Looking for practical Somali to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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 Somali 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 Somali 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.
Salaan
Olá
Mahadsanid
Obrigadu
Subax wanaagsan
Bondia
Duhur wanaagsan
Bona tarde
Habeen wanaagsan
Bona noite
Habeen wanaagsan
Bona noite
Ilaa dambe
Ami hanesan
Nabad gelyo
Adeus
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Quale naran ida?
Magacaygu waa John
Naran hau John.
Sidee tahay?
Kona ba o?
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Keta fala Inglês?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Ma fahmin
Hau la hatene.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Favor fala ba moris.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Keta bele fala fali?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Onde mak banheira?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Bidix u leexo
Virar ba hadau.
Midig u leexo
Virar ba direita.
Toos u soco
Baa diretamente.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Iha ne'e barak?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Ticket ida, favor.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Waan lumay
Hau nune'e.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Sim
Maya
La
Malaha
Talvez
Waan ku raacsanahay
Hau hakarak
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Hau la hakarak
Taasi waa wax fiican
Nia mak diak
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Hau precisa ajuda
Sug daqiiqad
Hakarak momentu
Waan ka xumahay
Hau mós
Dhib malahan
La problema
Hambalyo
Parabens
Dhalasho wacan
Parabens ba aniversario
Safar wanaagsan
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Waa halkan u dhow
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Waa halkan fog
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Halkan joog, fadlan
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Esa mak baratu demais.
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Fadlan, biilka.
Fatu, por favor.
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Servisu iha ka?
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Hau vegetarian.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Tani waa macaan.
Esa mak saboru.
Ma heli karaa menu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Liga ba polícia
Wac ambalaas
Liga ba ambulansia
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Hau precisa doutor
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Hau sente sick
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Hau hasai passport
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Caawimaad!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Aan qorshayno kulan
Kita halo reunião
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Aan ku soo laabto
Hau sei volta ba ita
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.