It always helps to know a bit of the local lingo when travelling to a new destination. French Polynesia has two official languages, French and Tahitian, although each island group has its own dialect. English is widely spoken, but put a few of these Tahitian phrases up your sleeve to help you get around.
Pronunciation
You’ll quickly learn there are a lot of vowels in each word in Tahitian, and each letter is pronounced. Here’s how to pronounce the vowels:
A – ah
E – ay
I – ee
O – oh
U – oo
Basic greetings
La ora na – hello
Maita’ i oe – how are you?
Maita’ i vau – I am fine
Nana – bye bye
Mauruuru – thank you
Manuia! – cheers!
E – Yes
Aita – No
Travelling
Haere tatou – let’s go!
Fa’aite mai ia’u ite e’a – show me the way to…
‘Ia maita’i terera’a – have a good trip
‘Ia maita’i te ho’ira’a – come back soon!
Ua ite oe i te parar Marite? – do you speak English?
Aita i papu ia’u – I dont understand
Ehia moni te’ie? – How much does it cost?
Other expressions
‘Aita pe’ ape’a – no worries
Haere maru – take it easy
Ua here vau ia oe – I love you
E mea maita’ i roa tele – this is very good
‘Ia ha’amaita’i mai te Atua ia ‘oe – God bless you
Read Next
29 Must-Visit Attractions in Tahiti
The Best Trips for Incredible Wildlife Encounters
The Best Things to Do on Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Top Reasons Why You Should Go Sailing in French Polynesia
The Best Sailing Vacations for Solo Travellers
How to Spend Days Island Hopping Around French Polynesia
The Best Pacific Islands Spa Retreats
The Best Waterside Bars in Bora Bora for Sundowner Cocktails
The Best Oceanside Restaurants in Bora Bora
How to Spend a Day on Bora Bora, French Polynesia
The Most Beautiful Islands to Explore From Bora Bora
A Guide to Sailing in French Polynesia
Culture Trip Sale
Save up to $1,322 on our small-group trips! Limited spots.
