Learn to speak Tahitian at Tahiti & Her Islands

Although English is spoken in all hotels, shops and restaurants, it’s always appreciated if you can say the odd word or phrase in Tahitian. It’s also useful to learn a few simple French phrases, as both Tahitian and French are the two official languages of French Polynesia.

PARAU TAHITI ‘OE? – Do you speak Tahitian?

Certain Tahitian words, like taboo and Mana, have already made their way into the English language. Other phrases are spoken so often that you’ll soon get used to them, like ‘aita ‘e pe’ape’a’, which means ‘no problem’ and ‘popa’a’, which means ‘white foreigner’. So while you’re in The Islands of Tahiti, why not learn a bit of the local lingo?

Saying hello

Hello is ‘Ia ora na! (usually pronounced more like ‘yoranna’). ‘E aha to ‘oe huru means how are you? to which you reply Maita’i (Fine) or Maita’i roa (very well).

Thank you

Thank you is māuruuru. Thanks very much is māuruuru roa and no thanks is ‘aita māuruuru.

Goodbye

Nānā

Yes and no

A definite yes is ‘E!, perhaps is ‘A! and no is ‘Aita!

The glottal stop, accents and confusion

The glottal stop is common in Tahitian and is used as a consonnant, but written as an apostrophy and places the stress on the following syllable. Certain vowels have accents (ā, ē, ī, ō and ū) which give subtle differences to their prononciation. And some words with very different meanings are pronounced in almost the same way to the western ear. Your mispronunciation will give Polynesians great pleasure!

For example:

– Te ū means milk, Te hū, means to fart.

You’ve been warned!

A short English/Tahitian dictionary

ENGLISH	TAHITIAN
Welcome	maeva, manava
Hello	‘ia ora na
Goodbye	nana
Thanks	mauruuru
Thanks very much	mauruuru roa
Yes	e, ‘oia
No	‘aita
How are you?	‘e aha te huru?
Fine, thanks	maita’i mauruuru
No problem	‘aita ‘e pe’ape’a
Cheers!	manuia!
Come over here!	haere mai!
Man, husband	tane
Women, wife	vahine
Handsome, pretty	nehenehe
Big	nui
Good, well	maita’i
Sky	ra’i
Flower	tiare
Islet	motu
Sea	miti
Ocean	moana
Meal, food	ma’a
Archeological site	marae
Song, chant	himene
Traditional dance	‘ori
Drum	pahu
Let’s dance	‘ori ana’e
Outrigger canoe	va’a