{"id":1385,"date":"2024-01-18T01:22:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T11:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anoe-tahiti.com\/2024\/01\/the-little-tahitian-lexicon\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T16:24:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T02:24:35","slug":"the-little-tahitian-lexicon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anoe-tahiti.com\/en\/2024\/01\/the-little-tahitian-lexicon\/","title":{"rendered":"The little Tahitian lexicon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Linguistic diversity within French Polynesia is remarkable, with several Polynesian languages spoken.<\/p>\n

Polynesian languages belong to the Oceanic language family, which is itself part of the large Austronesian language family. Polynesian languages share linguistic similarities, but each island or group of islands has developed distinct variations and dialects over time.<\/p>\n

Polynesian languages spoken in French Polynesia include Tahitian, Marquesan, Rapa, Reo Maohi (Ma’ohi, a Tahitian language), Paumotu, Austronesian and others. Tahitian is often considered the main and most influential language of French Polynesia.<\/p>\n

Here are the languages of French Polynesia.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Marquisian :<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Marquesan (‘eo ‘enana)
South Marquesan (‘eo enata)<\/p>\n

Tahitian :<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leeward Islands dialect (raromatai)
Maupiti dialect<\/p>\n

Austral :<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ra\u2019ivavae
Rurutu \u2012 Rimatara<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \n
\n
\n

Pa\u2019umotu :<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parata (Anaa)
Tapuhoe (Makemo, Amanu)
Vahitu
Fangatau
Napuka
Tatakoto
Reao
Marangai (Tureia)<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n

Here are some of the essential terms and unique expressions in reo tahiti<\/em> (Tahitian), so you’ll know a thing or two when you meet “locals”.<\/span><\/p>\n

M\u0101uruuru<\/i><\/span> and nana<\/i> !<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Fran\u00e7ais<\/th>Tahitien<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
BONJOUR<\/td>Ia ora na<\/td>Hello<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BIENVENUE<\/td>M\u0101nava<\/td>Welcome<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AU REVOIR<\/td>Nana<\/td>Goodbye<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MERCI<\/td>M\u0101uruuru<\/td>Thank you<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HOMME<\/td>T\u0101ne<\/td>Man<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FEMME<\/td>Vahine<\/td>Woman<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ENFANT<\/td>Tamari'i<\/td>Child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CHIEN<\/td>Uri<\/td>Dog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CHAT<\/td>Mimi<\/td>Cat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
COQ<\/td>Moa<\/td>Rooster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OUI<\/td>AE \/ E<\/td>Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NON<\/td>Aita<\/td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VIENS<\/td>Haere mai<\/td>Come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BON APP\u00c9TIT<\/td>T\u0101m\u0101'a mata'i<\/td>Enjoy your meal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SANT\u00c9<\/td>Manuia<\/td>Cheers (used when toasting)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
COMMENT \u00c7A VA ?<\/td>E aha t\u014d \u2018oe huru<\/td>How are you?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00ceLOT<\/td>Motu<\/td>Islet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STATUE DE PIERRE<\/td>Tiki<\/td>Stone statue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LIEU SACR\u00c9<\/td>Marae<\/td>Sacred place<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JOUR<\/td>Mahana<\/td>Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NUIT<\/td>P\u014d<\/td>Night<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 ,2 ,2003<\/td>H\u014d\u2019\u0113 piti toru<\/td>1, 2, 2003<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NOURRITURE<\/td>M\u0101\u2019a<\/td>Food<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BI\u00c8RE<\/td>Pia<\/td>Beer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FRUIT \u00c0 PAIN<\/td>Uru<\/td>Breadfruit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JE T\u2019AIME<\/td>Ua here vau ia 'oe<\/td>I love you<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FATIGUE LOCALE<\/td>Fiu<\/td>Local tiredness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DANSE LOCALE<\/td>T\u0101m\u016br\u0113<\/td>Local dance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PAS DE PROBL\u00c8ME<\/td>Aita pea pea<\/td>No problem<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IMB\u00c9CILE<\/td>Ma'au<\/td>Fool, idiot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Linguistic diversity within French Polynesia is remarkable, with several Polynesian languages spoken. Polynesian languages belong to the Oceanic language family, which is itself part of the large Austronesian language family. Polynesian languages share linguistic similarities, but each island or group of islands has developed distinct variations and dialects over time. Polynesian languages spoken in French […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[312,89,301,302,90,84],"tags":[82,91],"class_list":["post-1385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-en-2","category-culture-en","category-en-amoureux-en","category-en-famille-en","category-hear","category-tahiti-en","tag-culture-en","tag-speak","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"aioseo_notices":[],"builder_content":"

Linguistic diversity within French Polynesia is remarkable, with several Polynesian languages spoken.<\/p>

Polynesian languages belong to the Oceanic language family, which is itself part of the large Austronesian language family. Polynesian languages share linguistic similarities, but each island or group of islands has developed distinct variations and dialects over time.<\/p>

Polynesian languages spoken in French Polynesia include Tahitian, Marquesan, Rapa, Reo Maohi (Ma'ohi, a Tahitian language), Paumotu, Austronesian and others. Tahitian is often considered the main and most influential language of French Polynesia.<\/p>

Here are the languages of French Polynesia.<\/p>\n

Marquisian :<\/strong><\/p>

North Marquesan ('eo 'enana)
South Marquesan ('eo enata)<\/p>

Tahitian :<\/strong><\/p>

Leeward Islands dialect (raromatai)
Maupiti dialect<\/p>

Austral :<\/strong><\/p>

Ra\u2019ivavae
Rurutu \u2012 Rimatara<\/p>\n

Pa\u2019umotu :<\/strong><\/p>

Parata (Anaa)
Tapuhoe (Makemo, Amanu)
Vahitu
Fangatau
Napuka
Tatakoto
Reao
Marangai (Tureia)<\/p>\n

Here are some of the essential terms and unique expressions in reo tahiti<\/em> (Tahitian), so you'll know a thing or two when you meet \"locals\".<\/p>

M\u0101uruuru<\/i> and nana<\/i> !<\/p>

<\/p>

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