Positional relationships in the Fijian Language

These are some commonly used words to describe position in relation to something/someone else.

cake                                up
ra                                    down
delana                             on top
rukuna                             below
dakuna                            behind
matana                            in front
yasana                             beside
lomana                            inside
mawi                               left
matau                              right

Savasava - verb and adjective

Savasava is used in the Fijian language as both a verb and an adjective. 

However, the pronunciations of savasava when used as an adjective is different from when it's used as a verb.

Sah-vah-sah-vah is the pronunciation when it's used as verb. When it's used as an adjective it's pronounced 'Sah-vah-sah-vaaah'. Note the stress in the last syllable.

Enjoy learning the Fijian language.

Ni - a versatile fijian word

The word 'Ni' corresponds to these English words and that's why I call it versatile:

• As
• When
• Since
• That
• Because

And here are some examples of its use

Lock your bag since there are thieves around.

Lokata na nomu kato ni levu na dau butako.

Did you know that it's raining?

O kila ni tau tiko na uca?

New words

Uca - rain

Tau na uca - raining

Lokata - lock

kila - know

Oya - Particles in space and time Part 3

Oya is the particle used in reference to a address third person or an object further away from  two people in a discussion. Oya can also be used to refer to a distant past.

Again oya is usually abbreviated to ya in everyday Fijian.

Eg.

na yanuyanu oya                 that island
na motoka oya                    that car

na gauna oya                       that time

Particles for space and time 2 - Oqori

Oqori is used in the second person to refer to people or things at hand in relation to the person being addressed.

In contrast oqo is in relation to the person speaking or in the first person.

Eg. John asks Anna for the salt.

Can I have the salt.                         Kerea na masima oqori.

Again abbreviation is common in everyday Fijian language speaking that 'qori' is more commonly used.

the  car (you're standing next to)         motoka qori (oqori abbreviated)

Particles for space and time 1 - Oqo

Three particles in the Fijian language refer to positions in space and time.  These are oqo, oqori and oya.

Oqo is

1. linked to things near or at hand to the person speaking or in the first person.

Eg. Na motoka oqo.                                   This car.

2. and the present time.

Eg. Au sa lako yani oqo                               I am coming now.

Often oqo is abbreviated in everyday language to qo.

So you may hear people say - Au sa lako yani qo. Na motoka qo.

Come back tomorrow for the other two particles.

Fijian nominal pronouns

These are nominal pronouns in the Fijian language. I love this about the Fijian language that it has more choices than in English!

Nomu                Your
Nomudrau         Your (two)
Nomudou          Your (few)
Nomuni             Your (many)

Examples in phrases.

Solia na nomu bilo.                   Give your cup.
I vei na nomudrau vale?         Where's your house?
I vei na nomudou koro?          Where's your village?
I vei na nomuni qoliqoli?          Where's your fishing territory?