Looking for practical Rundi to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Rundi 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 Rundi 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(na-kee)
Urakoze
Obrigadu(oo-rah-koh-zeh)
Mwaramutse
Bondia(mwa-rah-moot-seh)
Mwiriwe
Bona tarde(mwee-ree-weh)
Mwiriwe
Bona noite(mwee-ree-weh)
Ijoro ryiza
Bona noite(ee-jo-roh ree-zah)
Nzakubona
Ami hanesan(nza-koo-boh-nah)
Nuhagurane
Adeus(nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)
Icyo witwa n'iki?
Quale naran ida?(ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)
Nitwa John
Naran hau John.(nee-twah John)
Umeze gute?
Kona ba o?(oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Diak ba halo ho o.(nee-shee-mee-yeh koo-koo-meh-nya)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
Keta fala Inglês?
Sinavuga Hindi neza.
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Sinumva.
Hau la hatene.
Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.
Favor fala ba moris.
Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?
Keta bele fala fali?
Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?
Onde mak banheira?
Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Hindukira ibumoso.
Virar ba hadau.
Hindukira iburyo.
Virar ba direita.
Genda imbere.
Baa diretamente.
Igiciro ni igiki?
Iha ne'e barak?
Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.
Ticket ida, favor.
Birakomeye kuva hano?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Ndi mu kaga.
Hau nune'e.
Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Sim
Oya
La
Birashoboka
Talvez
Ndemera
Hau hakarak
Ntidemera
Hau la hakarak
Ivyo birashimishije
Nia mak diak
Utekereza iki?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Urashobora kumfasha?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Nkeneye gufasha
Hau precisa ajuda
Teza akanya
Hakarak momentu
Ndi umwiyahuzi
Hau mós
Nta kibazo
La problema
Ishimwe
Parabens
Isabukuru nziza
Parabens ba aniversario
Urugendo rwiza
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho hantu y'igari?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Ihagararo ni irihe?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Igihe ni igiki gishika?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ubu ni bwo buryo?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Birahari hafi
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Birahari kure
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuna
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi irahenda angahe?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Iyo irahenda cane
Esa mak baratu demais.
Ufise ikintu ciza cane?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Ibarura, ndakwinginze
Fatu, por favor.
Serivisi irarimwo?
Servisu iha ka?
Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa
Hau vegetarian.
Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Iyi iraryoshye
Esa mak saboru.
Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Terefona polisi
Liga ba polícia
Terefona ambulance
Liga ba ambulansia
Ndakeneye umuganga
Hau precisa doutor
Ndumva ndarwaye
Hau sente sick
Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Birandya hano
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Nabuze pasiporo yanje
Hau hasai passport
Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Mfasha!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nishimiye kukumenya
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Tugire inama
Kita halo reunião
Igihe kiwukora?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Dushobora kuganira ejo?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Urakoze ku mwanya wawe
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Ntegereje gukorana nawe
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Woshobora gusobanura ico?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Ndemeye kubandanya
Hau sei volta ba ita
Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.