Looking for practical Quechua to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Quechua 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 Quechua 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.
Ñukaka rimayki
Olá(N/A)
Sukhi
Obrigadu(N/A)
Allin punchaw
Bondia(N/A)
Allin sukta
Bona tarde(N/A)
Allin ch'isi
Bona noite(N/A)
Allin wawa
Bona noite(N/A)
Kusikuyki
Ami hanesan(N/A)
Tinkunakama
Adeus(N/A)
¿Iman nankichu?
Quale naran ida?(N/A)
Ñukapa sutiyki John
Naran hau John.(N/A)
¿Allin kachkanki?
Kona ba o?(N/A)
Sumaq kawsayki
Diak ba halo ho o.(N/A)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿Ñukaka inglish rimayki?
Keta fala Inglês?(N/A)
Ñukaka hindi mana allin rimayku
Hau la fala Hindi diak.(N/A)
Ñukaka mana yachkani
Hau la hatene.(N/A)
Allichu rimay, ch'isi ch'isi
Favor fala ba moris.(N/A)
¿Kispa rimayki?
Keta bele fala fali?(N/A)
¿Maypin está waki?
Onde mak banheira?(N/A)
¿Imataq chay llaqta sutinchikta rikhuy?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?(N/A)
Ñawi ch'isi
Virar ba hadau.(N/A)
Ñawi ch'iri
Virar ba direita.(N/A)
Ch'isi ch'isi rikhuy
Baa diretamente.(N/A)
¿Haykaq k'uchu?
Iha ne'e barak?(N/A)
Chayni tiket, allichu
Ticket ida, favor.(N/A)
¿Kawsayki chaypi?
Iha ne'e laran ka?(N/A)
Ñukaka wañuyki
Hau nune'e.(N/A)
¿Maypin SIM k'aruña?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?(N/A)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ari
Sim(ari)
Manan
La(manan)
Ñukaka chaymi
Talvez(ñukaka chaymi)
Ñukaka chayniyuq
Hau hakarak(ñukaka chayniyuq)
Ñukaka manan chayniyuq
Hau la hakarak(ñukaka manan chayniyuq)
Chay suyayki
Nia mak diak(chay suyayki)
Iman chayki?
Ita nian ideia sa?(iman chayki?)
¿Sukuyki?
Mak bele ajuda hau?(sukuyki)
Ñukaka sukuyki
Hau precisa ajuda(ñukaka sukuyki)
Huk punchawni
Hakarak momentu(huk punchawni)
Ñukaka yuyariy
Hau mós(ñukaka yuyariy)
Manan problema
La problema(manan problema)
Yaykuyki
Parabens(yaykuyki)
Wawqi kawsayki
Parabens ba aniversario(wawqi kawsayki)
Sumaq q'aychikuyki
Hau haruka viagen diak(sumaq q'aychikuyki)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
¿Maypi k'anchay chaka?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
¿Maypi bus chaka?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
¿Ima platforma?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
¿Imataq ch'uyay?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
¿Kayqa chaymi?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Ñukaka chaypi kanki
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Ñukaka chaypi mana kanki
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
¿Kanki mapapi qhawchiy?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
¿Kaypi t'ikray, por favor?
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
¿Haykaq chaytaq?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
¿Imanalla kayqa?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Kayqa chaylla q'aych'iy
Esa mak baratu demais.(kayqa chaylla q'aych'iy)
¿Rikch'ariyki kawsaykuchkan?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?(rikch'ariyki kawsaykuchkan)
¿Tarjetaq paykuyta?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?(tarjetaq paykuyta)
Ñukaka iskayta tableta munani
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.(ñukaka iskayta tableta munani)
¿Q'ipiy, por favor?
Fatu, por favor.(q'ipiy, por favor)
¿Serviciokuyki chay?
Servisu iha ka?(serviciokuyki chay)
Ñukaka vegetariano kani
Hau vegetarian.(ñukaka vegetariano kani)
Mana picante comida, por favor
Labele comida spicy, por favor.(mana picante comida, por favor)
Kayqa ch'usay
Esa mak saboru.(kayqa ch'usay)
¿Menúta munani?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?(menúta munani)
¿Waqra q'awa, por favor?
Kopa agua, por favor.(waqra q'awa, por favor)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Polisiyta ligay
Liga ba polícia(polisiya ligay)
Ambulansiyta ligay
Liga ba ambulansia(ambulansiya ligay)
Wasiqtaq doctor nisqayki
Hau precisa doutor(wasiqtaq doktor nisqayki)
Ñawiñiyki
Hau sente sick(ñawiñiyki)
Kichwataq chukchuñiyki
Hau iha alergia ba karu(kichwataq chukchuñiyki)
Maypin chay hospital?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?(maypin chay hospital)
Kichariy aquí
Ita hakarak iha ne'e(kichariy aquí)
Ñukaka pasaporte wañuy
Hau hasai passport(ñukaka pasaporte wañuy)
¿Rikch'ariyki huk hotel?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?(rikch'ariyki huk hotel)
Ayuya!
Help!(ayuya)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Sumaq kawsayki
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita(sumaq kawsayki)
Ñukaka rikhuykuyta qhichwa
Kita halo reunião(ñukaka rikhuykuyta qhichwa)
¿Imataq ch'isiq kachkanki?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?(imataq ch'isiq kachkanki)
Ñukaka reporteqa chaypi qhaway
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona(ñukaka reporteqa chaypi qhaway)
¿Ñukichu wañuyta rimanakuy?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?(ñukichu wañuyta rimanakuy)