Looking for practical Sango to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sango 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: read the Tetum line out loud three times, then cover the Sango side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Sango 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.
Mbote
Olá
Mokolo
Obrigadu
Mbote na nganga
Bondia
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Bona tarde
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Bona noite
Ndeko na nganga
Bona noite
Tango na yo
Ami hanesan
Ayo
Adeus
Nani na yo?
Quale naran ida?
Nani na nga John
Naran hau John.
Oza malamu?
Kona ba o?
Mokili na yo
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
O yo na nganga English?
Keta fala Inglês?
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
O na yo na mboka.
Hau la hatene.
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
Favor fala ba moris.
O tanga na mboka?
Keta bele fala fali?
Banga na yo na ndako?
Onde mak banheira?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Kanga na mboko.
Virar ba hadau.
Kanga na nganga.
Virar ba direita.
Kende na mboka.
Baa diretamente.
Nde na yo na mboka?
Iha ne'e barak?
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
Ticket ida, favor.
O na mboka na mboka?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
O na yo na mboka.
Hau nune'e.
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
O
Sim
Té
La
Sâ
Talvez
Ngâ tî
Hau hakarak
Ngâ té tî
Hau la hakarak
O bô
Nia mak diak
Nâ tî yé?
Ita nian ideia sa?
O kâ yé tî?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Ngâ kâ tî
Hau precisa ajuda
Bê na
Hakarak momentu
Ngâ tî na
Hau mós
Té bô
La problema
Mâ tî
Parabens
Mâ na mbâ
Parabens ba aniversario
O kâ na mbê
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
O na wâ na gare?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
O na wâ na plateforme?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
O na tî na mbô?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
O na wâ na yâ?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
O na bô na kâ.
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
O na fâ na kâ.
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
O kâ tî na mappa?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
O na tî na mbô?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mboka na yo?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Oko na mboka mingi
Esa mak baratu demais.(oko na mboka mingi)
Ozo na nanga mboka?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?(o zo na nanga mboka)
Naka na yeke na carte?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?(naka na yeke na carte)
Naka na table ya mibale
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.(naka na table ya mibale)
Bilan, s'il vous plaît
Fatu, por favor.(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Service ezali na yango?
Servisu iha ka?(service ezali na yango)
Nani na mboka ya nyama
Hau vegetarian.(nani na mboka ya nyama)
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît
Labele comida spicy, por favor.(te na mabele ya sika)
Oyo ezali malamu
Esa mak saboru.(oyo ezali malamu)
Naka na menu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?(naka na menu)
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît
Kopa agua, por favor.(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Banga nganga
Liga ba polícia
Banga ambulance
Liga ba ambulansia
Mbi na doctor
Hau precisa doutor
Mbi na yeke
Hau sente sick
Mbi na alerji na kolo
Hau iha alergia ba karu
A na hospital ya mboka?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
E yeke na mboko
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
Hau hasai passport
O tanga hotel na ngai?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Sango!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Mbi na yo
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita(Mbi na yo)
Tala na yeke mboka
Kita halo reunião
Nani ti na yo?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Nde na yeke report na tî
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Oka na yeke na lobi?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Mesi na yo na tî
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Nde na tî na yeke na yo
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Tala na yeke na yo
Hau sei volta ba ita
Nani na lobi na vendredi
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.