Language/Fijian/Vocabulary/Family-Members
Family is a significant part of Fijian culture, and it's essential to know the correct words for different family members. In this lesson, we will learn the Fijian vocabulary for family members and how to use them in sentences and questions. Let's get started!
Basic Family Vocabulary
Here are the most commonly used words for family members in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | tah-mah | Father |
| Nana | nah-nah | Mother |
| Tama i vakarau | tah-mah ee vah-kah-row | Stepfather |
| Nana i vakarau | nah-nah ee vah-kah-row | Stepmother |
| Lewa | lay-wah | Parent |
| Tutu | too-too | Grandmother |
| Koro | kor-roh | Grandfather |
| Marama | mah-rah-mah | Aunt, mother's sister |
| Tau | tah-oo | Uncle, mother's brother |
| Dada | dah-dah | Sister (of a female) |
| Vugalei | voo-gah-leih | Sister (of a male) |
| Taciqu | tah-thi-thi | Brother (of a male) |
| Yalewa | yah-leh-wah | Daughter |
| Tagane | tah-gah-neh | Son |
It's important to note that in Fijian culture, titles are used widely as a term of respect. So, while there are specific words for father, mother, and grandparents, other family members may be called by their title.
For example, an older sister may be referred to as "Vakavugalei" (meaning 'Elder Sister'), and an older brother can be referred to as "Vakataciqu" (meaning 'Elder Brother'). It is essential to understand that these titles are used as terms of respect both in the family and in the community.
Gender and Age
Fijian has distinct words for 'sister' depending on whether the person speaking is male or female. 'Dada' is used by females for their sisters while 'Vugalei' is used by males for their sisters.
You may have also noticed two different words for 'father' and 'mother' - Tama and Nana, respectively. In Fijian culture, the father is considered the head of the household, and the mother is responsible for caring for the children. Therefore, it is common to refer to them by their distinct terms, which sound more formal or respectful than the English equivalents.
Using Family Vocabulary in Sentences
Let's take a look at some examples of how to use the Fijian words for family members in sentences and questions.
- "O cei oqo na tama i vakarau?" - "Who is this stepfather?"
- "O koya oqo na nana" - "This is the mother."
- "Au sa liutaki kei noqu tutu" - "I'm talking with my grandmother."
- "Au sa i tagane vakatini" - "I have a younger brother."
It's important to note that while you can use the titles to refer to someone formally, most Fijians use their common names to refer to their family members.
- "Moce, Nana" - "Goodbye, Mom."
- "Ena veilewai taka na noqu dada kei rau na tagane ni qali" - "My sister and two brothers are talking in the yard."
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have learned the Fijian vocabulary for various family members and how to use them in sentences and questions. We have also discussed the use of distinct terms for parents and gender-specific titles for siblings. Remember that using these words and titles correctly will help you show respect in Fijian culture. Keep practicing, and before you know it, you'll be speaking Fijian like a pro!