Airport & Customs

1. Vakaraitaka mada na nomuni pasipoti.

   Va-ka-rai-ta-ka ma-nda na no-mu-ni pa-si-po-ti.

   Please show your passport

   Usage

   Standard phrase used by immigration officers

   Grammar Note

   To show is "vakaraitaka"; a polite imperative takes "mada" after the verb (e.g. "mo lako mada"). Possession is "nomuni" (your, polite). Fijian is VOS, so the verb comes first. d = [nd].

2. Na cava na inaki ni nomuni lako mai?

   Na tha-va na i-na-ki ni no-mu-ni la-ko mai?

   What is the purpose of your visit?

   Usage

   Standard immigration question

   Grammar Note

   Purpose is "inaki". "Na cava" asks "what". c is the th of English "this".

3. E vica na bogi o vinakata me nomu tiko?

   E vi-tha na mbo-ngi o vi-na-ka-ta me no-mu ti-ko?

   How many nights are you planning to stay?

   Usage

   Commonly asked at immigration

   Grammar Note

   "Vica" asks "how many". b = [mb] and g = [ŋ], so "bogi" (night) sounds like "mbo-ngi"; c is the th of English "this".

4. E tiko e dua na ka me o vakatakila?

   E ti-ko e ndu-a na ka me o va-ka-ta-ki-la?

   Do you have anything to declare?

   Usage

   Asked at customs

   Grammar Note

   To declare is "vakatakila". The existential frame "E tiko e dua na ka …?" (is there anything …?) is used. d = [nd].

5. E sega ni yaco mai na noqu iyaya.

   E se-nga ni ya-tho mai na no-ngu i-ya-ya.

   My luggage hasn't arrived

   Usage

   Tell baggage claim staff

   Grammar Note

   Luggage is "iyaya" ("noqu iyaya" = my luggage). "Sega" is the negator. g = [ŋ], q = [ŋg], c = [ð].

6. Oqo na iyaya ni liga.

   O-ngo na i-ya-ya ni li-nga.

   This is carry-on luggage

   Usage

   Tell airline staff at check-in or boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   Hand luggage is "iyaya" (goods) + "ni liga" (of the hand). "Liga" is the hand. g = [ŋ] and q = [ŋg].

7. Au sa tiko ena transit.

   Au sa ti-ko e-na tran-sit.

   I'm in transit

   Usage

   Used at transit counters or immigration

   Grammar Note

   The existential verb "tiko" (to be, to stay) makes it "Au sa tiko ena transit". The English word "transit" is used as is — Fijian airport signage is in English.

8. E tiko ivei na gate?

   E ti-ko i-vei na gate?

   Where is the gate?

   Usage

   Ask when looking for your boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   The standard frame for asking where something is is "E tiko ivei na …?". Fijian airport signage is English, so "gate" is used as is. "Ivei" = where.

9. E vica na kaloko e tekivu kina na boarding?

   E vi-tha na ka-lo-ko e te-ki-vu ki-na na boar-ding?

   When does boarding begin?

   Usage

   Ask while waiting at the boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   To begin is "tekivu". The time question is "E vica na kaloko …?". c = [ð].

10. E tiko ivei na duty-free shop?

    E ti-ko i-vei na duty-free shop?

    Where is the duty-free shop?

    Usage

    Ask after clearing security

    Grammar Note

    A coined compound would not be understood at the counter, so the English "duty-free shop" is used as is. The location frame is "E tiko ivei na …?".

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