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Learn a few useful words and phrases
Even though English is spoken and understood in most hotels,
restaurants, and shops, learning a few Tahitian words and phrases
is encouraged and appreciated.
It can also be helpful, but not mandatory, to brush up on a few
basic French phrases as French and Tahitian are the official
languages and both are commonly used.
The Tahitian alphabet contains only thirteen letters.
Vowels: a as in car,
e as in may, i
as in machine, o as in cold,
and u as in salute.
Consonants: f,h,m,n,p,r,t,v
pronounced as in English with the exceptions of the
h pronounced sh
when preceded by i or followed by
o and the r
sometimes having a trill sound.
hello, good day, friendly
greeting ia orana
goodbye nana
welcome maeva
thank you mauru'uru
no problem!, no worries! aita pe'ape'a
how are you? eaha te huru?
good! maita'i
to your health, toast manuia
man tane
woman vahine
child tamarii
yes e, oia
no aita
small iti
big, large nui
morning
poipoi
evening ahiahi |
house fare
bank fare moni
church fare pure
post office fare rata
hospital fare mai
store fare toa
doctor taote
police mutoi
islet in the lagoon
motu
ancient temple marae
traditional quilts tifaifai
traditional dance tamurei
fenua land
flower tiare
ocean moana
sun mahana
moon avae
star fetia
earth oven himaa
feast tamaaraa |
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