Numbers and Countings
Master the fundamentals of Numbers and Countings
Module 4: Numbers and Counting
Skill 3 – Asking & Giving Quantities
Knowing how to ask for and give quantities is essential when shopping, cooking, or talking about amounts in daily life. This lesson will teach you how to request specific amounts of items in Tetum, from "one kilo" to "a few" or "many," and how to respond naturally. You'll also practice small talk patterns common in markets and shops.
You will learn to:
- Ask for specific amounts of items.
- Use common quantity words.
- Respond with the amount you have or want.
2. Key Vocabulary
| Tetum | English |
|---|---|
| ida | one |
| rua | two |
| tolu | three |
| barak | many / a lot |
| ki'ik | small / few |
| kilo ida | one kilo |
| kilo rua | two kilos |
| litru ida | one liter |
| litru rua | two liters |
| saku ida | one sack/bag |
| saku rua | two sacks/bags |
| favór ida fó ida-ne'e mai ha'u | please give me this |
3. Examples & Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1 – Buying fruit
A: Favór ida nee kilo hira? (How much is this per kilo please?)
B: Ida-ne'e dolar lima ba kilo ida. Ita hakarak hira? (This is five dollars per kilo. How many do you want?)
A: Hau hakarak kilo rua. (I want two kilos.)
Dialogue 2 – Asking for quantity
A: Ita hakarak saku hira?
B: Hau hakarak saku ida deit.
Dialogue 3 – Few or many
A: Ita-boot iha barak ka uitoan de'it? (Do you have many or few?)
B: uitoan de'it. (Just a few.)
4. Practice
A. Fill in the blanks:
- Hau hakarak kilo ______. (I want three kilos)
- Ita iha saku ______ ka saku rua? (Do you have one sack or two sacks?)
- Ita iha has ______? (Do you have a lot of mangoes?)
B. Translate to Tetum:
- Please give me one liter of oil.
- I want two kilos of rice.
- Just a few mangoes.
5. Answer Key & Explanation
A. Fill in the blanks
- tolu → "Hau hakarak kilo tolu."
- ida → "Ita iha saku ida ka saku rua?"
- barak → "Ita iha has barak?"
B. Translation
- Favór fó hau litru ida mina.
- Ha’u hakarak foos kilo rua..
- Has balun deit
Explanation:
- Barak and uitoan are general words for "many" and "few" but can also describe size.
- Favór makes the request polite.