Dawan (Uab Metô)

Dawan is an Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by about 800,000 people in West Timor in Indonesia, and also in Oecussi-Ambeno in East Timor.

The language is sometimes called Meto, Uab Atoni Pah Meto, Uab Pah Meto, Timor, Timorese, Timol, Timoreesch, Timoreezen, Dawan, Timor Dawan, or Rawan. The dialect spoken in Oecusse is called Baikenu, although the local people simply call it Uab Meto.

Dawan was first written by missionaries, who used the spelling systems they devised to translate religious material into the language.

Dawan alphabet and pronunciation

Dawan alphabet and pronunciation


Download a chart of the Dawan alphabet (PDF, in German)

Information compiled by Wolfram Siegel

Sample texts in Dawan

Atoni ma bife ok-okê mahonis kamafutû ma nmuî upan ma hak namnés. Sin napein tenab ma nekmeü ma sin musti nabai es nok es onlê olif-tataf.

Hear a recording of this text by Yohanes Manhitu

Kanan mansian mahonis merdeka ma nok upan ma hak papmesê. Sin naheun nok tenab ma nekmeû ma sin es nok es musti nfain onlê olif-tataf.

Hear a recording of this text by Yohanes Manhitu

These sample texts are in different dialects of Dawan.


(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)


Sample video in Dawan

Information about Dawan | Tower of Babel in Dawan


Information about Dawan (Uab Meto)

Uab Meto dictionary (PDF format)

Malayo-Polynesian languages

Amarasi, Anuki, Araki, Balinese, Banjarese, Barai, Batak, Bima, Bugis, Bushi, Chamorro, Cia-Cia, Dawan, Dhao, Duri, Ende-Li'o, Fijian, Galoli, Hawu, Hoava, Iban, Indonesian, Javanese, Kerinci, Lampung, Ledo Kaili, Madurese, Makasarese, Malagasy, Malay, Mandar, Manggarainese, Mbula, Minangkabau, Moronene, Mualang, Muna, Musi, Ndrumbea, Ngaju, Nias, Paicî, Palauan, Sasak, Sumbawa, Sundanese, Tetum, Tii, Tolaki, Toqabaqita, Toraja-Sa'dan, Wandamen, Western Rote, Xârâcùù, Yakan

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

Green Web Hosting - Kualo

Why not share this page:





Learn a nuevo language while you browse with toucan
