No stay in Fiji is complete without learning some Fijian words. The best way for you to learn Fijian and Hindi is to converse with a local. Not only will you learn a new language, you will also make a lifelong friend. Here’s a few hints about pronunciation - an essential part of Fijian and Hindi. The vowels in the Fijian language are pronounced the same as in English but the Fijian language also comprises of the following consonants - b is mb as in bamboo, c is th as in that, d is nd as in candy, j is ch as in church, g is ng as in singing, q is ngg as in great. In Hindi, the vowels are pronounced as follows: a is long as in master; e is long as in wet, I is pronounced as e like reef, o as in wow, u as in run.
Here are just some words that you might want to try out:
| English | Fijian |
| Hello (casual) | Bula (Boo-lah) |
| Hello (formal) | Ni sa bula (Nee Sah Boo-lah) |
| Good morning | Ni sa yadra (Nee Sah Yarn-drah) |
| Please | Kerekere (Cayraycayray) |
| Thank you/good | Vinaka (vee-nakha) |
| Yes | Io (ee-oh) |
| No | Sega (Seng-gah) |
| Eat | Kana (kah-nah) |
| Lady/woman | Marama (Mmah-raam-mah) |
| Man | Turaga |
| Child | (Too-rang-gah) |
| Gone (Ngo-ne) | |
| Small | Lailai (Lie-lie) |
| Large | Levu (Lay-voo) |
| A little | Vakalailai |
| (Vah-car-lie-lie) | |
| A lot | Vakalevu |
| (Vah-car-lay-voo) | |
| Quickly | Vakatotolo |
| (Vah-car-toe-toe-low) | |
| Slowly | Vakamalua |
| (Vah-car-mah-loo-ah) | |
| House Vale/bure | (Val-lay/Boo-ray) |
| Toilet | Valelailai |
| (Vah-lay-lie-lie) | |
| Come | Lako mai |
| (Lah-koh my) | |
| Go away | Lako tani |
| (lah-ko-tah-nee) | |
| Goodbye (informal) | Moce(Mow-they) |
| Bring it | Kauta mai |
| Take it away | (Cow-tah my) |
| Kauta tani(Cow-tah-tah-nee) | |
| One more | Dua tale (Doo-ah tah-ley) |
| One | Dua (Doo-ah) |
| Two | Rua (Rooh-ah) |
| Drink | Gunu (Ngoo-noo) |
| Food | Kakana(Kar-car-nah) |
| Church | Vale ni lotu (Vah-ley nee low-too) |
| Coconut | Niu (New) |
| Shop/Store | Sitoa(See-toh-ah)-(store) |
| Earth oven | Lovo (Low-voh) |
| Sarong | Sulu (Sue-loo) |
1 comment:
I am educating myself a little in Fijian, and suggest the following alterations to your article on Common Fijian Phrases: The third introductory sentence on consonants should read: 'The vowels in the Fijian language are pronounced the same as in English but in the Fijian language the following consonants are pronounced as follows:...'. The word 'comprising' is wrong (it comprises vowels and consonants), and the construction 'comprising of' is incorrect also (the 'of' is gratuitous and should not be used).
Also, for the sake of consistency and accuracy and to not confuse the Learner, could you please alter the Fijian pronunciation to reflect the consonant guidelines, eg Bula = mBoolah, Dua = nDoo-ah, as you have with (say) Gunu (=Ngoo-noo).
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