30 Useful Tahitian Words and Phrases

Before going to the picturesque islands of Tahiti, why not learn some Tahitian words and phrases?

French is the official language of The Islands of Tahiti. Tahitian is mostly spoken by islanders in their homes while French is commonly used in schools and business but once you visit the islands, English is well spoken in restaurants, resorts and other tourist areas. It is considered the third language as well.

The Tahitian language has a melodic intonation like a siren’s song and is very simple with only 16 letters and 1,000 words. With only five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and eleven consonants (b, f, g, h, k, m, n, p, r, t, v), learning the language is very easy. An apostrophe indicates a short pause and most vowels are pronounced.

We’ve collected some words and phrases that are commonly used in Tahiti:

• Hello – Ia Orana (yo-rah-nah)
• Welcome – Maeva (mah-yeh-vah)
• Thank you – Maururu (mah-roo-roo)
• Man – Tane (tah-nay)
• Woman – Vahine (vah-he-nay)
• Child – Tamarii (tah-ma-ree-ee)
• Bye/See you later – Nana (nah-nah)
• Cheers / To your health – Manuia (mah-nwee-ah)
• Good – Maitai (my-tie)
• Yes – E (ay)
• No – Aita (eye-tah)
• I love you – Uua here vau ia oe (oo-ah hay-ray ee-ah oh-ay)
• Morning – Poipoi (poy-poy)
• Evening – Ahiahi (ah-hee-ah-hee)
• Island – Motu (moh-too)
• Look – A hi’o (ah-hee-oh)
• Ocean – Moana (mo-ah-nah)
• How are you? – Maita’i oe? (may-tay oh-ay)
• I am fine – Maita’i roa (may-tay ro-ah)
• What? – Eaha? (ey-ah-hah)
• Why? – No te aha? (noh-tay ah-hah)
• No problem – Aita pe’a pe’a (eye-tah pay-ah pay-ah)
• Bread – Faraoa (fah-rah-o-ah)
• Water – Pape (pa-pay)
• Pearl – Poe (po-ay)
• Black pearl – Poerava (po-ay ra-vah)
• Flower – Tiare (tee-ah-ray)
• Beer – Pia (pee-ah)
• Let’s go – Haere tatou (ha-ay-ray tah-taw)
• Cloth wrap – Pareu (pa-ray-oh)

Now you're ready to fly to the stunning French Polynesia! To learn more about our Tahiti packages, contact us online or if you prefer speaking to a destination specialist, call us at (02) 9094 3322.