Pronunciation
"
a" is "ah" as in father, but shorter. The correct pronunciation
of Nadi, is closer to "Nahn-di" than "Nan-di".
"b" is "mb" as in bamboo. 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".
"c" is "th" as in "this". So "moce" meaning goodbye is pronounced "moe-they".
"d" is "nd" as in candy.
"
g" is "ng" as in singer.
"
i" is"i" as in sit or "ee" as in routine.
"
o" is "ngg" as in finger.
The island of Beqa is pronounced "Mbeng-gah".
"
u" is"oo" as in bamboo or "u" as in put.
English Fijian
good morning ni sa yadra (ni sah yan dra)
hello! bula(mbula)
goodbye ni sa moce (ni sa mothey)
please yalo vinaka (yalo vee naka)
excuse me tulou (too low)
yes io(ee-o)
thank you vinaka (vee naka)
no seqa (senga)
eat kana (kana)
village koro
lady marama
mister turaga (tu rang ah)
little vaka lailai (vaka lie lie)
plenty vaka levu (vaka ley vu)
quickly vaka totolo (vaka toe toe lo)
house vale/bure (valey/mburey)
toilet vale lailai (vale lie lie)
come lako mai (la ko my)
go lako tani (la ko tanee)
bring kauta mai (ka ou tah my)
one more dua tale (ndua ta lay)
one dua (ndua)
two rua
what is this na cava oqo (na thava on go)
drink gunu (goo noo)
coconut niu (new)
I want au vinakata (aoo vina kahta)
church vale ni lotu (vahle nee lohtoo)
shop sitoa (seetoah)