Family and Relationships
Learn about family and relationships in Tetum language
Module 2: Family and Relationships
Skill 3 – Talking about your family
Talking about your family in Tetum allows you to share personal details, strengthen connections, and show respect for family values—an important part of Timorese culture. In this lesson, you'll learn how to say how many family members you have, describe their relationships to you, and mention basic details about them.
This lesson will help you:
- Say how many siblings or children you have.
- Introduce family members with their names and roles.
- Talk about where your family members live or work.
2. Vocabulary
| Tetum | English Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Família | Family | Can mean immediate or extended family |
| Iha | Have / There is | Depending on context |
| Maun | Older brother | Male sibling older than you |
| Biin | Older sister | Female sibling older than you |
| Alin | Younger sibling | Gender-neutral younger sibling |
| Oan | Child / Son / Daughter | General term for offspring |
| Servisu | Work | Verb or noun depending on context |
| Hela | Live/Reside | Verb meaning to live or stay somewhere |
3. Examples
Example 1 – Saying how many siblings you have
Tetum: Hau iha maun rua.
English: I have two older brothers.
Example 2 – Introducing your mother
Tetum: Hau-nia Inan naran Rosa
English: My mother's name is Rosa.
Example 3 – Talking about family location
Tetum: Hau nia familia hela iha Dili.
English: My family lives in Dili.
4. Practice
A. Fill in the blanks:
- Hau iha ______ tolu. (I have three children)
- Hau-nia ______ naran Ana. (My older sister's name is Ana)
- Hau-nia familia ______ iha Baucau. (My family lives in Baucau)
B. Translate to Tetum:
- I have one younger brother.
- My father works in the market.
- My family lives in Timor-Leste.
5. Answer Key & Explanation
A. Fill in the blanks
- oan → "Hau iha oan tolu." = "I have three children."
- Biin → "Hau-nia bin naran Ana." = "My older sister's name is Ana."
- hela → "Hau-nia familia hela iha Baucau." = "My family lives in Baucau."
B. Translation
- Hau iha Alin mane ida.
- Hau-nia Aman servisu iha merkadu.
- Hau-nia familia hela iha Timor-Leste.
Explanation:
- Use maun/biin for older siblings depending on gender, and alin for younger siblings.
- iha means "have" in this context; hela means "live/reside."
- Family topics are important in Tetum culture and often appear early in conversations.