Music & Entertainment

1. E mea nehenehe roa te hīmene Mā'ohi!

   Tahitian music is very beautiful!

   Usage

   Used when expressing admiration for Tahitian music

   Grammar Note

   It is spelled with the macron: "Hīmene : chant ; cantique".

2. Tē hina'aro nei au e fa'aha'uti i te ukulele.

   I would like to play the ukulele.

   Usage

   Used to express interest in playing the ukulele, a staple of Polynesian music

   Grammar Note

   "Fa'aha'uti : faire jouer d'un instrument".

3. E ti'a anei ia 'oe ia fa'aha'uti i te pahu?

   Can you play the drum?

   Usage

   Used to ask if someone can play the pahu, a traditional Tahitian drum

   Grammar Note

   "Pahu : tambour traditionnel".

4. Eaha te hīmene tā 'oe e fa'aha'uti nei?

   What song are you playing now?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of the song being played

   Grammar Note

   a-class possessive tā 'oe with the progressive e … nei.

5. Tē hīmene nei rātou i te Heiva.

   They are singing at the Heiva festival.

   Usage

   Used when talking about the Heiva festival's singing competitions

   Grammar Note

   hīmene works as both noun and verb.

6. Tē hina'aro nei au e hīmene i te hō'ē hīmene Mā'ohi.

   I would like to perform a Tahitian song.

   Usage

   Used to offer to perform a Tahitian song at a cultural event or gathering

   Grammar Note

   fa'a'ite means "to show, to explain", so hīmene ("to sing") is used for performing a song.

7. Mea pūai roa te ta'i o te pahu!

   That drum is very loud!

   Usage

   Used to express amazement at the powerful drumming at events like Heiva

   Grammar Note

   "Ta'i : son ; sonner" and "Pūai : puissant ; fort". rahi is "large" in size or quantity; loudness takes pūai.

8. Tei hea vau e fa'aro'o ai i te 'upa'upa?

   Where can I hear live music?

   Usage

   Used to find venues for live music in Tahiti

   Grammar Note

   "'Upa'upa : orchestre ; musique".

9. Tē hina'aro nei au e haruharu i teie hīmene.

   I would like to record this song.

   Usage

   Used when wanting to record traditional Tahitian music

   Grammar Note

   "Haruharu : enregistrer".

10. Mea maita'i roa te 'upa'upa!

    Wonderful performance!

    Usage

    Used to praise performers at a concert or cultural event

    Grammar Note

    mea maita'i roa means "very good" and 'upa'upa means "music / performance".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages