Looking for practical Xhosa to Tetum phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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: pick five Tetum phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa 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.
Molo
Olá
Enkosi
Obrigadu
Ubusuku obuhle
Bondia
Ubusuku obuhle
Bona tarde
Ubusuku obuhle
Bona noite
Lala ngoxolo
Bona noite
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Ami hanesan
Hamba kakuhle
Adeus
Ngubani igama lakho?
Quale naran ida?
Igama lam nguJohn
Naran hau John.
Unjani?
Kona ba o?
Kuhle ukukwazi
Diak ba halo ho o.
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Keta fala Inglês?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Andiqondi
Hau la hatene.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Favor fala ba moris.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Keta bele fala fali?
Iphi ibhafu?
Onde mak banheira?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Virar ba hadau.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Virar ba direita.
Hamba ngqo
Baa diretamente.
Iholo ingakanani?
Iha ne'e barak?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Ticket ida, favor.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Ndilahlekile
Hau nune'e.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Sim
Hayi
La
Mhlawumbi
Talvez
Ndiyavuma
Hau hakarak
Andivumi
Hau la hakarak
Okuhle
Nia mak diak
Ucinga ntoni?
Ita nian ideia sa?
Ungandinceda?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Ndidinga uncedo
Hau precisa ajuda
Linda umzuzu
Hakarak momentu
Ndicela uxolo
Hau mós
Akukho ngxaki
La problema
Wamkelekile
Parabens
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Parabens ba aniversario
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Hau haruka viagen diak
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Onde está a estacão de trem?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Hora ne'e sai?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Iha ne'e perto(Iha ne'e perto)
Ikude apha
Iha ne'e laran(Iha ne'e laran)
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Kona ba mapa?(Kona ba mapa?)
Misa apha, nceda
Parar iha ne'e, favor(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Kona tempu hira?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
Ita nia presu sa'o?(ita nia presu sao?)
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Esa mak baratu demais.
Unayo into engabizi?
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Ibhili, nceda.
Fatu, por favor.
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Servisu iha ka?
Ndiyavegetarian.
Hau vegetarian.
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Oku kumnandi.
Esa mak saboru.
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
Kopa agua, por favor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Liga ba polícia
Biza i-ambulensi
Liga ba ambulansia
Ndifuna ugqirha
Hau precisa doutor
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
Hau sente sick
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
Hau iha alergia ba karu
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Kubuhlungu apha
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
Hau hasai passport
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Uncedo!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Masihlele umhlangano
Kita halo reunião
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Singathetha ngomso?
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
Hau sei volta ba ita
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.