What Language Do They Speak in Timor-Leste?

Official languages of Timor-Leste Tetum, Portuguese

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

Timor-Leste has 2 official languages: Tetum, Portuguese.

Learn some Tetum before you go

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The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.

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Languages of Timor-Leste at a glance

Official languages	Tetum, Portuguese
Number of official languages	2
Countries on this site where Tetum is official	1
People (demonym)	East Timorese
Capital	Dili
Internet domain	.tl

Languages of neighbouring countries

Indonesia	Indonesian

Timor-Leste in context

Timor-Leste covers 14,874 km², making it the 154th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 94 people per km² ranks 95th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 1 country: Indonesia.
With 1,391,221 people, Timor-Leste holds about 0.2% of the population of South-Eastern Asia.
With 2 official languages, Timor-Leste has more than most countries on this site.
Traffic drives on the left, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Timor-Leste is a member state of the United Nations.

Useful phrases for visitors to Timor-Leste

Everyday Portuguese phrases you will hear and use in Timor-Leste:

English	Portuguese
Hello	Olá
Thank you	Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f)
Please	Por favor
Goodbye	Adeus
Yes	Sim
No	Não

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Timor-Leste — FAQ