#separator:tab #html:false #columns:Front Back Noa'ia hello; greetings; thank you Noa'ia 'e mạuri greetings (lit. 'thank you for being alive') Noa'ia gagaj 'atakoa greetings, everyone Noa'ia 'e mạuri gagaj 'atakoa greetings to you all Ka 'äe tapen? how are you? (to one person) Ka 'ạuạr tapen? how are you? (to two people) Ka 'ạus tapen? how are you? (to three or more) Gou lelei fạiåkse'ea I am fine, thank you Fạiåkse'ea thank you Fạiåksia thank you (alternative spelling) Figalelei please Turo' excuse me (passing in front of someone) Hanis ma röt'åk sorry (lit. 'please be forgiving') Hanis ma se fek sorry (lit. 'please do not be angry') Se fek I'm sorry (lit. 'don't be angry') Se fua bless you (said to someone who sneezes) Hanisiof love (sign-off at the end of a letter) Noa'ia ma surum please come in Fạiåkse'ea 'e rē tēla'ā thank you for the food (for preparing it) Fạiåkse'ea 'e ös tēla'ā thank you for the food (for serving it) Noa'ia 'e hanisi thank you for your kindness Hö' ma ạlalum goodbye (said to those who are leaving) La' ma ạlalum goodbye (said to those who are leaving) Fu' ma ạlalum goodbye (said to those who are staying) Fu' 'ạmus ma ạlalum goodbye, all of you who are staying Gagaja noa'ia thank God 'Äe täla la'-au? goodbye (said only to the one leaving) 'Äe täla fu'u-ou goodbye (said only to the one staying) Noa'ia ma 'itar ôr se' it has been good to talk with you 'Itar la ôr hoi'åk let's chat again La' ma ne'ne' 'äe go and be well Mạrie'! bravo! (shout of approval at a dance) Hanuj! 'Story!' - the storyteller's opening call Mā! 'Yes!' - the audience's reply to Hanuj! lalum 'äe 'e terån te'is may you be blessed this day (to one person) lalum 'ạuạr 'e gasav te'is may you two be blessed this week lalum 'ạus 'e gasav pumuạ te'is may you all be blessed this special week Ka sei ta 'ou asa? what is your name? 'Otou asa le ___ my name is ___ Ka 'äe fạu his? how old are you? Gou fạu ___ I am ___ years old Ka 'äe noh 'e tei? where do you live? Gou noh 'e ___ I live in ___ Ka 'äe le' ne tei? where are you from? Gou le' ne ___ I am a person from ___ Ka 'äe fā ne tei? where are you from? (asked of a man) Ka 'äe hån ne tei? where are you from? (asked of a woman) Ka 'äe la' se tei? where are you going? Gou la' se ___ I am going to ___ Ka 'äe leum 'e tei? where did you come from? Gou leum 'e ___ I came from ___ Ka 'äe rak 'e tei? where do you go to school? Gou rak 'e ___ I go to school at ___ Ka 'äe garue 'e tei? where do you work? Gou garue 'e ___ I work at ___ Ka sei ta 'ou ö'rua? who are your parents? Ka sei ta 'ou ö'fā ta? who is your father? Ka sei ta 'ou ö'hön ta? who is your mother? Gou pā ___ I want to ___ 'Iom drink! (imperative) 'tē eat! (imperative) Mös sleep! (imperative) gou I, me 'äe you (one person) ia he, she 'itar we two 'ạuạr you two 'ạus you (three or more) iris they, them 'ạmis us, we (exclusive), as in the Lord's Prayer 'oto my (Vamarasi spelling) 'otou my 'ou your (of one person) 'on his, her, its 'otomis our 'os our (inclusive), as in 'os fäega 'our language' ta the (article, at the end of the noun phrase) het a, an (indefinite article) -t a, an (indefinite article suffixed to the noun phrase) se to, towards (preposition) 'e at, in, from (preposition) ne of (preposition) ka and; but; (also a question marker) ma and mane and (variant) la will (future particle) täla will (future particle) kat ... ra not (the two-part negative) kal ... ra will not (future negative) sei? who? tei? where? his? how many? 'i here; yes kikia there tē thing, things 'atakoa all, everyone tape'ma also, too hoi'åk again hoi'ạki additional, again ko because mumua before, in front muri behind rere above, the space above jio the bottom; the pointed end of a coconut fakapau absolutely 'itake about, concerning nōnō ma after a while 'igkå' no 'i, 'ī yes ō zero tā one rua / ruạ two (long form / short form) folu / fol three (long / short) häke / häk four (long / short) lima / liạm five (long / short) ono / on six (long / short) hifu / hif seven (long / short) vạlu / vạl eight (long / short) siva / siạv nine (long / short) saghulu / saghul ten (long / short) saghul ma tā eleven saghul ma ruạ twelve saghul ma fol thirteen saghul ma häk fourteen saghul ma liạm fifteen saghul ma on sixteen saghul ma hif seventeen saghul ma vạl eighteen saghul ma siạv nineteen ruạghulu / ruạghul twenty folaghul thirty häkaghul forty limaghul fifty onaghul sixty hifaghul seventy vạlạghul eighty sivaghul ninety folaghul ma häk thirty-four onaghul ma on sixty-six 'On tā first 'On rua second 'On folu third 'On häke fourth 'On lima fifth 'On saghulu tenth fika / fiak figure, numeral (long / short) rē fika / rē fiạk mathematics hata to count, to reckon fiak tauna'i addition, an addition sum 'eka acre fā male; man; husband hạni / hån female; woman; wife hạntei dear (affectionate address to a woman) o'i / ö' parent o'o'i / ö'ö' parents ö'rua one's two parents le'e / le' child lele'a children räi' children (Vamarasi spelling) ö'fā father o'honi / ö'hön mother; mother's sister sigoa namesake le' fā son le' hạni / le' hån daughter le' susu / le' sus baby le' mea'me'a small child ma'piga / ma'piạg grandparent ma'kiga / ma'kiạg grandchild ma'piạg fā grandfather ma'piạg hạni grandmother ma'kiạg fā grandson ma'kiạg hạni granddaughter sạsiga / sạsiạg sibling; cousin sạsiạg hạni sister sạsiạg fā brother såghạni / såghån mother's sister såghạina mother's sisters (plural) sagaväne / sagavän father's brother tinirạu / tinrạu prince sina / siạn princess kạinaga clan, kin group kạunohoga family, household haharạgi adolescent, young person mafua adult age; a ceremonial spokesman, elder orator 'inos married famör / fāmori people, the people rako / rak education; to study, to learn rī rako / rī rak school kilasa / kilas class fạu year rumu / rum room le' rē rako teacher fā rē rako teacher (male) hån rē rako teacher (female) le' rē rak puer school principal hat tē reading fạ'i / fȧ' to write få' tē writing (as a school subject) a'ne'ne' foro physical education mane'a / manea' sport, game; to play suạ maka / suạ mak singing jạu tē playing a musical instrument pån tē art, painting kạurakoga / kạurakoag schoolmates kạumane'aga / kạumane'ag friends fạiva / fạiạv talent, skill 'inea knowledge; to know, to come to oneself poto / pot wisdom; clever, a clever plan garue work; to work ut garueag ta the workplace tāku / tāk doctor (Vamarasi spelling tãku / tãk) kilaka accountant 'ofes office 'af bag hạihanisiga / hạihanisiạg mutual compassion hugag'esea unity hạigarueaga / hạigarueag co-operation hạifaktē'ạkiga mutual respect hạiåf'ạkiga mutual care huạg mäeav hanisi kind, compassionate huạg fe'eni industrious, hard-working huạg atmại wise huạg röt'åk tē long-suffering, patient huag to'a courageous huag ne'ne'i courageous, strong-hearted huag totoka calm huag mafua adult-minded, mature huag se mäeav brave mäeva courage moumou courageous ag raksa'a bad character oaf'ofa / oaf'oaf happiness, joy hanisi / hanis love; to love 'ofa / 'oaf love fea fear feke / fek anger fek'ạki to be angry because of kokono / kokon worry, sadness hanono / hanon downcast fürmaria / fürmariạ peace, contentment segu afraid to come near masrag'ạki to be ashamed about sosa'a to feel abhorrence ava / av time av roa a long time terån day terạnit the day, this day gasava / gasav week mạnrē Monday rån rua Tuesday rån folu / rån fol Wednesday rån häke / rån häk Thursday rån lima / rån liạm Friday terån a'ita / terån a'iạt Saturday (Methodist usage) rån ono / rån on Saturday (Roman Catholic usage) terån sapatō Sunday (Methodist usage) terån ha'a Sunday (Roman Catholic usage) sapatō the Sabbath huạl ne fạu ta the months of the year Janueri January Fepueri February Maja / Maji March 'Epereli April Mē May Julai July 'Okosita August Sepitempa September 'Okotopa October Novempa November Tisempa December asoa afternoon utasa the earlier part of the afternoon usu to come early in the morning roa to continue for a long time hanua / hanue land, home island; abroad 'otou hanue ta my home rī house, building rī rot ta the church (the building) rotu / rot church; prayer; Christian worship marä' ta the park marä' mane'ag ta the playground hune'ele / hune'el ta beach, the beach rī funuạg faraoa ta the bakery koroa ta the shop rī hahalag pensin ta the petrol station rī 'tēag ta the restaurant rī keleag mạl ta the cinema tạn kakauạg ta the swimming pool taon ta the town hạspet ta the hospital tạk ta the doctor tạk ne 'al ta the dentist taono city itu'u district (Rotuma has seven) ho'aga a sub-grouping of households fuạg ri the house foundation attached to a chiefly title marä'e courtyard, village green ufaga coast 'ana cave tamura cemetery solo / sol mountain, hill Rotuma Rotuma Fiti / Fit Fiji Niu Sirạgi New Zealand (Vamarasi spelling Niu Sirãgi) Setnē Sydney (Vamarasi spelling Setnê) 'Otako Otago Lepanoni Lebanon Noa'tạu Noa'tạu, the senior district of Rotuma Oinafa Oinafa district (site of the main wharf) Itu'ti'u Itu'ti'u district (the government station) Malha'a Malha'a district (the airport and high school) Juju Juju district Pep'jei Pep'jei district Itu'muta Itu'muta district ạfạfu / ạfạf mist esu / es pawpaw, papaya äfe / äf thousand; liver ȧr'ạki / ȧr'ȧk to guess fạ'purou hat hefu / hef star, stars isu / is nose juli / jül a kind of bird kalofi / kalöf eggs lāhapa / lāhap leg magkō mangoes niu coconut; copra ponapa / ponap pineapple tạnu / tạn water usa / uạs rain ül'ạki / ül'ȧk to steer vao net 'uhi / 'üh yam Uli / Ül to steer 'Uli / 'Ül wheel; tyre; skin Ofi / Öf to finish 'öf to chase; to cut, to snip koko mischievous, bad kōkō thorny, prickly toto blood; lineage tōtō to speak, to utter hosa / hoas flower pija / piaj rat mori / mör orange (the fruit) tole / töl to carry on the shoulder kuji / küj (Churchward headword; short form küj) kofi / köf coffee lole / löl candy, sweets pepa / peap paper suka / suak sugar mose / mös to sleep futi / füt to pull fara / far to ask for, to seek sope / söp strand of hair 'epa / 'eap mat ho'a / hoa' to take la'o / la' to go vãhi / våh to finish (Vamarasi spelling) mea'me'a / mea'mea' small, young mamasa / mamas the mamasa or 'drying' welcome ceremony hãsu / hãs gall bladder (Vamarasi spelling) maho / mah to become cold fo'a / foa' to land, to step on rãhi / råh fire (Vamarasi spelling) fere / fer to fly para / par to decay hola / hoal spread out; spreading füri / für zigzag (of a mat pattern) a'su / ạs steam a'ti / ȧt to gather shellfish 'uhapa arm 'efe belly, abdomen sui bone susu breast fatfata chest kumkumu chin; beard 'eju the back of the head tauagmafa the back of the head fupuga the crown of the head foro body 'uli skin; bark; crust maf pogi blind maf pula able to see 'ạlaloga adenoids ne'ne' well, in good health; strong mạuri life, living, wellbeing ala to cease functioning, to die 'atua a corpse; the spirit of a dead person 'oroi ta the abode of the spirits of the dead okrao to ache continuously but not severely hununuka to breathe with difficulty kohmū to cough something up hegu to blow the nose puga an abscess mạtiti cold, to be cold tēla'ā food 'i'ini animal food: meat, fish or eggs faraoa bread faraoa utu a piece of bread faraoa hapa a slice of bread keke cake pạri banana par 'ạit a bunch of bananas säe a banana whose bunches grow upright 'ulu breadfruit tapiko cassava lolo coconut cream niusi a bunch of coconuts fekei pudding of grated taro or cassava starch, coconut cream, sugar mara ma 'a'ana taro pudding fakakại banana pudding kava kava, the ceremonial drink ti pạri banana tea 'aklulu a bud hoas 'aklulu a flower bud maja a branch rā a branch; a coconut frond hā a bundle of leaves leap hā the bundle of leaves used to cover a koua 'ại fakrava a cross (crossed pieces of wood) pua frangipani ragakạri ginger tiere gardenia mạiro a kind of shrub laje coral fū a coral reef mạnmạnu an animal of the land or air pusi cat kou bull, cattle hufhufu bat gogo a kind of seabird kukū a dove kaläe a kind of bird tuitui a kind of ant ro'ata a kind of stinging ant fikou hermit crab kamkama rock crab 'utete sand crab sa'ar'ara centipede sokra'a sailfish peau wave lạgi sky; air aoga cloud rạhu ashes mahala charcoal, coal 'umea clay vaka / vak canoe katea the hull of a canoe, as opposed to the outrigger 'afo basket tauga a kind of basket 'ajarava a basket made of green coconut leaf mosega bed; a chiefly title takaga bed; couch nofo'a chair pesini bowl, basin 'umefe an individual eating platform puku / puk book puk het a book Puk Ha'a the Holy Bible in Rotuman pepa het a sheet of paper kianre candle sikarete cigarette koti coat fạli belt; clothes hạ'fạli sarong, wrap-around mon uam a woman's top worn with the hạ'fạli 'oro a sash tied at the waist for ceremonies hạ'u clothes mä'lea working clothes uka a thick fishing line unu sennit cord käve the cord used to tie on a load kasa arrow fana bow 'ia axe (originally a stone axe) agsara adze kalapa club seru comb; to comb pakete bucket kese case, box; coffin kākō cargo uha bark cloth (no longer made) lahlaha black kele black jarava blue rạhrạhu brown mia' rahrahu brown or dull red totlaha black and blue, bruised huạl kele a coil of the darker pandanus strips huạl fisi a coil of the lighter pandanus strips ti'u big titi'u big (plural) hiti'u comparatively big ma'oi big in quantity, plentiful hepa broad, wide riri'i small (as in joan riri'i, gooseflesh) lelei good; all right raksa'a bad; in bad condition tē raksa'a a bad thing keleag lelei beautiful helava beautiful aire correct, actual nojo / nonojo correct, straight fei crooked ma'ma'a clean, pure tafa clear; a clear space mam'asa cruel pumuạ precious, treasured räe to see ho'i to return, to come back leum to come (towards the speaker) ås to visit noho / noh to live, to stay, to remain kuku to cook fao to cook the night before a'mamosa to cook until done susunu to burn jala to burn off grass fufu to burn lime fạmu to bury hili to choose he'o to call he'ạki to call out vata to crawl hura to break up (of a meeting) fạki to break off fua to break open kao to chop a coconut or nut in two fại to chop down 'apo to carry on the back rạ'u to carry in the arms kạ'u to carry under the arm tạri to accept sapo to accept mā to accept someone's advice or decision a'soko to accept, to accomplish, to carry out sai'o to ask about, to enquire rē to do, to make, to act towards pō to be able to do; to get, to arrive at mou to adhere, to hold fast piri to cling to (as wet clothes to the body) osi to adorn; a change of clothes at a mamasa voi'ạki to admire 'ạliga to acknowledge aier'ạki to believe mamnaki to be accustomed to faksoge to abstain from food, to fast taunạ'i to add together, to come together su'i to add water to fakputu to accumulate puke for a feeling to come strongly over one toka to come to an end soko to come about, to come to pass hoa' to take, to carry off pure to rule, to have authority over pure'aga kingdom, rule, dominion naam to give fạu'ạkia to forgive sara sin, transgression sại'ạkia to deliver, to set free ȧf'ȧk to hallow, to make honoured ma'ma' holy he'ama I wish, if only 'apei the fine white pandanus mat, the most sacred Rotuman object is käkä'e 'the tip of her fingers' - a woman's own 'apei agrua a very large pandanus mat sa'aga the shiny part of the pandanus leaf used for 'apei 'ar'ara the black part removed from a pandanus leaf rag sa'aga the process of stripping the pandanus leaf hula a large coil of prepared pandanus strips tefui the Rotuman ceremonial garland fui a single unit of the tefui garland koua the earth oven, and the food cooked in it kato'aga a traditional ceremony or celebration päega the pile of mats an honoured guest sits on sū a wedding terån a'sū a birthday 'oj'ạki the ritual for a first-born child hen rạu'ifi a ritual apology aragvaka a funeral takại ta the return of a widowed spouse to the parental home kakạu sạsi the fifth-day observance after a burial he' 'atua the call made at a funeral 'afa a basket of koua food presented to dignitaries tạutoga / tạutoag the principal Rotuman ceremonial dance tạutoag hafa the communal tạutoga danced by men and women tạutoag fā the men's tạutoga sua the first section of the tạutoga tiạp hī the melodic chant section of the tạutoga tiạp forạu the section of the tạutoga adapted from foreign music maka / mak dance; to dance nạu tē the anointing of dancers with scented oil hanuju / hanuj a tale or story, especially a fictitious one rogo a report; news of a witnessed event rogrog ne āv tā history (lit. 'the report of the time') gagaja / gagaj chief; lord gagaj 'es itu'u a district chief gagaj 'es ho'aga the sub-chief of a household group fa 'es itu'u chief of a district sạu the traditional paramount ritual office of Rotuma mua the chief ranking next to the sạu in former times huliạg ne 'umefe 'turning over the eating platform' - a chief's naming rite forạu a returnee, one coming home from abroad la'o a visiting party bringing mats and gifts 'Ạitu / 'Ạit God 'Ạit Mana the Almighty, the All-Powerful Tagroa the supreme deity of the pre-Christian Rotuman pantheon mana supernatural power Hanuạ Fạvi 'the land that hangs from the sky', the home of Tagroa ha'a holy, sacred fekạu a minister of religion 'ekaresaia a church member rī rotu church building Fäeag Rotuạm the Rotuman language fäega language, speech; a case, a matter ag fak hanua the culture and custom of the land ag fak Rotuma Rotuman custom vetạkia to sustain, to keep going fäeag 'es 'ao useful words 'atumotu island group, archipelago hạ'fạli ta the sarong vasvas the hibiscus-stem bark used as the tefui cord kạuat ta the hibiscus stem lum ta the seaweed used in a tefui paufu the male pandanus flower used for tefui stars 'apea a root crop whose leaf wraps the tefui