Meaning & use
Timor-Leste
Last updated
UK/ˌtiː.mɔː ˈlɛʃ.teɪ/
US/ˌtiː.mɔːr ˈlɛʃ.teɪ/
Meaning
proper nounproper
A small country in Southeast Asia that occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor, independent since 2002.
Grammar: Used without an article: Timor-Leste is in Southeast Asia.
Patterns
- visit Timor-Leste
- in Timor-Leste
- the capital of Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste became fully independent in 2002.
Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste.
Tourists visit Timor-Leste for its coral reefs and mountain trails.
Common combinations
- independence of Timor-Leste
- The independence of Timor-Leste was celebrated across the island.
- government of Timor-Leste
- The government of Timor-Leste uses Portuguese and Tetum officially.
- travel to Timor-Leste
- We plan to travel to Timor-Leste next spring.
- people of Timor-Leste
- The people of Timor-Leste speak many local languages.
- coffee from Timor-Leste
- Coffee from Timor-Leste has a rich, earthy flavor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- East Timor
- East Timor is the older English name and still common, while Timor-Leste is the official name used by the state.
- Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
- This is the full formal title used in treaties and official documents, while Timor-Leste is the everyday short form.
Word family
- Timorese adjective
- relating to Timor or its people
- Timorese noun
- a person from Timor-Leste
- Dili proper noun
- the capital city of Timor-Leste
- Tetum proper noun
- a widely spoken language of Timor-Leste
Commonly confused: Timor-Leste or West Timor?
Timor-Leste vs West Timor
West Timor is the Indonesian part of the island, not part of the country of Timor-Leste.
Practice
Timor-Leste is a country in ___.
Choose one answer.
Timor-Leste lies on the island of Timor, north of Australia, in Southeast Asia. The other regions are far away.
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