Transportation

1. Tē haere nei au i Pape'ete.

   I am going to Papeete.

   Usage

   Tell a driver or ferry crew you are heading to the capital Papeete

   Grammar Note

   haere is the primary movement verb in Tahitian

2. Tei hea te taura'a manureva?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of the airport in Tahitian

   Grammar Note

   "taura'a" is a perch or landing place and "manureva" (flying bird) is the aeroplane. Do not use "fare vāna'a" for airport — "vāna'a" means orator/oration, and Fare Vāna'a is the proper name of the Académie Tahitienne.

3. 'A tāpe'a i 'ō nei, māuruuru.

   Please stop here.

   Usage

   Ask a taxi or le truck (local bus) driver to stop here

   Grammar Note

   'āfata means a box; tāpe'a means to stop or detain. māuruuru expresses thanks and softens requests.

4. E hia te ho'o no te pahi?

   How much is the ferry fare?

   Usage

   Ask the cost of an inter-island ferry in French Polynesia

   Grammar Note

   horo'a means to give. A ship or ferry is pahi.

5. Tei hea te uāhu pahi?

   Where is the ferry terminal?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of the ferry terminal

   Grammar Note

   A quay is uāhu (also written uähu); a ship is pahi.

6. Tei hea te hōtera?

   Where is the hotel?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of the hotel

   Grammar Note

   manuia also occurs in Samoan, but in Tahitian means to prosper or succeed. A hotel is hōtera (also hötëra); lodging generally is vāhi nohora'a, place of staying.

7. 'A afa'i ia'u i Mo'orea.

   Please take me to Moorea.

   Usage

   Direct a driver or guide to take you to Moorea island

   Grammar Note

   rave means to take or receive, not to convey a person. Carrying or taking someone is afa'i. 'A + verb is a polite imperative.

8. E hia te hora no te tae i Pape'ete?

   How long does it take to get to Papeete?

   Usage

   Ask how long the journey to a destination takes

   Grammar Note

   'e'a means path, not a question word. Duration is asked with E hia te hora …?; E hia? means how many. taime is borrowed from English time.

9. Tei hea te uāhu?

   Where is the boat dock?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of the boat or ferry dock

   Grammar Note

   tahua means the floor of a house or deck of a ship, not a harbour. A dock is uāhu (also uähu).

10. 'A hōro'a mai i te tīteti, māuruuru!

    Please give me a ticket!

    Usage

    Ask someone to give you a ticket for transportation

    Grammar Note

    avera means a dry season or to be scorched. A ticket is tīteti (also tïteti), including lottery and admission tickets. The loan also has the form tīkete.

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