Weather & Climate

1. E katakata sara nikua!

   E ka-ta-ka-ta sa-ra ni-ku-a!

   It's so hot today!

   Usage

   Weather conversation in Fiji

   Grammar Note

   Fijian is Austronesian. "Katakata" is a reduplicated form of "kata" meaning hot

2. E na uca mai

   E na u-tha mai

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   When rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "Mai" is a directional particle indicating movement toward the speaker

3. E na yaco mai na cava levu

   E na ya-tho mai na tha-va le-vu

   A big cyclone is approaching

   Usage

   Warning about an approaching cyclone

   Grammar Note

   Fiji lies in the cyclone belt. "Levu" = big/large — a common adjective

4. E batabata na draki nikua

   E mba-ta-mba-ta na ndra-ki ni-ku-a

   The weather is pleasant today

   Usage

   Comment on pleasant weather

   Grammar Note

   Fiji has a tropical climate, so cool days are precious. Weather is "draki" (sitoa means "shop")

5. Yalovinaka, tukuna mai na itukutuku ni draki

   Ya-lo-vi-na-ka, tu-ku-na mai na i-tu-ku-tu-ku ni ndra-ki

   Please share the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely asking for the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Itukutuku ni draki" = weather forecast (same as the Skiing & Winter Sports category). "Yalovinaka, tukuna mai" is a polite request ("please tell me")

6. Ena rau na cream ni siga?

   E-na rau na cream ni si-nga?

   Will I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask on sunny days

   Grammar Note

   "Siga" = sun/day in Fijian. Tropical sun is very intense

7. Na umbrella e rau me'u kauta?

   Na umbrella e rau me-u kau-ta?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Before going out in uncertain weather

   Grammar Note

   Fijian uses many English loanwords. "Kauta" = to take/bring

8. E vica na vula e tekivu kina na tabayabaki maca?

   E vi-tha na vu-la e te-ki-vu ki-na na ta-mba-ya-mba-ki ma-tha?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Travel planning question

   Grammar Note

   Both words were wrong. "Vakatawa" means "to inhabit, to populate, to fill (a gun)" (Hazlewood), not a season; the season of the year is "tabayabaki" (Hazlewood, English-Fijian half: "Season, of year, tabayabaki"). "Tawasei" belongs to "tawase" ("separated, divided"), not dry — dry is "maca" (Hazlewood: "a. empty, or dry"). Fiji's dry season is May–October. "E vica na vula e tekivu kina ~" = "which month does ~ start?" (ivei means "where", not "when").

9. E vica na vula e tekivu kina na tabayabaki ni uca?

   E vi-tha na vu-la e te-ki-vu ki-na na ta-mba-ya-mba-ki ni u-tha?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the rainy season

   Grammar Note

   The old wording used "vakatawa" (Hazlewood: "to inhabit, to populate, to fill"), which is not a season. The season of the year is "tabayabaki" (Hazlewood, English-Fijian half), and the genitive "ni" makes it "season of rain". Fiji's rainy season is November–April, which is also cyclone season.

10. Na siga e katakata sara

    Na si-nga e ka-ta-ka-ta sa-ra

    The sun is really hot

    Usage

    Exclamation about intense sunshine

    Grammar Note

    "Sara" is an intensifier adverb. Fiji is tropical with intense sun year-round

11. Na uca

    Rain

    Usage

    Ask or talk about the weather

12. Na cagi

    Wind

    Usage

    Ask or talk about the weather

13. Na cagilaba

    Cyclone

    Usage

    Check whether a cyclone warning is in force

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