Greetings and politeness in Fijian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Fijian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Fijian phrases in this lesson
- BulaMBOO-la
- Hello
- Ni sa yadranee sa YAN-dra
- Good morning
- Ni sa yakavinee sa ya-KA-vee
- Good evening
- MoceMO-theh
- Goodbye
- Sota taleSOH-tah TAH-leh
- See you
- Yalo vinakaYA-lo vee-NA-ka
- Please
- Vinakavee-NA-ka
- Thank you
- Sega na leqaSENG-a na LENG-ga
- You're welcome
- Vosota saravo-SO-ta SA-ra
- Sorry
- Tuloutoo-LO-oo
- Excuse me
- Au marau ni'u sotavi ikoow ma-RA-oo nee-oo so-TA-vee EE-ko
- Nice to meet you
Literally "life". The greeting everywhere in Fiji, often said with a big smile and raised eyebrows.
Literally "you are awake". The Fijian d always has an n before it.
Literally "it is evening".
The c is said like "th" in "that". "Moce mada" (MO-theh MA-nda) is goodbye for now.
Literally "meet again", the friendly goodbye. Moce works for everyone.
Literally "good spirit". Adding "mada" (MA-nda) to a request also softens it.
Literally "good". "Vinaka vakalevu" (vee-NA-ka va-ka-LEH-voo) is thank you very much.
Literally "no problem". The q is said "ngg".
Literally "please forgive".
Said when passing in front of someone, especially an elder. Lowering your body as you pass is the polite gesture.
Literally "I am happy to meet you".