Afaka miresaka ve isika rahampitso?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Azafady, jereo ny rakitra mifandray
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Misaotra anao noho ny fotoananao
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Manantena ny hiara-hiasa aminao
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Azonao hazavaina ve io teboka io?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Avelao aho hiverina aminao
Hau sei volta ba ita
Ny daty farany dia ny zoma
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.