Looking for practical Tetum to Fon phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tetum phrase first, then the Fon translation (Fon) — 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 Fon.
Tip: read the Fon line out loud three times, then cover the Tetum 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 Tetum to Fon 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.
Olá
Nɔ́(nɔ́)
Obrigadu
Mèdɔ́(mèdɔ́)
Bondia
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Bona tarde
Mèdɔ́ ɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Bona noite
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Bona noite
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Ami hanesan
Nɔ́ wɛ(nɔ́ wɛ)
Adeus
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Quale naran ida?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Naran hau John.
Mè nɔ́ John(mè nɔ́ John)
Kona ba o?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Diak ba halo ho o.
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Keta fala Inglês?
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Hau la hatene.
Mè n'kó nù.
Favor fala ba moris.
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Keta bele fala fali?
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Onde mak banheira?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Virar ba hadau.
Tò n'kà kè.
Virar ba direita.
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Baa diretamente.
Lè n'kà kè.
Iha ne'e barak?
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Ticket ida, favor.
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Hau nune'e.
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Sim
Ɛ(e)
La
Ayi(ayi)
Talvez
Mɛ(me)
Hau hakarak
Mè yé(me ye)
Hau la hakarak
Mè n'yi(me n'yi)
Nia mak diak
N'kɔ nɔ(n'ko no)
Ita nian ideia sa?
N'kɔ a kɔ?(n'ko a ko)
Mak bele ajuda hau?
I n'kɔ mɛ?(i n'ko me)
Hau precisa ajuda
Mè n'kɔ mɛ(me n'ko me)
Hakarak momentu
Tɔ́ nɔ(to no)
Hau mós
Mè nɔ n'kɔ(me no n'ko)
La problema
Ayi n'kɔ(ayi n'ko)
Parabens
Mè nɔ wé(me no we)
Parabens ba aniversario
Mè nɔ tɔ́(me no to)
Hau haruka viagen diak
N'kɔ a wé dɔ(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Onde está a estacão de trem?
N'ye wé train station?(N'ye wé train station?)
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?
N'ye wé bus stop?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?
Ké platform na?(Ké platform na?)
Hora ne'e sai?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?
N'ye wé yé na?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Iha ne'e perto
Yé na hɛn(Yé na hɛn)
Iha ne'e laran
Yé na hɛn gbo(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Kona ba mapa?
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Parar iha ne'e, favor
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Kona tempu hira?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ita nia presu sa'o?
Mè wé na?(ita nia presu sao?)
Esa mak baratu demais.
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
Fatu, por favor.
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
Servisu iha ka?
Sè wé bɔ́?
Hau vegetarian.
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
Esa mak saboru.
Yè wé sɔ́.
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Kopa agua, por favor.
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.