Convenience Store

1. E tiko ivei na sitoa e voleka duadua?

   Where is the nearest shop?

   Usage

   Fiji has almost no 24-hour convenience stores. Daily life runs on small general shops called "sitoa", usually family-run by Indo-Fijian or Chinese families and open from morning until early evening.

   Grammar Note

   "Duadua" after an adjective forms the superlative: voleka (near) → voleka duadua (nearest). "Sitoa" is a loanword from English "store".

2. E tiko na wai batabata?

   Do you have cold water?

   Usage

   On outer islands and inland villages the generator only runs part of the day, so the fridge may be off. Drinks on the shelf are often at room temperature — worth checking before you buy.

   Grammar Note

   Fijian adjectives follow the noun, hence "wai batabata" (water + cold). "Batabata" is a reduplicated stative form.

3. E sega ni batabata, ni sega tu na livaliva.

   It is not cold — the power is out.

   Usage

   Said by staff. Many Fijian outer-island settlements run a generator only during the day, and outages are common. If drinks are warm, ask whether the shop has ice ("aisi").

   Grammar Note

   "E sega ni + verb/adjective" negates a predicate, while "e sega na + noun" says something does not exist. "Ni" also serves as a causal conjunction ("because").

4. E dolava tiko na sitoa oqo ena Siga Tabu?

   Is this shop open on Sunday?

   Usage

   "Siga Tabu" literally means "sacred day". In villages with a strong Methodist tradition many shops simply do not trade on Sunday, so stock up on water and food on Saturday.

   Grammar Note

   "Tiko" is a continuous-aspect particle: "dolava tiko" = is (currently) open. The demonstrative "oqo" (this) follows the noun.

5. Keitou sogo ena Siga Tabu.

   We are closed on Sunday.

   Usage

   Said by staff. In Fiji Sunday morning is for church and the afternoon for family, so village shops close entirely. Supermarkets in town usually stay open.

   Grammar Note

   Fijian first-person plurals distinguish inclusive vs exclusive and group size. "Keitou" is the small-group exclusive "we" — exactly what shop staff use for their own side.

6. E sega ni volai na isau. E vica?

   There is no price written on it. How much is it?

   Usage

   Island shops often skip price tags — the owner simply knows the prices. It is normal rather than a scam, so just ask. Fijian dollars (FJD) circulate in both notes and coins.

   Grammar Note

   "Volai" is the passive-like form of "vola" (to write). "E vica" alone is enough to mean "how much?".

7. Au via volia e dua na top-up ni noqu talevoni.

   I would like to buy a top-up for my phone.

   Usage

   Prepaid credit for Vodafone Fiji and Digicel is sold in village shops in $5 or $10 units. Staff either load it straight onto your number or hand you a slip with a code. "Top-up" is used as an English loanword.

   Grammar Note

   "Volia" is "voli" (buy) with the transitive suffix "-a", required when an object follows. "Noqu" is the possessive "my" used for tools and possessions.

8. E rawa ni au saumi ena credit card?

   Can I pay by credit card?

   Usage

   Village shops are essentially cash-only. Cards work in Nadi or Suva supermarkets and resort shops. Get small notes before heading to an outer island.

   Grammar Note

   "E rawa ni + subject + verb" is the standard way to ask about ability or permission. The preposition "ena" marks instrument as well as place and time.

9. E tiko na tine ni ika?

   Do you have tinned fish?

   Usage

   Tinned fish and corned beef are the most reliably stocked foods in a Fijian island shop. Fresh goods depend on when the boat comes in, so many travellers buy tins and rice ("raisi") before crossing.

   Grammar Note

   The word for a tin is "tine" (Hazlewood, English-Fijian half: "Tin, tine."). The old form "tini" is the numeral ten (Hazlewood: "a. ten") and does not mean a can. The genitive "ni" links the two nouns.

10. Sa oti na madrai. Mai nimataka.

    The bread is finished. Come back tomorrow.

    Usage

    Said by staff. Island shops take a single bread delivery each morning, so it is usually gone by early afternoon. Limited stock reflects shipping, not demand.

    Grammar Note

    "Sa" marks a completed change of state: "sa oti" = it has run out. Fijian has no tense inflection and relies on particles like this instead.

11. E rawa ni solia mai e dua na taga?

    Could I have a bag?

    Usage

    Fiji has been phasing out single-use plastic bags, and village shops often have none at all. Carrying your own bag is becoming the local norm.

    Grammar Note

    "Mai" is a directional particle meaning "hither"; added to a verb it directs the action toward the speaker. "Solia mai" therefore means "give it to me".

12. E sega na change. E tiko na ilavo lailai?

    I have no change. Do you have smaller money?

    Usage

    Said by staff. Island shops keep little float, so a 50 or 100 dollar note may simply be refused. Break big ATM notes while you are still in town.

    Grammar Note

    "E sega na + noun" states that something does not exist. Everyday Fijian freely mixes in English words like "change" or "credit card"; this is normal, not sloppy.

13. E lako mai e vei na ka oqo?

    Where is this brought in from?

    Usage

    Almost everything in an island shop is imported from Australia, New Zealand or China, and costs more than on the mainland. Use this question when you want a locally made item instead.

    Grammar Note

    "Lako" (go) plus the hither particle "mai" yields "come"; with "yani" (thither) it means "go away". "Ka" is the generic noun for "thing".

14. E se vinaka tiko na kakana oqo?

    Is this food still good?

    Usage

    Imported goods travel slowly by ship and sit in hot, humid shops, so out-of-date stock can stay on the shelf. Check the date on tins, milk powder and snacks before buying.

    Grammar Note

    "Se" means "still" and combines with the continuous "tiko" to say a state is ongoing. "Vinaka" is polysemous — it also means "thank you".

15. E tiko na batiri kei na wai ni gunu?

    Do you have batteries and drinking water?

    Usage

    On outer islands you keep torch batteries for blackouts and bottled water for when the rain tank is unusable. Both are staples of the village shop.

    Grammar Note

    "Kei na" joins two nouns ("and"). The genitive "ni" expresses purpose: "wai ni gunu" = water for drinking.

16. Keitou dolava mai na 7 ka sogo ena 6 na yakavi.

    We open at 7 and close at 6 in the evening.

    Usage

    Said by staff. Fijian village shops open around sunrise and shut before dark. Night trading barely exists, so finish your shopping before dusk.

    Grammar Note

    Fijian uses "ka" to link verbs and "kei na" to link nouns. The starting point of a time span is marked with "mai na".

17. E sega ni tiko. E se bera ni yaco mai na waqa.

    We do not have it — the boat has not arrived yet.

    Usage

    Said by staff. Outer-island shops restock from a cargo boat that calls once or twice a week, so a delayed boat empties the shelves. Bad weather can mean weeks without an item.

    Grammar Note

    "Se bera ni + verb" expresses "not yet". "Waqa" covers all watercraft, from a canoe to a cargo ship.

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