Essential Tahitian Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Tahitian words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... ‘Ia ora na. Hello. Pārahi. Nānā. Goodbye. ‘E parau paratāne ‘oe? ‘E parau farāni ‘oe? Do you speak English? Do you speak French? ‘Aita vau ‘e ta‘a ra. I don't understand. Ma‘a vāhi iti noa. A little. ‘E. ‘Aita. Yes. No. E hia moni? How much is it? Mea moni rahi roa. ‘Ē, nā reira. Too expensive. OK. ‘Ē‘ēee ... Please. Māuruuru (roa). Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	‘O vai tō ‘oe i‘oa? What is your name? ‘O ... tō‘u i‘oa. My name is ... ‘E aha te huru? Maita‘i? How are you? Maita‘i. ‘Ē ‘oe? Fine. And you? Tei hea ...? Where is ...? Tei hea te fare iti? Tāne/Vahine Where is the toilet? Men/Women ‘Ua pe‘pe‘a vau. ‘Ē‘ē. Sorry. Excuse me. ‘Aita ‘e pe‘ape‘a. No problem. ‘E hina‘aro vau ... I want ... ‘E‘ita vau ‘e hina‘aro ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

Nō te hea fenua mai ‘oe? Where are you from? Nō te fenua ‘Autarāria mai au. I am from Australia. ‘E hoa, fa‘a‘ite mai te moni mā‘a. The bill, please. ‘Ua mo‘e vau. I am lost. Fa‘aea! He‘erū! Stop! Wait! ‘I ‘ō nei, ‘i ‘ō na, ‘i ‘ō ra. Here, there, over there. Pere‘o‘o. Hōtēra. Tahua taura‘a manureva. Tāpe‘ara‘a pere‘o‘o mata‘eina‘a. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. ‘Ua au vau ‘i te ... I like ... ‘Aita vau ‘e au ‘i te ... I don't like ... hō‘ē, piti, toru, maha, pae. one, two, three, four, five. ono, hitu, va‘u, iva, ‘ahuru. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: te fenua Marite - America te fenua Peretita - Belgium te fenua Tanata - Canada te fenua Paratāne - England te fenua Farāni - France te fenua Taratoni - New Caledonia te fenua Niutirani - New Zealand te fenua Tuite - Switzerland

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

Manuia! Cheers! maita‘i / ‘ino good / bad rahi / iti big / small fātata / ātea near / far iti ā‘e / rahi ā‘e less / more te tahi / ‘ātirā another / enough ‘E végétarien vau. (man) ‘E végétarienne vau. (woman) ‘Aita vau ‘e ‘amu ‘i te ‘īna‘i. I am vegetarian. ‘Aita vau ‘e ‘amu ‘i te ‘īna‘i. I don't eat meat. ... te moa. ... chicken. ... te i‘a. ... fish. ‘Ua ma‘i vau nō te mea ‘ua ‘amu vau ‘i te noix. ‘Ua ma‘i vau nō te mea ‘ua ‘amu vau ‘i te fruits secs. I am allergic to to nuts. ... te cacahuètes. ... to peanuts. ... te i‘a. ... fish. ... te mā‘a miti. ... seafood. ... te huero. ... eggs.