Vukei au!
Help me!
Usage
The most critical emergency phrase. Shout loudly.
Grammar Note
"Veivuke" is the vei- reciprocal/nominal form and cannot take an object. Before a pronoun object the transitive is "vukei", so "Vukei au!" is the correct form. English "Help!" is also universally understood in Fiji.
Qirita na ovisa!
Call the police!
Usage
Fiji police emergency number: 917.
Grammar Note
"q"="ngg" so "qirita"="ngi-ri-ta". Bare "qiri" is intransitive "to ring/sound" ("na qiri na lali" = "the phone rings"); "to phone/summon someone" is the transitive "qirita" (e.g. "…qai qirita na ovisa" = "…and called the police"). "Ovisa" is Fijian for "officer" (police). Police emergency number: 917 (910 = fire, 911 = ambulance).
Au via raica e dua na vuniwai
I need to see a doctor
Usage
When medical help is needed. Fiji's ambulance number: 911 (910 is the fire service).
Grammar Note
"c"="th" so "raica"="rai-tha" ("raica" = to see, used before a noun object; the -i form "raici" is only for pronoun objects). "Vuniwai" = "vuni" (expert/tree) + "wai" (water/medicine) = medicine expert = doctor. Emergency numbers: 910 = fire, 911 = ambulance, 917 = police.
Kama!
Fire!
Usage
When there is a fire. Fiji's fire service number: 910 (fire only — ambulance is 911, police 917).
Grammar Note
"Kama" is a verb/adjective meaning "to burn, be burning" (e.g. "Kama nomu vale" = "a home is on fire"). The noun "fire" is "bukawaqa", but as an alarm cry the stative "Kama!" = "it's burning!" is the natural shout. English "Fire!" also works. The fire emergency number is 910 (911 = ambulance, 917 = police).
Sa yaco e dua na vakacalaka
There has been an accident
Usage
Reporting a traffic accident. Road conditions can be challenging in parts of Fiji.
Grammar Note
The word for accident is "vakacalaka" (from "cala" = to err; e.g. "e dua na vakacalaka bibi ena motoka" = "a serious car accident"). "Cakacaka ca" means "evil deed / iniquity", not an accident. "Sa yaco e dua na …" = "one … has occurred" is the set frame (e.g. "Sa yaco e dua na cala." = "There has been a mistake."). "c"="th", so "vakacalaka"="va-ka-tha-la-ka".
Au sega ni kila na sala
I'm lost
Usage
When lost. Most Fijians speak English, so "I'm lost" is also understood.
Grammar Note
"g"="ng" so "sega"="se-nga". "Matanisiga" is the sun, so it cannot be used for "I don't know the way". The word for way/road is "sala", and "sega ni kila na sala" = "don't know the way" (e.g. "era sega mada ga ni kila na sala ki na koro" = "they can't even find the way to town"). Saying "I'm lost. Can you help me?" in English also works.
Qirita na lori ni valenibula!
Call an ambulance
Usage
Fiji's ambulance/emergency number: 911. English "Call an ambulance!" is also understood.
Grammar Note
"q"="ngg" so "qirita"="ngi-ri-ta". An ambulance is "lori ni valenibula" (lit. hospital vehicle; e.g. "Qiria na lori ni valenibula!" = "Call the ambulance!"). The word for hospital is "valenibula". The ambulance emergency number is 911 (910 = fire).
Sa butakoci na noqu iyaya
I've been robbed
Usage
Reporting robbery. Fiji is relatively safe but caution is still needed in tourist areas.
Grammar Note
To steal is "butako", passive "butakoci" (e.g. "kevaka sa butakoci vua" = "if it is stolen from him"). "Iyaya" = belongings. In a real emergency, shouting "I've been robbed! Help!" in English also works. Call police on 917.
Emergency!
Usage
English "Emergency!" is the most reliably understood urgency expression throughout Fiji.
Grammar Note
English is one of Fiji's official languages. In emergencies, English is the safest choice. The Fijian for "emergency" is "leqa tubukoso" (e.g. "ena gauna ni leqa tubukoso" = "in an emergency", "na laini ni leqa tubukoso" = "the emergency line").
E vei na valenibula?
E vei na va-le-ni-bu-la
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Asking for the hospital. Major hospitals: Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, and Lautoka Hospital near Nadi.
Grammar Note
"E vei na …?" = "Where is the …?". Hospital is "valenibula" (vale = house + ni = of + bula = life). "B" is [mb], so it sounds like "va-le-ni-mbu-la".
E dau lako vakaca vei au na...
E dau la-ko va-ka-tha vei au na...
I'm allergic to...
Usage
Declaring an allergy. Follow with the specific item. In Fiji, stating allergies in English is safest.
Grammar Note
"Lialia" means foolish / crazy, so it cannot express an allergy. The way to state an allergy is "E dau lako vakaca vei au na …" = "… regularly disagrees with me" (e.g. "E dau lako vakaca vei au na pensilini" = "I'm allergic to penicillin"). "c"="th", so "vakaca"="va-ka-tha". Stating "I'm allergic to [item]" in English is also reliable — medical facilities in Fiji use English.
Kua!
Stop it
Usage
Show it firmly without speaking, e.g. to aggressive touts
Kua ni tauri au!
Do not touch me
Usage
Show it firmly without speaking
Na daubutako
Thief
Usage
Show it when reporting a theft. "dau-" forms an agent noun ("one who habitually does X") on "butako" (to steal)
Na laba
Murder
Usage
Show it when reporting. "laba" is the verb "to murder"; with the article, "na laba" names the act
Na gasaukuro
Bomb
Usage
A compound of "gasau" (arrow/reed) and "kuro" (pot), written as one word
E tiko e vei na ovisa?
Where are the police?
Usage
Asking where to report a theft. Fiji's police emergency number is 917.
Grammar Note
"E tiko e vei na …?" ("Where is the …?") needs the "e" before "vei". "Ovisa" names the police force or an officer, not the building. English "Where is the police station?" also works — English is an official language of Fiji.
E tiko e dua na tamata e vosa vaka-Japani?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Show it first at a police or hospital counter when looking for an interpreter.
Grammar Note
"E tiko e dua na …?" ("Is there a …?") is a set frame. "Tamata" means "person". Language names use the "vosa vaka-X" pattern (e.g. "vosa vaka-Viti" = Fijian). The country name is spelled "Japani". Since English is an official language of Fiji, asking "Does anyone speak Japanese?" in English is also practical.
Yalovinaka mo kauti au ki na valenibula.
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Asking a taxi driver or a bystander when you can still move but do not need an ambulance.
Grammar Note
"Yalovinaka mo …" ("Please …") is the request frame. The verb is "kauta" ("to carry, take"); before a pronoun object the final -a alternates to -i, giving "kauti au". "Ki na …" means "to the …". Hospital is "valenibula".
Kama! Dro!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Shout it to alert others and get them moving when you see a fire
Grammar Note
"Dro" means "to flee", used to get people moving.
Na daubutako! Tauri koya!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Calling for help from bystanders when someone snatches your belongings
Grammar Note
"Tauri koya" = "seize him/her". "Tauri" is the transitive form of "taura" (to take, seize), with the final -a shifted to -i before a pronoun object.
Sa mokuti au.
I was beaten
Usage
Reporting an assault to the police or to medical staff
Grammar Note
The "Sa + transitive -i form" construction puts the victim in focus. "Mokuti" means "to hit, strike".
Sa cokai au.
I was stabbed
Usage
Telling medical staff or police that you were stabbed
Grammar Note
The "Sa + transitive -i form" construction. "Cokai" means "to stab"; the root "coka" is "to pierce, thrust".
Sa luvu e dua na tamata.
Someone is drowning
Usage
Alerting others when you see someone drowning at sea or in a river
Grammar Note
The "Sa + verb + e dua na + noun" word order (Fijian is verb-initial). "Luvu" means to sink, drown. "Tamata" means "person".
Sa vakaisini au.
I was deceived
Usage
Reporting a scam or a rip-off
Grammar Note
The "Sa + transitive verb + pronoun object" construction. "Vakaisini" means "to deceive, cheat".
Sa basu vale e dua na daubutako.
My room was broken into
Usage
Reporting that your room was broken into while you were out
Grammar Note
The "Sa + verb phrase + e dua na + noun" word order. "Basu vale" means "to break into a house"; "daubutako" is "thief".
Sa butakoci na noqu taga ni ilavo.
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Use it when filing a theft report; remember to cancel your cards too
Grammar Note
The pattern "Sa butakoci na noqu iyaya" with the object swapped for "taga ni ilavo" ("wallet"). "Taga" is "bag" and "ilavo" is "money".
Au sa guilecava na noqu iyaya.
I left my luggage behind
Usage
Reporting that you left your luggage behind in a shop or on a bus
Grammar Note
"Au sa + verb" is the form for "I have done / I am …". "Na noqu iyaya" is "my belongings". "Guilecava" means "to forget".
Sa mokuti au e dua na motoka.
I was hit by a car
Usage
Telling police or medical staff that a car hit you
Grammar Note
This is verb-initial, with the object ("au") before the subject ("e dua na motoka") — Fijian is VOS. "Mokuti" means to hit or strike, and "motoka" is "car".
Yalovinaka mo vakatotolo.
Please hurry
Usage
Telling an ambulance or taxi that the situation is urgent
Grammar Note
The request frame "Yalovinaka mo …" ("Please …") with "vakatotolo" ("quickly").
Yalovinaka mo lako mai vakatotolo.
Please come right away
Usage
Telling someone on the phone, or through a third person, to come to where you are
Grammar Note
The request frame "Yalovinaka mo …" ("Please …") with "lako mai" ("come") and "vakatotolo" ("quickly").
More Fijian phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
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