Dietary & Allergies

1. Au sega ni kania na lewenimanumanu.

   I don't eat meat.

   Usage

   Vegetarian declaration

   Grammar Note

   Negation: "sega ni"

2. Au vegan, au sega ni kania na ka mai vua na manumanu.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat anything from animals.

   Usage

   Vegan declaration

   Grammar Note

   "mai vua na" = "from (something)"

3. Au tauvi mate ena ivi, vutu, kei na niu.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Fijian has no umbrella word for tree nuts, so name the ones that actually go into the food: ivi (Tahitian chestnut) and vutu (Fiji nut) are market staples, and niu (coconut) is in almost everything

   Grammar Note

   "tauvi mate" = "to be afflicted"; "kei na" = "and", the same use as the fj convenience-store card. The old "vuanikau" means fruit (vua ni kau, "what the tree bears"), not nuts — the card declared a fruit allergy and left ivi, vutu and niu, which go into sweets and lovo dishes, reading as safe. niu is already present in the fj fruits cards

4. E tiko beka e dua na menu sega ni vakacurumi kina na falawa?

   Is there a wheat-free menu?

   Usage

   Gluten/wheat-free inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "e ... beka" softens a question

5. Au Musolomani, au sega ni kania na lewenivuaka.

   I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Halal observance

   Grammar Note

   "leweni-" forms "meat of"

6. E vakamatemate vei au na sucu.

   Milk makes me sick.

   Usage

   Lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "vaka-" is causative prefix

7. Au tauvi mate ena ura kei na qari.

   I'm allergic to shrimp and crab.

   Usage

   Shellfish allergy

   Grammar Note

   "kei na" = "and"

8. Na cava e tiko ena kakana qo?

   What is in this dish?

   Usage

   Ingredient inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "qo" = "this"

9. O rawa beka ni cakava ka sega ni vakacurumi kina na vavaravara?

   Could you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Request to omit ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "O rawa beka ni" = "could you"

10. Au tauvi mate ena yaloka.

    I'm allergic to eggs.

    Usage

    Egg allergy

    Grammar Note

    "yaloka" = "egg"

11. E tiko beka e dua na lisi ni allergen?

    Is there an allergen list?

    Usage

    Allergen menu request

    Grammar Note

    "e dua na" = "a/an"

12. Na noqu mate ni allergic e rawa ni vakamatei au.

    My allergy can kill me.

    Usage

    Severe allergy warning

    Grammar Note

    "noqu" = "my"

13. E tiko na waiwai se na boronikau?

    Is there oil or spice in it?

    Usage

    Asks about oil/spice

    Grammar Note

    "se" = "or"

14. E rawa ni veiwaki na noqu kakana kei na ka tale?

    Could my food get mixed with others?

    Usage

    Cross-contamination check

    Grammar Note

    "vei-" is the reciprocal prefix. Hazlewood's English-Fijian half gives to mix = wakia and mixed = veiwaki. The old veitosoyaki is glossed "to be loose, not firm" and does not mean mixed

15. Vinaka vakalevu ena nomu kauwai.

    Thank you very much for your care.

    Usage

    Formal thanks

    Grammar Note

    "nomu" = "your"

16. Au sega ni rawa ni kania na lewenibulumakau.

    I cannot eat beef.

    Usage

    Specific food restriction

    Grammar Note

    "bulumakau" derived from "bullock cow"

17. Na lewenivuaka

    Pork

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains pork

18. Na lewenibulumakau

    Beef

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains beef

19. Na toa

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains chicken

20. Na ika

    Fish

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains fish

21. Na yaloka

    Egg

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains egg

22. Na sucu

    Milk / dairy

    Usage

    Point at it to check for dairy

23. Na ivi kei na vutu

    Nuts

    Usage

    Point at it to check for tree nuts. Fijian has no umbrella word for nuts, so the two representative species are shown (ivi = Tahitian chestnut, vutu = Fiji nut). The old wording "vuanikau" means fruit and must not be used here. Coconut is niu

24. Na ura

    Shrimp / prawn

    Usage

    Point at it to check for shellfish allergy

25. Na qari

    Crab

    Usage

    Point at it to check for shellfish allergy

26. Na falawa

    Wheat flour

    Usage

    Wheat flour; "falawa" is also used for bread

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