Post Office

1. Tei hea te fare rata?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Used to find the post office in Papeete or on other islands

   Grammar Note

   fare rata literally means "house of letters" — rata derives from French lettre

2. E hina'aro vau e tono i teie rata i Tāpōnē.

   I would like to send this letter to Japan.

   Usage

   Used when mailing a letter or postcard internationally

   Grammar Note

   "To send" is tono. Japan is Tāpōnē (Te fenua tāpōnē). rata is "letter" (rata "missive")

3. E hia te ho'o no te tono i teie pī'ohu?

   How much does it cost to send this package?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the postage for a package

   Grammar Note

   A parcel is pī'ohu and "to send" is tono

4. E hina'aro vau i te hō'ē titiro nō te carte postale.

   I would like a stamp for a postcard.

   Usage

   Used at the post office to buy a stamp for a postcard

   Grammar Note

   A postage stamp is titiro ("timbre-poste, tampon, cachet"). There is no Tahitian word for "postcard", so the French carte postale is used as is

5. E hia mahana no te tae i Farāni?

   How many days does it take to reach France?

   Usage

   Used to ask about mail delivery time to France or other countries

   Grammar Note

   Days are counted with mahana. tae is "to reach, arrive"

6. E hina'aro vau e tono 'oi'oi i teie mau pī'ohu.

   I would like to send these packages by express mail.

   Usage

   Used when needing to send mail by express delivery

   Grammar Note

   A parcel is pī'ohu and "to send" is tono. There is no Tahitian word for "express mail", so the adverb 'oi'oi "quickly" is used instead

7. Tē vai ra 'ānei tā'u rata?

   Is there any mail for me?

   Usage

   Used to check for held mail at the post office during a long stay

   Grammar Note

   Existence is asked with Tē vai ra 'ānei …? ("is there …?")

8. E hina'aro vau i te hō'ē carte postale.

   I would like one postcard.

   Usage

   Used to buy a postcard at the post office or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   There is no Tahitian word for "postcard", so the French is used as is

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