Languages of Timor-Leste

Common card · No. 414879

The languages of Timor-Leste include both Austronesian and Papuan languages. (See Timor–Flores languages and Timor–Alor–Pantar languages.) The lingua franca and national language of Timor-Leste is Tetun, an Austronesian language influenced by Portuguese, with which it has equal status as an official language. The language of the Oecusse exclave is Uab Meto (Dawan). Fataluku is a Papuan language widely used in the eastern part of the country (often more so than Tetun). A dialect of Malay-based creole called Dili Malay is spoken by a number of residents in the capital Dili, which has borrowed words mostly from Portuguese and Tetun. Both Portuguese and Tetun have official recognition under the Constitution of Timor-Leste, as do other indigenous languages, including: Bekais, Bunak, Galoli, Habun, Idalaka, Kawaimina, Kemak, Lovaia, Makalero, Makasae, Mambai, Tokodede and Wetarese. The rise of lingua francas in the linguistically diverse Timor-Leste and the domination of several clans over others...

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