Family and Relationships
Learn about family and relationships in Tetum language
Module 2: Family and Relationships
Skill 2 – Describing relationships
Knowing how to describe relationships in Tetum helps you talk about friends, marital status, and social connections. These terms are useful not only in introductions but also in casual conversations and forms/documents. In Timor-Leste, relationship terms can reflect cultural values, such as respect for elders and emphasis on family ties.
This lesson will help you:
- Describe whether someone is married, single, or in another relationship status.
- Talk about friendships and acquaintances.
- Use relationship vocabulary naturally in conversation.
2. Vocabulary
| Tetum | English Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kolega | Friend / Colleague | Can mean work colleague or general friend |
| Kaben | Married | Context it means "married" |
| Solteiru | Single (male) | Borrowed from Portuguese |
| Solteira | Single (female) | Borrowed from Portuguese |
| Nain | Owner / Holder | Can be used for "partner" in some contexts |
| Kaben | Spouse / To marry | Verb and noun depending on usage |
3. Examples
Example 1 – Talking about a friend
Tetum: Maria maka ha'u nia belun.
English: Maria is my friend.
Example 2 – Talking about marital status
Tetum: Ha'u kaben ona.
English: I am married.
Example 3 – Talking about being single
Tetum: João solteiru.
English: João is single.
4. Practice
A. Fill in the blanks:
- Paulo mak hau-nia______ . (Paulo is my friend)
- Hau ______ ona. (I am married)
- Ana ______. (Ana is single – female)
B. Translate to Tetum:
- My friend is married.
- José is single.
- I am a colleague of Maria.
5. Answer Key & Explanation
A. Fill in the blanks
- kolega → "Paulo maka hau-nia belun." = "Paulo is my friend."
- móris → "Hau kaben ona." = "I am married."
- solteira → "Ana solteira." = "Ana is single."
B. Translation
- Hau-nia belun kaben ona.
- José solteiru.
- Hau-nia kolega mak Maria.
Explanation:
- Kolega Friend/colleague (can be work-related or personal).
- Kaben It means "married."
- Solteiru/Solteira are borrowed from Portuguese and used for marital status.