East Timor

Languages

Atauran adb

Dili district: Atauro island; Timor island north of capital. Users: 5,000 (2010 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Adabe, Ataura, Atauro, Atauru, Raklu Un, Raklu-Un Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Southwest Maluku, Wetar

Baikeno bkx

Oecusse municipality: enclave separated from the rest of East Timor. Users: 81,700 (2020 World Factbook). Several thousand speakers in Dili and Indonesian west Timor. 15 clans of Nu’af (mountains); 3 clans of Amnesat (plains). Many monolinguals. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Ambeno, Ambenu, Atoni, Baikenu, Biqueno, Laes Baikeno, Lais Meto, Molok Meto, Oe Cusi, Oecusse, Oecussi, Oekusi, Uab Atoni Pah Meto, Uab Pah Meto, Vaikenu, Vaikino, “Dawan” (pej.) Autonym: Baikeno, Uab Metô Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor, Uab Meto

Bunak bfn

Ainaro district: Zumalai subdistrict; Bobonaro district: Maliana south; Cova Lima district: on Timor island central interior, south coast, north of Suai town. Users: 76,000 in East Timor (2020 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 97,000. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Buna, Bunake, Bunaq, Gae’, Marae Classification: Trans-New Guinea, West, Timor-Alor-Pantar, Timor

Fataluku ddg

Lautém district: Los Palos area on Timor island east tip. Users: 48,400 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Dagada, Dagaga, Dagoda’ Classification: Trans-New Guinea, West, Timor-Alor-Pantar, Timor

Galolen gal

Aileu district: small border area southeast; Dili district: 2 enclaves on Atauro island, and Metinaro area; Manatuto district: coast inland to Laclubar area. Users: 19,400 in East Timor (2020 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 20,080. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Galole, Galolem, Galoli, Galolin Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Habun hbu

Manatuto district: Laclubar subdistrict. Users: 2,700 (2010 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Habu, Sabu Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Idaté idt

Aileu district: southeast; Manatuto district: Laclubar mountains; Manufahi district: north. Users: 16,600 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Indonesian ind

Users: 2,400 in East Timor (2011 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay

Kairui-Midiki krd

Manatuto district: west central small mountainous area; Viqueque district: Lacluta area. Users: 16,600 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Cairui, Midiki Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Kemak kem

Bobonaro municipality: Bobonaro town north to Lois river; Cova Lima municipality; Ermera municipality: Atsabe subdistrict. Users: 80,000 in East Timor (2020 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 90,000. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Autonym: Ema Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Lakalei lka

Ainaro district: northeast; Manufahi district: north of Same; small border enclaves, Alieu and Manatuto districts. Users: 3,250 (2010 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Makalero mjb

Lautém district: Ilimoar area on Timor island. Users: 6,500 (Huber 2011). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Maklere Classification: Trans-New Guinea, West, Timor-Alor-Pantar, Timor

Makasae mkz

Baucau district: north coast and inland; Lautém district: west band; Manatuto district: on Timor island; Viqueque district: north half; generally, from north to south coast in a dialect chain. Users: 145,000 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Ma’asae, Macassai, Makasai, Makassai, Maksae Classification: Trans-New Guinea, West, Timor-Alor-Pantar, Timor

Makuva lva

Lautém district: Los Palos area on Timor island east tip. Users: 56 (2010 census). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Loikera, Lokiera, Lovaea, Lovaia, Lóvaia, Lóvaia Epulu, Lóvaia epule, Maku’a, Makua, Makue, Makuwa, kahal Maku’a Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Mambae mgm

Aileu, Ainaro, and Ermera districts: central Timor mountains; Bobonaro, Dili, and Liquiçá districts: north coast; Cova Lima district: south coast; Manufahi district: Same subdistrict. Users: 230,000 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Mambai, Manbae Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Nauete nxa

Baucau district: southeast; Lautém district: southwest; Viqueque district: west; all on Timor island south coast; Uato Lari is main town. Users: 19,400 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Naueti, Nauhete, Nauote, Nauoti, Naóti Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Pidgin, Timor tvy

Aileu district: on Timor island. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker died in the 1960s (1999 G. Hull). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Bidau Creole Portuguese, Portuguese Timor, Português de Bidau, Timor Creole Portuguese, Timor pidgin Classification: Creole, Portuguese based

Portuguese por

Users: 5,700 in East Timor, all users. L1 users: 700 in East Timor (2011 UNSD). L2 users: 5,000 (2006 J. Leclerc). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2002, Constitution, Article 13). Alternate Names: Português Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician

Tetun tet

Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque districts: Soibada to Suai to Ponta Beaco on East Timor south coast; Bobonaro and Cova Lima districts: separate enclaves west. Users: 63,500 in East Timor (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 463,500. Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Belo, Belu, Teto, Tettum, Tetu, Tetum, Tetun Terik, Tetung Autonym: Tetun Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Tetun Dili tdt

L1 in Dili district: East Timor north coast; L2 scattered in western part of East Timor. Users: 424,000, all users. L1 users: 50,000 (Williams-van Klinken et al 2002). L2 users: 374,000 (2020). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2002, Constitution, Article 13). Alternate Names: Dili Tetum, Lia-Tetun, Tetum, Tetum Dili, Tetum Prasa, Tetum Praça, Tetun, Tetun Prasa Autonym: Tetun Dili Classification: Creole, Tetun based

Tukudede tkd

Bobonaro, Ermera, and Liquiçá districts: Lois river to west of Ponta Acoilo, near Dili on Timor island north coast. Users: 55,400 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Tocod, Tokodede, Tokodé, Tukude Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Waima’a wmh

Baucau district: Baucau and Vemasse subdistricts on Timor island northeast coast. Users: 24,900 (2020 World Factbook). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Uai Ma’a, Uaimo’a, Waimaha, Waimoa Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor

Welaun wlh

Bobonaro district: Balibo Vila, Leohito. Users: 5,580 in East Timor (2015 census). Ethnic population: 5,580 (2018 O. Edwards). Total users in all countries: 7,080. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Bekais, Wekais Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor