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It can also be helpful, but not mandatory, to
brush up on a few basic French phrases as French
and Tahitian are the official languages and both
are commonly used.
The Tahitian alphabet contains only thirteen letters.
Vowels: a as in car,
e as in may,
i as in machine, o
as in cold, and u
as in salute.
Consonants: f,h,m,n,p,r,t,v
pronounced as in English with the exceptions of
the
h pronounced sh
when preceded by i or
followed by o and the
r sometimes having a
trill sound.
hello, good day, friendly greeting – ia
orana
goodbye – nana
welcome – maeva
thank you – mauru'uru
no problem!, no worries! – aita
pe'ape'a
how are you? – eaha te
huru?
good! – maita'i
to your health, toast – manuia
house – fare
bank – fare moni
church – fare pure
post office – fare rata
hospital – fare ma’i
store – fare toa
doctor – taote
police – muto’i
man – tane
woman – vahine
child – tamarii
yes – e, oia
no – aita
small – iti
big, large – nui
islet in the lagoon – motu
ancient temple – marae
traditional quilts – tifaifai
traditional dance – tamurei
fenua – land
flower – tiare
ocean – moana
sun – mahana
moon – avae
star – fetia
earth oven – himaa
feast – tamaaraa
morning – poipoi
evening – ahiahi
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