...teen is not a compliment
Published by Alex Tilman on 10 February 2007 at 2:36:00 PMIn Tetum, any word than ends with "teen" (read it as in number 10),
in most circumstances denotes a vice. On its own, "teen" means
excrement, leftovers or waste. Any adjective that ends with "teen" is
not a compliment.
baruk (to be lazy): barukteen - lazy person
naok (to steal): naokteen - thief
karak (selfish): karakteen - greedy
beik (dumb): beikteen - stupid
tolok (to swear): tolokteen - someone whose every second word is an
expletive
kaan (to want): kaanteen - greedy, glutton
tabaku (tobacco, cigarette): tabakuteen - smoker
tua (wine): tuateen - alcoholic
lanu (to be drunk): lanuteen - drunkard
nakar (to be naughty): nakarteen - naughty
hirus (to be upset): hirusteen - someone who is always upset
tanis (to cry): tanisteen - crybaby
dukur (sleepy): dukurteen - sleepyhead