Language Learning

1. Tē hina'aro nei au e ha'api'i i te reo Mā'ohi.

   I want to study Tahitian.

   Usage

   Basic phrase to express your desire to learn Tahitian

   Grammar Note

   hina'aro is written with the glottal stop; languages use the reo + name pattern.

2. 'A parau mārie mai na, mea vave roa tā 'oe parau.

   Please speak more slowly, you are speaking too fast.

   Usage

   Used when learning Tahitian and someone speaks too fast

   Grammar Note

   Tahitian has no letter l; mālie is Samoan, and Tahitian spells it with r ("Marie : lentement ; doucement"). 'ōrero means "formal oratory", not ordinary speech (parau).

3. Eaha te aura'a o teie ta'o i roto i te reo Farāni?

   What does this word mean in French?

   Usage

   Used to check the French meaning of a Tahitian word

   Grammar Note

   "Aura'a : sens ; signification" and "Ta'o : mot".

4. 'A huri na i teie ta'o i roto i te reo Tahiti.

   Please translate this word into Tahitian.

   Usage

   Used when asking for a translation into Tahitian

   Grammar Note

   huri = tourner; changer; traduire. fa'atae means "to convey, to make reach".

5. E ti'a anei ia 'oe ia ha'api'i mai ia'u i te reo Tahiti?

   Can you teach me Tahitian?

   Usage

   Used to ask a local person to teach you Tahitian

   Grammar Note

   Requests use E ti'a anei ia 'oe ia …. āpī ana ōe says "you are new" and is not a request.

6. Tei hea vau e ha'api'i ai i te reo Tahiti?

   Where can I learn Tahitian?

   Usage

   Asking where to learn Tahitian

   Grammar Note

   Location uses Tei hea; Nā hea is "how / by which way".

7. Mea maita'i roa tā 'oe parau i te reo Tahiti!

   Your Tahitian is very good!

   Usage

   Used to compliment a foreigner speaking Tahitian

   Grammar Note

   maitai drops the glottal stop of maita'i, and 'ōrero refers to ceremonial oratory, so parau is right for everyday speech.

8. Eaha tō 'oe reo tumu?

   What is your native language?

   Usage

   Used in conversation to ask someone's first language

   Grammar Note

   "Tumu : racine ; origine"; reo tumu is "mother tongue".

9. Tē hina'aro nei au e ha'api'i i te hurira'a reo.

   I would like to learn translation.

   Usage

   Used when expressing interest in learning translation skills

   Grammar Note

   huri ("traduire") + -ra'a gives "translation". fa'atae reo means "to convey speech".

10. Nāhea e pāpa'i ai i teie ta'o?

    How do you spell this word?

    Usage

    Used when checking the correct spelling of a Tahitian word

    Grammar Note

    pāpa'i = écrire; spelling is asked as "how is it written", hence Nāhea.

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