Martial Arts

1. Tei hea te vāhi e ha'api'i ai i te moto?

   Where is boxing taught?

   Usage

   The combat sports you will actually find in Tahiti are boxing and kickboxing, with clubs around Pape'ete. There is no reliable record of a codified traditional fighting art; the traditional events, grouped as "tū'aro mā'ohi", are strength contests such as stone lifting (amora'a ofa'i) and javelin throwing (patia fa). As a French territory, most conversation happens in French

   Grammar Note

   "Tei hea ...?" is the set frame for asking where. The Tahitian glottal stop is written with an apostrophe and appears word-internally, as in "ha'api'i". Macrons mark long vowels; dropping either mark can yield a different word

2. E nehenehe anei au e ō atu i te ha'api'ira'a i teie mahana?

   May I join today's lesson?

   Usage

   Asking about a drop-in. Tahitian clubs generally run on membership but some will take a visitor for a session. The desk conversation will usually be in French, and this Tahitian line functions as a courteous opening rather than the whole exchange

   Grammar Note

   The particle "anei" turns a statement into a question and sits right after the predicate. The suffix "-ra'a" nominalises verbs — "ha'api'i" (to teach) gives "ha'api'ira'a" (a lesson) — and is central to Tahitian word formation

3. E nehenehe anei au e hi'o noa i te fa'aineinera'a?

   May I just watch the training?

   Usage

   Asking to observe. Always ask separately before filming. Competitions in the traditional sports (tū'aro mā'ohi) are held around the Heiva festival in July and are open to the public, which makes them the easiest thing to watch

   Grammar Note

   "Noa" follows the verb to limit it to "merely". The causative prefix "fa'a-" derives "fa'aineine" (to prepare, to train) from "ineine" (ready)

4. E hia moni no te hō'ē ha'api'ira'a?

   How much is one lesson?

   Usage

   Asking the price. The currency is the CFP franc (XPF). Tahiti is expensive and a gym drop-in can run 2,000-3,000 XPF. Many clubs work on an annual subscription and may have no short-stay rate at all

   Grammar Note

   "E hia ...?" asks both "how many" and "how much". "Hō'ē" is the numeral one and precedes the noun

5. Mea 'āpī roa vau i te moto.

   I am completely new to boxing.

   Usage

   Flagging that you are a beginner. Tahitian clubs often post no skill levels, so saying it aloud is the reliable route — otherwise you may end up in the same drills as experienced members

   Grammar Note

   An adjective used as a predicate takes "mea" at the front of the clause: "Mea 'āpī vau" = I am new. "Roa" follows the adjective as an intensifier

6. 'A rave mārū, 'eiaha e pūai roa.

   Take it gently, not too hard.

   Usage

   For asking a partner to lower the intensity. In a Tahitian gym people usually say "vas-y doucement" in French, but this line reads as respectful to a Tahitian speaker. Saying something plainly is the safe choice

   Grammar Note

   Commands take "'a" before the verb: "'A rave" = do it. Prohibitions use "'eiaha e" plus the verb, functioning as a negative imperative

7. Tē mauiui nei tō'u turi, 'aita e nehenehe ia'u e ta'iri 'āvae.

   My knee hurts, so I cannot kick.

   Usage

   Declaring an injury — say it before training starts. Swap "turi" (knee) for "tua" (back) or another body part. Medical care in French Polynesia is concentrated in Pape'ete and thin on the outer islands

   Grammar Note

   The progressive marker is Tē with a macron, distinct from the article te.

8. Tē vai ra anei te mau gants no'u?

   Are there gloves for me to use?

   Usage

   Checking on equipment. "Gants" is borrowed from French — sports equipment in Tahiti generally keeps its French name. Wraps and a mouthguard are effectively always your own for hygiene, and can be bought at sports shops in Pape'ete

   Grammar Note

   Plurality is shown by adding "mau" to the article "te": "te fare" (the house) becomes "te mau fare" (the houses). French loanwords are deeply embedded in everyday vocabulary across French Polynesia

9. I te hora hia e ha'amata ai te ha'api'ira'a?

   What time does the lesson start?

   Usage

   Asking about the timetable. Tahitian clubs train mostly from 5pm onwards to avoid the heat. Schedules are normally posted in French, and are often easiest to find on the club's Facebook page

   Grammar Note

   "Hora" comes from French "heure" and marks the hour. When a question phrase is fronted, "ai" appears after the verb to mark the position it came from

10. E nehenehe anei 'oe e fa'a'ite mai ia'u i teie ravea?

    Could you show me this technique?

    Usage

    Asking to be shown a move. Say "Māuruuru" once you have been shown. Respect for elders matters in Tahiti, so keep questions modest — watching and copying is the preferred way to learn

    Grammar Note

    "Fa'a'ite" combines the causative "fa'a-" with "'ite" (to know), hence "to make known, to show". "Mai" marks motion toward the speaker; "atu" points away

11. Tē vai ra anei te vāhi hopu i 'ō nei?

    Is there somewhere to wash here?

    Usage

    Checking for washing facilities. Tahitian clubs often rent time in a municipal sports hall, so whether there are showers depends on the venue. Bring your own towel and a change of clothes

    Grammar Note

    "Vāhi + verb" forms a noun phrase meaning "place for doing X". "I 'ō nei" is the set expression for "here", pointing to the speaker's immediate vicinity

12. Tē vai ra anei te tū'aro tumu mā'ohi i 'ō nei?

    Are the traditional Mā'ohi sports practised here?

    Usage

    Asking about cultural background. The traditional sports of Tahiti, "tū'aro mā'ohi", include stone lifting, javelin throwing, outrigger canoe racing and coconut husking, with competitions held during the Heiva festival in July. There is no record of a codified fighting school, so asking about these strength contests is far more rewarding than hunting for a martial art

    Grammar Note

    "Mā'ohi" is the indigenous self-designation for the people of Tahiti and their culture, used with pride in contrast to the imported "tahitien". Modifiers follow the noun, as is standard in Tahitian

13. 'A fa'ateitei i tō rima, 'a hi'o i te mata o tō hoa.

    Get your hands up, look at your partner's eyes.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. One of the most frequent cues during pad work and sparring — reading the eyes rather than the hands tells you what is coming. The clipped imperative carries no harshness

    Grammar Note

    "Fa'ateitei" is the causative "fa'a-" on "teitei" (high), hence "to make high, to raise". When two commands follow one another, each keeps its own "a"

14. 'A ta'iri pūai, 'eiaha e tāpe'a.

    Strike hard, do not hold back.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The call from the pad holder when they want full commitment. Half-hearted contact is more likely to hurt your wrist, so this doubles as permission to strike at full power

    Grammar Note

    The adjective "pūai" works adverbially when placed after the verb. Tahitian makes no morphological distinction between adjectives and adverbs; position determines the role

15. 'A fa'aea e pae minuti, 'a inu i te pape.

    Rest for five minutes and drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach between rounds. Tahiti is hot and humid and sports halls often have no air conditioning, so water breaks come often. Tap water is drinkable in Pape'ete but should be checked on the outer islands

    Grammar Note

    Numerals take the form "e + number" before the noun: "e pae minuti" = five minutes. "Pape" means water and is embedded in the name of the capital, Pape'ete

16. 'Ua navai no teie mahana. Mea maita'i roa.

    That is enough for today. Very good.

    Usage

    Said by the coach to close the session. Tahitian clubs usually finish by shaking hands round the group. "Māuruuru roa" is the natural reply to the coach, though French "merci" works just as well

    Grammar Note

    "Ua" marks the perfect aspect, a state already reached. "Mea maita'i roa" is the standard phrase of praise, "very good", and is common in everyday speech as well

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