Transportation

1. Na tekesi ki na otela

   Na te-ke-si ki na o-te-la

   Taxi to the resort

   Usage

   Getting a taxi to the resort from the airport or Nadi. Fijian taxis often lack meters — negotiate the fare in advance.

   Grammar Note

   "Tekesi" is Fijianized from "taxi" and "otela" from "hotel". "Ki" is a directional preposition meaning "to/towards". "Weleti" means "papaya" and will not be understood as a hotel.

2. Na basi ki Suva

   Na mba-si ki Su-va

   Bus to Suva

   Usage

   Bus from Nadi to Suva — cheap and used by locals. Journey takes approximately 3-4 hours.

   Grammar Note

   "b"="mb" so "basi"="mba-si". Fijian buses are inexpensive and a locally-used transport mode.

3. Na waqa ki na yanuyanu

   Na wa-ngga ki na ya-nu-ya-nu

   Ferry to the island

   Usage

   Taking the ferry to outer islands. Sunrise and Awesome Adventures ferries depart from Port Denarau to Mamanuca/Yasawa.

   Grammar Note

   "q"="ngg" so "waqa"="wa-ngga". "Waqa" is the general Fijian term for any watercraft.

4. E vica na aua e dede kina?

   E vi-tha na au-a e nde-nde ki-na

   How long does it take?

   Usage

   Checking travel time. In Fiji's island geography, inter-island travel can take longer than expected.

   Grammar Note

   Duration is "dede" ("vakadede" = a long time). "Aua" is an hour. "Toka" means "to stand, or be placed, chiefly of things inanimate", so it does not express duration. "c" = [ð], the th of English "this".

5. Tikiti dua dua vakalevu

   Ti-ki-ti ndu-a ndu-a va-ka-le-vu

   One-way ticket

   Usage

   Buying a one-way ticket. "Tikiti dua dua" (without "vakalevu") also works.

   Grammar Note

   "d"="nd" so "dua"="n-dua". Reduplication ("dua dua") expresses "one-way/single" in Fijian.

6. Mai Nadi ki Suva

   Mai Nan-di ki Su-va

   From Nadi to Suva

   Usage

   Traveling between Fiji's two main cities. By bus, taxi, or rental car — approximately 3-4 hours.

   Grammar Note

   "Mai" (from) and "ki" (to) together express "from ... to ...". Fiji's main highways are the Queen's Road (south) and King's Road (north).

7. Na seaplane

   Na si-plein

   Seaplane (scenic flight)

   Usage

   Seaplanes offer both transportation to remote islands and stunning aerial views of Fiji's archipelago.

   Grammar Note

   "Seaplane" is used as the English word, as on tour-operator signs and bookings. The native word for an aeroplane is waqavuka (the Vehicles category).

8. E vica na isau ki na Mamanuca?

   E vi-tha na i-sau ki na Ma-ma-nu-tha

   How much to the Mamanuca Islands?

   Usage

   Checking the fare to the Mamanucas. Prices vary by transport: ferry, speedboat, or seaplane.

   Grammar Note

   "c"="th" so "Mamanuca"="Mama-nu-tha" and "vica"="vi-tha".

9. Na carrier

   Na ka-ri-a

   Carrier van (local minibus / shared transport)

   Usage

   Fiji's local shared minibus. One of the cheapest transport options, widely used by locals.

   Grammar Note

   English "carrier" has become the established term for this local transport type. A genuine local experience for adventurous tourists.

10. Au via hire na draiva ki na siga

    Au vi-a hai-a na ndrai-va ki na si-nga

    I'd like to hire a driver for the day

    Usage

    Hiring a driver for a full day. An efficient way to explore Fijian tourist sites.

    Grammar Note

    "d"="nd" so "draiva"="n-draiva" (from English "driver"). "Siga" = day/sun. "g"="ng" so "siga"="si-nga".

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