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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