Page Type: languageTetun | Ethnologue

TET ISO 639-3

Tetun

Tetun Autonym

A language of East Timor

ISO 639
tet
Alternate Names
Belo, Belu, Teto, Tettum, Tetu, Tetum, Tetun Terik, Tetung
Autonym
Tetun
Population
63,500 in East Timor (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 463,500.
Location:
Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque districts: Soibada to Suai to Ponta Beaco on East Timor south coast; Bobonaro and Cova Lima districts: separate enclaves west.
Language Status
5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity.
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor
Dialects
Eastern Tetun (Lakluta, Natarbora, Soibada, Tetun Loos, Tetun Los), Southern Tetun (Belu Selatan, Lia Fehan, Plain Tetun, South Belu, South Tetun, Tasi Mane, Tetun-Belu), Northern Tetun (Belu Utara, Hill Tetun, Lia Foho, North Belu, Tasi Feto, Tetun Terik, Tetun Therik). More Indonesian [ind] or Malay influence, and less contact with Portuguese [por] (Williams-van Klinken et al 2002).
Language Use
Used as L2 by Bunak [bfn], Tetun Dili [tdt], Welaun [wlh].
Language Development
Literature. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2013.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tetun
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Different from Tetun Dili [tdt]. Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Tetun
User Population
400,000 in Indonesia (2011).
Location
East Nusa Tenggara province: central Timor island.
Dialects
Southern Tetun (Belu Selatan, Fehan, Lia Fehan, Plains Tetun, South Belu, South Tetun, Tasi Mane), Northern Tetun (Belu Utara, Foho, Hill Tetun, Lia Foho, North Belu, Tasi Feto, Tetun Terik, Tetun Therik).
Language Status
5 (Developing)
Other Comments
Different language from Tetun Dili [tdt]. Christian, traditional religion.
View other languages of Indonesia

Map

Location: Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque districts: Soibada to Suai to Ponta Beaco on East Timor south coast; Bobonaro and Cova Lima districts: separate enclaves west.