Health & Hospital

1. E ma'i vau

   I am sick

   Usage

   Basic phrase to say you are unwell

   Grammar Note

   e + adjective expresses a state

2. Tei hea te fare ma'i?

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a hospital in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   Location uses Tei hea; No hea means "from where". fare ma'i = hôpital ; clinique.

3. Tē mauiui nei tō'u upo'o.

   My head hurts

   Usage

   Describing a headache symptom

   Grammar Note

   mauiui = "pain, anguish". ro'i means "bed" and ūpō is a corrupted upo'o. The word for a headache is 'āhoahoa.

4. Tē tītau nei au i te taote.

   A doctor is needed

   Usage

   Used when medical attention is urgently required

   Grammar Note

   taote = docteur and tītau = chercher ; demander ; exiger.

5. Tē vai ra anei tā 'oe rā'au?

   Do you have medicine?

   Usage

   Asking for medicine at a pharmacy or first aid kit

   Grammar Note

   rā'au rapa'au = médicaments; rā'au needs both the macron and the glottal stop.

6. Tē hina'aro nei au ia piha'e.

   I feel nauseous

   Usage

   Describing nausea or vomiting symptoms

   Grammar Note

   piha'e = vomissement ; vomir. vomito is a Spanish/Portuguese form.

7. 'Aita tō'u allergie.

   I don't have allergies

   Usage

   Telling medical staff or restaurants you have no allergies

   Grammar Note

   No Tahitian word for an allergy exists, so the French allergie used in clinics is kept. Negated possession is 'Aita + the possessive.

8. 'A hi'o mai na i tō'u pēpē.

   Please look at my wound

   Usage

   Asking someone to examine an injury

   Grammar Note

   "Pēpē : blessé ; blessure". Without the macrons, pepe means "butterfly", so the length matters.

9. Tē mauiui nei tō'u 'ōpū.

   I have a stomach ache

   Usage

   Describing stomach pain

   Grammar Note

   'ōpū = ventre ; abdomen. "E ma'i roto vau" says "I am ill inside" without specifying the belly.

10. Tē vai ra tā'u assurance.

    I have insurance

    Usage

    Informing hospital reception that you have insurance

    Grammar Note

    No Tahitian word for insurance exists, so the French assurance is used. manava means "belly, seat of feelings".

11. 'A tāniuniu i te taote!

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to call a doctor

    Grammar Note

    The imperative frame of "'A tāniuniu i te mūto'i!" and "'A tāniuniu i te pere'o'o ma'i!", filled with "taote" from "Tē tītau nei au i te taote.".

12. Tē rohirohi nei tō'u tino.

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Used to say your whole body feels heavy or worn out

    Grammar Note

    "Tē mauiui nei tō'u upo'o." (I have a headache) with the predicate and the subject noun replaced. "rohirohi" is "rohirohi, fatigue ; fatigué" and "tino" is "tino, 1. corps".

13. 'Ua piha'e vau e rave rahi taime.

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor you have been vomiting repeatedly

    Grammar Note

    "'Ua + verb + vau" is the perfective frame of "'Ua hahi vau i te 'ē'a.". "piha'e" is the word of "Tē hina'aro nei au ia piha'e." (I feel nauseous), glossed "piha'e, vomissure ; vomir". "e rave rahi" means "many", and "e rave rahi taime" means "several times".

14. Mea tītauhia anei ia fa'aea?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Used after an examination to ask whether you have to rest

    Grammar Note

    The question particle "anei" is the one in "Tē vai ra anei tā 'oe rā'au?" and "Tē vai ra 'ānei?". "tītau" is the verb of "Tē tītau nei au i te taote."; its passive is used in "Mea tītauhia anei ...?" ("is it necessary to ...?"). "fa'aea" is "reposer (se), fa'aea".

15. Hī

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Names diarrhea in one word

    Grammar Note

    "diarrhée = hï". It also appears as "rō'ohia i te hī" (to catch diarrhea) and "te hī toto" (bloody diarrhea, dysentery).

16. Tumau

    Constipation

    Usage

    Names constipation in one word. If it is not understood at a pharmacy, the French "constipation" is a good fallback

    Grammar Note

    tumau is "Tumau, s. constipation". It is used in "te piha'e, te hī e te tumau" (vomiting, diarrhea and constipation) and "rapa'au i te tumau e te hī" (to treat constipation and diarrhea). The spelling can carry other senses, so always use it alongside talk of the belly or medicine.

17. Tutae

    Poop

    Usage

    The general word for excrement; a person's stool is "tutae taata" when stated explicitly

    Grammar Note

    tutae is "Tutae, s. the excrements of any kind of animal". It is used in "tutae taata" (human excrement) and "faarueraa tutae taata" (disposal of human waste).

18. 'Ua rō'ohia vau i te hī.

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    "'Ua + verb + vau" is the perfective frame of "'Ua piha'e vau e rave rahi taime.". "rō'ohia i te hī" (to catch diarrhea) is the phrasing used.

19. 'Ua rō'ohia vau i te tumau.

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist you are constipated

    Grammar Note

    "'Ua rō'ohia vau i te hī." with "hī" (diarrhea) replaced by "tumau" (constipation).

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