Tetun DIT

Tetun (also spelled 'Tetum') is one of the two official languages of Timor Leste, and the main lingua franca used throughout the country.

Dili Institute of Technology’s Language Centre offers Tetun language training to both Timorese and expatriates, as well as producing resources in and about Tetun.

Learn to speak Tetun

Learn Tetun language and Timorese culture in-country through intensive courses at DIT. Our three full-time staff offer courses all year round, teaching all levels from absolute beginners to advanced. Join us for one week or more, as your schedule permits. For more information, click here.

Tetun-English interactive dictionary (2011)

This interactive Tetun-English dictionary was produced by Catharina Williams-van Klinken with the assistance of many people. It currently has 5600 Tetun headwords plus 1700 sub-entries, and 6800 English entries. There are 2700 cross-references to related words, such as words with similar or opposite meaning, as well as 700 example sentences. You can search for words through Tetun, English or by categories such as health or agriculture.

The installation file is available on CD from Lalenok Study Group in Dili, or from Dili Institute of Technology ($10), or can be downloaded here. The program runs on Windows XP, Windows 7 or Vista.

Download installation file here (12MB)

Peace Corps East Timor Tetun Language Course(edition 2, 2011), with recordings and flashcards

This comprehensive Tetun course written by Catharina Williams-van Klinken for English-speaking foreigners covers a wide range of everyday needs, as well as an introduction to more specialised areas such as administration, education and agriculture. It is available in book form for about US$20 from various shops in Dili, East Timor (including Sylvia, Duta Xerox and Lalenok Study Group in Dili), or on CD together with the recordings and flashcards, or can be downloaded here.

Book: Download PDF files.

Recordings for vocabulary and dialogues of chapters 1-10.

Flashcards for vocabulary of chapters 1-12 (Prepared by Peter Sullivan, using Cuecard), Download as .ZIP file (869KB).

Wordfinder (2008)

This pocket-sized mini-dictionary by Catharina Williams-van Klinken is designed for beginner and intermediate learners of Tetun and English. With some 4500 Tetun headwords, and 4900 English ones, it focuses on generally known vocabulary on everyday topics.

It is available for about US$5 from Lalenok Study Group, Duta Xerox or Sylvia in Dili, or can be downloaded here. Alternatively, for bulk orders, contact us directly for a discount price of $3 per copy for orders of 30 or more, and $2.50 per copy for orders of at least 100.

Download: Cover (full-size 1476KB/ small file 22KB), Book minus cover (764 KB)

Tetun 1, Tetun 2 (2008)

These two books by Catharina Williams-van Klinken provide the course material for teaching two semesters of Tetun to Timorese university students.

Tetun 1 covers topics such as the history of Tetun, basic spelling principles, ...

Tetun 2 includes writing descriptions and argumentation, paragraphing, and basic translation principles. Both are available from Sylvia Xerox for under $5, or can be downloaded here.

Download Tetun 1 (1063 KB)

Download Tetun 2 (789 KB)

Tetun for the Justice Sector

This book, produced cooperatively by the Timor-Leste Police Development Program and Dili Institute of Technology, is designed to teach Tetun at intermediate level with special emphasis on policing and justice. It includes chapters on the structure of the government and the national police service PNTL, violence, arrest and detention, traffic, resolving problems within the extended family, interviewing, and search and seizure. The book was written by Catharina Williams-van Klinken together with Alexandre Fernandes Cham, Anabela Maia Santos, Hendriana da Costa Marçal, and Jacinta Canossa Soares

Download: Full book (2976KB)

Tetun writing courses

All Dili Institute of Technology students study Tetun writing skills for two semesters. We can also provide writing skills courses for other institutions, as well as training in the use of our "Tetun 1" and "Tetun 2" textbooks for teaching at tertiary level.

For futher information, contact us.