Health & Hospital

1. Au via raica na vuniwai.

   I want to see a doctor.

   Usage

   When seeking medical attention due to illness

   Grammar Note

   The word for doctor is "vuniwai", from "vuni" (expert/tree) + "wai" (water/medicine) = "medicine expert".

2. E tiko e vei na valenibula?

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   When asking for the location of a hospital

   Grammar Note

   Hospital is "valenibula". The locative question frame is "E tiko e vei na …?" — the "e" before "vei" is required.

3. Sa mosi na uluqu.

   I have a headache.

   Usage

   When describing a headache

   Grammar Note

   A headache is expressed with the body part as subject: "Sa mosi na uluqu." = "my head aches" (e.g. "Mosi kaukauwa ni ulu" = "severe headache"). "-qu" is the 1sg possessive suffix.

4. Au a tauvimate.

   I am sick / I have been sick.

   Usage

   When communicating that you are unwell

   Grammar Note

   "A" marks past or completive aspect. "Au a tauvimate" means "I have become sick / am in a state of illness".

5. E tiko e vei na sitoa ni wainimate?

   Where is the pharmacy?

   Usage

   When looking for a pharmacy to purchase medicine

   Grammar Note

   Medicine is "wainimate" (wai "liquid" + ni + mate "sickness"), and a pharmacy is "sitoa ni wainimate". The locative frame is "E tiko e vei na …?", with the required "e" before "vei".

6. Au na sauma na wainimate.

   I will pay for the medicine.

   Usage

   When indicating readiness to pay for medicine at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   To pay is "sauma" (e.g. "e dodonu mo sauma na freight" = "you should pay for the freight"; "au na sauma lesu vei iko" = "I will pay you back"). "Rawata" means "to obtain / be able to", not "to pay" ("au sa sega ni rawata" = "I am not able to"). "Na" is the future particle, so "Au na sauma" = "I will pay".

7. Au sa oca sara.

   I am very tired.

   Usage

   When expressing fatigue

   Grammar Note

   Tired is "oca" ("Au sa oca" = "I am tired"), and the intensifier is post-verbal "sara" ("oca sara" = "very tired"). "Vuqa" means "many/much" of quantity and does not intensify a state.

8. Au via qaravi vakavuniwai ena vuku ni mataqu.

   I want to have my eyes treated.

   Usage

   When seeking treatment for an eye condition

   Grammar Note

   Medical treatment is "qaravi vakavuniwai" (e.g. "A qaravi vakavuniwai" = "he was treated medically"; "vinakati meda qaravi vakavuniwai" = "we need medical treatment"). "Vakavinakataki" means to renovate or service a building, road or account, and is not used for medical treatment. "Ena vuku ni …" = "on account of …". "Mataqu" is "mata" (eye) + "-qu" (my).

9. Au sa tauvimate bibi sara.

   I am feeling very ill.

   Usage

   When communicating that you are feeling seriously ill

   Grammar Note

   Serious illness is "tauvimate bibi sara" (e.g. "E tauvimate bibi sara" = "she was very ill"). "Bibi" = heavy/serious, "sara" = very. "Sivia" means "to exceed" a quantity and is not a state intensifier.

10. Au via vakayagataka na noqu inisua.

    I want to use my insurance.

    Usage

    When offering to use insurance at a medical facility

    Grammar Note

    Insurance is "inisua" (e.g. "na kabani ni inisua" = "the insurance company"), and "to use" is "vakayagataka". "Rawata" means "to obtain", not "to use".

11. Au bukete

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Critical before any medication or X-ray

12. Na mate ni suka

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Tell medical staff about this condition

13. Na mate ni uto

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Tell medical staff about this condition

14. E dredre na noqu cegu

    I have trouble breathing

    Usage

    Report breathing difficulty urgently

15. E dave tiko na dra

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Report bleeding

16. E musu na sui

    A bone is broken

    Usage

    Report a suspected fracture

17. Na mavoa

    Wound / cut

    Usage

    Show a cut or open wound

18. Qirita na vuniwai!

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask bystanders for help when you or a companion collapses. Fiji's ambulance number is 911.

    Grammar Note

    "Qirita na …!" ("Call the …!") is the frame, with "vuniwai" (doctor) as the object. "q" = [ŋg], so "qirita" sounds like "ngi-ri-ta". The transitive "qirita" is required, not the intransitive "qiri" (to ring).

19. Sa mosi eke.

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the spot that hurts — it works without knowing the body-part word.

    Grammar Note

    "Sa mosi" ("aches") followed by the locative "eke" ("here") at the end of the clause. You can point at the spot instead of naming the body part.

20. E dodonu meu vakacegu?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Checking with medical staff after an examination whether you should rest.

    Grammar Note

    "E dodonu meu …?" ("Should I …?") is the frame, with the verb "vakacegu" ("to rest"). "c" = [ð] and "g" = [ŋ], so "vakacegu" sounds like "va-ka-the-ngu".

21. Au sa malumalumu.

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Describing weakness in the body when there is no fever

    Grammar Note

    "Au sa + state" is the form for "I am …". "Malumalumu" means physically weak. It is a different word from "oca" ("tired") and denotes lack of strength.

22. Au sa lua vakavica.

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tell medical staff — how many times you vomited guides the assessment of dehydration

    Grammar Note

    "Au sa + verb" is the form for "I have … / I am …". "Lua" denotes vomit itself. "Vakavica" means "repeatedly".

23. Na coka

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    One word for diarrhoea: "coka". The same spelling also means "to spear", so point at your stomach as you say it

24. Na da

    Poop

    Usage

    The word for stool: "da" (human excrement)

25. Na mimi

    Pee

    Usage

    The ordinary word for urine: "mi / mimi" (urine, to urinate). The more polite word is "suasua"

26. Au coka.

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    This sentence uses "coka" (diarrhoea) as the predicate: "Au coka." = "I have diarrhoea."

27. Au via suasua.

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee. "Suasua" is the polite word, so it is safe in ordinary speech

    Grammar Note

    "Suasua" is the polite word for "to urinate". "Via + verb" means "want to ..." ("Au via lako" = I want to go). "Suasua" also means "wet".

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