Tetum

Tetum, also written Tetun, is an Austronesian language spoken primarily in Timor-Leste (East Timor). It serves as a lingua franca among Timor’s communities and is one of the two official languages of the country, alongside Portuguese. Since independence, Tetum has been used in government, education, media, and daily communication, contributing to its status as a national language.

Two main varieties are recognized: Tetum Prasa, a standard form used in education, media, and formal settings, and Tetum Terik, spoken in the eastern interior. The varieties are closely related and largely mutually intelligible, though they differ in vocabulary, pronunciation, and certain grammatical features.

Linguistically, Tetum belongs to the Austronesian language family and has a vocabulary heavily influenced by Portuguese due to long-standing contact, with additional loanwords from Indonesian and local Timorese languages. It uses the Latin alphabet and has a standardized orthography that was developed and promoted in the late 20th century, aiding literacy and official publication.

Geographic and social reach extends beyond East Timor in smaller communities within Indonesia and across the diaspora in Australia, Portugal, and other countries. Tetum remains a central element of Timor-Leste’s national identity, functioning alongside Portuguese in governance and public life and continuing to evolve through education, media, and community use.