Pharmacy & Health

1. E tiko beka e dua na wainimate ni mosi ni ulu?

   E ti-ko be-ka e ndu-a na wai-ni-ma-te ni mo-si ni u-lu?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine in Fijian at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Waiwai" is generally coconut oil, not medicine. "Wai ni mata" means "tears", not eye drops (e.g. "ena tavoya tani na vei drodro ni wai ni mata mai na matadra" = "he will wipe away the tears from their eyes"). In modern Fijian medicine is the single word "wainimate", and "medicine for X" is "wainimate ni …" (e.g. "wainimate ni mavoa" = wound medicine, "wainimate ni namu" = mosquito medicine).

2. Au vinakata e dua na wainimate ni kete

   Au vi-na-ka-ta e ndua na wai-ni-ma-te ni ke-te

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Waiwai" is generally coconut oil, not medicine. "Wai ni mata" means "tears", not eye drops. In modern Fijian medicine is the single word "wainimate", and "medicine for X" is "wainimate ni …" (e.g. "wainimate ni mavoa" = wound medicine, "wainimate ni namu" = mosquito medicine). "Kete" is the belly, so it is the right word for stomach medicine.

3. Au vinakata e dua na wainimate ni coka

   Au vi-na-ka-ta e ndua na wai-ni-ma-te ni tho-ka

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Waiwai" is generally coconut oil, not medicine. "Wai ni mata" means "tears", not eye drops. In modern Fijian medicine is the single word "wainimate", and "medicine for X" is "wainimate ni …" (e.g. "wainimate ni mavoa" = wound medicine, "wainimate ni namu" = mosquito medicine). Diarrhoea is "coka". c = [ð], the th of English "this".

4. E tiko vei au na katakata

   E ti-ko vei au na ka-ta-ka-ta

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Katakata" means "hot/feverish". Reduplication in Fijian intensifies meaning

5. E tiko vei au e dua na allergy

   E ti-ko vei au e ndua na allergy

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   Fijian sentences use the English word "allergy" as is (e.g. "E tiko beka e dua na allergies?" = "Do you have allergies?"). "E tiko vei au …" = "I have …" is the possessive frame. Fiji is trilingual - English, Fijian and Hindi - and medical settings run in English

6. Au vinakata e dua na plaster

   Au vi-na-ka-ta e ndua na plaster

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   There is no established Fijian word for an adhesive plaster, so the card uses the English word found on Fijian pharmacy shelves. "Pasidia" is a real word but means passenger / household member (a borrowing of English "passenger"), not a plaster

7. Au vinakata e dua na insect repellent.

   Au vi-na-ka-ta e ndua na insect repellent.

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   There is no established Fijian term for insect repellent, so the card uses the English wording found on Fijian pharmacy shelves. "Waiwai" is coconut oil, not medicine.

8. Au vinakata e dua na sunscreen

   Au vi-na-ka-ta e ndua na sunscreen

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   The sun is "siga". There is no established Fijian word for sunscreen, so the card uses the English word. "Waiwai ni siga" literally reads "oil of the sun" — i.e. it can be taken as tanning oil, the opposite of what is wanted.

9. E vakacava na kena gunuvi na wainimate oqo?

   E va-ka-tha-va na ke-na ngu-nu-vi na wai-ni-ma-te o-ngo?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "How" is "vakacava". The verb for taking medicine is "gunuva" ("to drink"). Medicine is "wainimate"; "waiwai" is coconut oil. Note q = [ŋg] and c = the th of English "this".

10. E gadrevi na prescription?

    E nga-ndre-vi na prescription?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Is X required?" is "E gadrevi …?" (e.g. "kevaka e gadrevi na dinau" = "if a loan is required"). There is no established Fijian word for a medical prescription, so English is used. "Saraga" is "sara ga" = "just / only / indeed", not "required", and "risiti" is a receipt, not a prescription. The word for doctor is "vuniwai". q = [ŋg], g = [ŋ], dr = [ndr]

11. Na wainimate ni mata

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Buy at a pharmacy

12. Na wainimate ni mosi

    Painkiller

    Usage

    Buy at a pharmacy

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