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FIJIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE WEEK - SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER TO SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER, 2020
Here's something to look forward to. Very interesting as delivery will be done online. So stay home, keep safe and tune in to lessons delivered by knowledgeable members of the Fijian Community with vast experience in our vibrant Fijian Language and Culture.
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BULA VINAKA. Come learn the Fijian Language with us. IT IS FUN. You should try and know a few basic Fijian words before you meet Fijians. They will love you for that.
To fully grasp the Fijian pronunciation of every word, you will need to quickly learn how to pronounce the Vowels which is slightly different to the English version of "a, e, i , o and u".
This is important because the vowels in the Fijian Language determines the sounds or pronunciation when accompanied by letters.
The Fijian pronunciation of the vowels are as given below:
Fijian Pronunciation
Vowels
“a” is “ah” as in art..
"e" is "eh" as in egg.
“i” is”e” as in eat..
“o” is “or” as in on.
“u” is”oo” as in cool.
Fijian letters are mostly accompanied with vowels to form words that determine a major part in their pronunciation.
The letters: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, y are all accompanied by vowels to form the basis of how we pronounce them.
(Note: x and z are not used in the Fijian Language)
B (b)
“ba” is “bah” as in but.
Letter "b" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"be" is "bhe" as in bet. The island of Beqa is pronounced “Beng-gah”.
"bi" is "be" as in bee.
"bo" is "boh" as in boat.
"bu" is "boo" as in boot. You’ll hear “bula” or “hello” many times. You may notice the slight humming “m”, almost silent at the beginning. When something precedes the “b”, then the “m” sound becomes more pronounced. The formal “hello”, Ni Sa Bula, is pronounced “ni sahm” boola”.
The letter C can be very confusing when pronounced in the Fijian Language. It takes the "th" sound in the beginning of every word where c leads other preceding letters in a word. While C in English takes a K sound in Fijian, The Car word in English starts with C while in Fijian, a similar word as in Cara is pronounced "The...Rar".
C (c)
“ca” is “the” as in “thumb”.
Letter "c" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"ce" is "they (silent y)" as in that. So “moce” meaning goodbye is pronounced “moe-they”.
"ci" is "thee" as in think.
"co" is "tho" as in thought.
"cu" is "thoo" as in through.
D (d)
“da” is “dah” as in dart.
Letter "d" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"de" is "dhe" as in date.
"di" is "dee" as in dig. The correct pronunciation of Nadi, is closer to “Nahn-di” than “Nan-di”.
"do" is "dho" as in dough.
"du" is "doo" as in duplicate.
F (f)
"fa" is "far" as in father.
Letter "f" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"fe" is "feh" as in fetch.
"fi" is "fhi" as in physical.
"fo" is "foh" as in phone.
"fu" is "phoo" as in food.
G (g)
"ga" is "gah" as in singer.
Letter "g" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"ge" is "geh" as in sing-it.
"gi" is "ghi" as in singing.
"go" is "goh" as in son(gho).
"gu" is "ghoo" as in good.
J (j)
“ja” is “cha” as in “champion”.
Letter "c" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"je" is "che" as in change.
"ji" is "chee" as in cheese.
"jo" is "cho" as in chalk.
"ju" is "choo" as in choose.
K (k)
“ka” is “kha” as in “colour”.
Letter "k" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"ke" is "khe" as in cake.
"ki" is "kee" as in key.
"ko" is "kho" as in cocoa.
"ku" is "khoo" as in cookie.
L (l)
“la” is “lah” as in “colour”.
Letter "l" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"le" is "leh" as in lemon.
"li" is "lee" as in limosine.
"lo" is "loh" as in low.
"lu" is "loo" as in loot.
M (m)
“ma” is “mah” as in “mum”.
Letter "m" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"me" is "meh" as in met.
"mi" is "mee" as in me.
"mo" is "moh" as in mosquito.
"mu" is "moo" as in movie.
You’ll hear “moce” or “good bye” many times. The formal “moce”, Ni sa moce is pronounced “Nee sah moh they”.
N (n)
“na” is “nah” as in “nun”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"ne" is "nhe" as in net.
"ni" is "nee" as in knee.
"no" is "noh" as in know.
"nu" is "noo" as in canoe.
P (p)
“pa” is “par” as in “partner”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"pe" is "phe" as in perimeter.
"pi" is "pee" as in peace.
"po" is "poh" as in pocket.
"pu" is "poo" as in put.
Q (q)
“qa” is “qah” as in “gut”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"qe" is "ghe" as in get.
"qi" is "gee" as in ghee.
"qo" is "goh" as in got.
"qu" is "goo" as in good.
R (r)
“ra” is “rah” as in “round”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"re" is "rhe" as in rent.
"ri" is "re" as in wrist.
"ro" is "roh" as in raw.
"ru" is "roo" as in kangaroo.
S (s)
“sa” is “sar” as in “Saturday”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"se" is "seh" as in sell.
"si" is "see" as in seek.
"so" is "soh" as in sold.
"su" is "soo" as in sooth.
T (t)
“ta” is “tah” as in “tunnel”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"te" is "the" as in text.
"ti" is "tee" as in tea.
"to" is "toh" as in toll.
"tu" is "too" as in took.
V (v)
“va” is “vah” as in “vulture”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"ve" is "vhe" as in vacate.
"vi" is "vee" as in visit.
"vo" is "voh" as in volcano.
"vu" is "voo" as in voodoo.
W (w)
“wa” is “wah” as in “what”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"we" is "whe" as in went.
"wi" is "wee" as in win.
"wo" is "woh" as in worst.
"wu" is "woo" as in woman.
Y (y)
“ya” is “yah” as in “yarn”.
Letter "n" with accompanying vowels "e, i, o. u."
"ye" is "yhe" as in yes
"yi" is "yee" as in yeast.
"yo" is "yoh" as in york.
"yu" is "you" as in you.
Apart from letters standing with Vowels, we do have some Fijian words where letters are not accompanied by vowels (especially DR)
"dra" is drah as in drug
"dre" is dreh as in dredge
"dri" is dree as in drift
"dro" is droh as in drop
"dru" is drooh as in droop
BASIC FIJIAN WORDS
TUTUVI - BLANKET
LOKOLOKO - PILLOW
KATUBA - DOOR
IBE - MAT
I DAVODAVO - BED OR SLEEPING BED
DAVO / DAVOCE - TO LIE ON
VAKADAVORA - TO LAY DOWN
SUKA - SUGAR
MASIMA - SALT
VELETI - PLATE
SEPUNI / I TAKI - SPOON
TEVELI - TABLE
I CULA - FORK
I SELE - KNIFE
KURO - POT
KATO NI WAI LIWALIWA - FRIDGE
KATALAU - BREAKFAST
VAKASIGALEVU - LUNCH
VAKAYAKAVI - DINNER
KOKODA - RAW FISH
URAU KEI NA SASALU NI WAITUI - LOBSTER AND SEA FOOD
PALUSAMI - TARO LEAVES IN COCONUT MILK
IKA KEI NA OTA - FISH AND EDIBLE FERN
VUAKA VAVI - ROAST PORK
DALO - TARO
TAVIOKA - CASSAVA
COUNTING (FRUITS) IN FIJIAN
(1) DUA - ONE. DUA NA PAINAPIU - ONE PINEAPPLE (PAINAPIU - PINEAPPLE)
(2) RUA - RUA NA MAQO - TWO MANGOES (MAQO - MANGOES)
(3) TOLU - TOLU NA SILA - THREE CORNS (SILA - CORNS)
(4) VA - VA NA APOLO - FOUR APPLES (APOLO - APPLES)
(5) LIMA NA MOLI - FIVE ORANGES (MOLI - ORANGES)
(6) ONO NA JAINA - SIX BANANAS (JAINA - BANANAS)
(7) VITU NA VUA NI GRAPES - SEVEN GRAPE FRUITS
(8) WALU NA VARASA - EIGHT ONIONS (VARASA - ONIONS)
(9) CIWA NA YALOKA - NINE EGGS (YALOKA - EGGS)
(10) TINI NA YALOKA - TEN EGGS
TWELVE EGGS - TINIKARUA NA YALOKA
1 DOZEN - 1 NA DASENI
INTRODUCING YOURSELF
NI SA BULA VINAKA - HELLO (formal)
NA YACAQU KO TEVITA - MY NAME IS TEVITA (Question - What is your name? 'O CEI NA YACAMU?
YACAQU - MY NAME - YACAMU - YOUR NAME
AU GONE NI REWA - I AM FROM REWA
AU VASU KI TAVUA - (My mother is from Tavua)
NA YACA I TAMAQU KO SAVENACA - MY FATHER'S NAME IS SAVENACA
NA YACA I TINAQU KO SYLVIA - MY MOTHER'S NAME IS SYLVIA
AU SA YABAKI TINI - I AM 10 YEARS OLD (Question - How old are you? KO SA YABAKI VICA?
YABAKI - YEAR/AGE (Example - The year 2020 NA YABAKI 2020)
AU VAKA I TIKOTIKO E BENDIGO - I LIVE IN BENDIGO
I TIKOTIKO - DWELLING/PLACE/RESIDE (Where you live)
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
KO IKO - YOU ('O IKO - SPOKEN)
KO AU - ME ('O AU - SPOKEN)
YACAQU - MY NAME
YACAMU - YOUR NAME
MATAVUVALE - FAMILY
TAMAQU - MY FATHER
TAMAMU - YOUR FATHER
TACIQU - YOUNGER BROTHER/SISTER
GANEQU - YOUR BROTHER/SISTER (IF YOU ARE A BOY, GANEQU IS YOUR SISTER) , IF YOU ARE A GIRL, GANEQU IS YOUR BROTHER
MOMO - UNCLE
NEI - AUNT
TUKAQU - GRANDFATHER (NA TUKAQU - MY GRANDFATHER)
TUKAMU - YOUR GRANDFATHER - NA TUKAMU
BUQU - GRANDMOTHER (BUQU IS SHORT FOR TUBUQU)
NA BUQU - MY GRANDMOTHER (OR BUBU - BUQU IS SHORT FOR TUBUQU)
BUMU - GRANDMOTHER (OR BUBU. BUMU IS SHORT FOR TUBUMU)
GREETING WORDS
BULA - Bula
BULA VINAKA - Bula vinaka (HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING)
NI SA BULA VINAKA - Ni sa bula vinaka.
NI SA BULA VINAKA SAKA - Ni sa bula vinaka saka (Formal way of saying Hello Sir/Madam)
NI SA YADRA - Ni sa yadra
YADRA VINAKA - (Good Morning)
NI SA YADRA VINAKA SAKA - (Formal way of saying Good Morning Sir/Madam)
MOCE - Moce )Good bye)
NI SA MOCE - Ni sa moce.
NI SA MOCE SAKA - (Formal way of saying Good bye Sir/Madam)
Some everyday Fijian words that is easy to learn:
| English | Fijian (phonetic syllables) |
| good morning | ni sa yadra (ni sah yan dra)
|
| hello! | bula (mboolah)
|
| goodbye | ni sa moce (nee sar mothey)
|
| please | yalo vinaka (yalo vee nah-kah)
|
| excuse me | tulou (too low)
|
| yes | io (ee-oh)
|
| thank you | vinaka (vee nah-kah)
|
| no | sega (sen-gah)
|
| eat | kana (kah nah)
|
| village | koro (kho-raw)
|
| lady |
marama (mah rah mah)
yalewa (yah-leh-wah)
|
|
mister
gentleman
|
turaga (too rah gah)
tagane (tah-gah-neh)
|
| little | lailai ( lie lie)
|
| plenty | levu (leh voo)
|
| quickly | totolo (toh toh loh)
|
| house | vale (vah leh)
|
| toilet | vale lailai (vah leh lie lie)
|
| come | lako mai (lah ko my)
|
| go | lako (lah koh)
|
| bring | kauta mai (kah oo tah my)
|
| one more | dua tale (ndua tah lay)
|
| go away | lako tani (lah-koh tah-nee)
|
| evade | levea (leh-veh-yah)
|
| what is this | na cava oqo (nha thavah or go)
|
| drink | gunu (goo noo)
|
| coconut | niu (new)
|
| I want | au vinakata (aoo vinah kahtah)
|
| church | vale ni lotu (vahle nee lohtoo)
|
| shop | sitoa (seetoah)
|
Beginners 1 students, click on the link below to access your lessons:
BEGINNERS 1 CLASS
| English | Fijian (phonetic syllables) |
| milk | sucu (soo - thoo)
|
| salt | masima (mah-see-mah)
|
| sugar | suka (soo-kah)
|
| mat | ibe (e-beh)
|
| table | teveli (teh-veh-lee)
|
| chair | dabedabe (dah-beh-dah-beh)
|
| bed | davodavo (dah-voh-dah-voh)
|
| bottle | tavaya (tah-vah-yah)
|
| cup | bilo (bee-loh)
|
| plate | veleti (veh-leh-tee)
|
| pillow | lokoloko (lo-koh-loh-koh)
|
| blanket | tutuvi (too-too-vee)
|
| shirt | sote (soh-teh)
|
| pants | tarausese (tar-raw-seh-seh)
|
| shoes | ivava (e-vah-vah)
|
| socks | sitokini (see-toh-kee-nee)
|
| book | ivola (e-voh-lah)
|
| pen | peni (peh-nee)
|
| pencil | penikau (peh-nee-cow)
|
| your/yours | nomu (naw-moo)
|
| mine | noqu (naw-goo)
|
| us (2 people) | kedaru (keh-dah-roo)
|
| us (3 people) | kedatou (keh-dah-tow)
|
| us (crowd) | keda (keh-dah)
|
| drink | gunu (goo noo)
|
| I/me | o au (or-ya-oo)
|
| run | cici (thee-thee)
|
| run to me | cici mai (the-the-my)
|
| go to him/her |
lako vei koya (lah-koh vey koyah)
|
NUMBERS:
ROKA VAKA-VITI:
