Wine & Spirits

1. Nehenehe e 'ite i te tāpura uaina?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   Used in a restaurant to request the wine list

   Grammar Note

   Wine is "uaina" (a loan from English "wine"). Do not use "vai" — it means water.

2. Eaha te uaina maita'i o te fenua nei?

   What is the good wine of this land?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the good local wine

   Grammar Note

   faufa'a means gain or profit, not recommend. This asks what the good wine of this land is. Tahitian uses maita'i; meitaki is Rarotongan and also a dialect variant.

3. E hina'aro vau i te uaina 'ute'ute / uaina 'uo'uo / uaina rosé.

   I'd like red / white / rosé wine.

   Usage

   Used to order a specific type of wine

   Grammar Note

   vai means water, not wine. Red is 'ute'ute; white is 'uo'uo. 'āpiti means to pair and momoe to sleep, neither a colour. Use French for rosé.

4. E hina'aro vau i te hō'ē hapaina / hō'ē mōhina, māuruuru.

   I'd like a glass / bottle please.

   Usage

   Used to specify whether you want a glass or a bottle

   Grammar Note

   pute means a bag, not a bottle. A drinking glass is hapaina; a bottle is mōhina.

5. Eaha te uaina e au i teie mā'a?

   What pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask about wine pairing with a dish

   Grammar Note

   Write what as one word, Eaha; aha is another form. Split as 'Ea aha, it reads 'ea, path, plus aha. To suit is au. faufa'a means gain or profit, not recommend.

6. E hia te 'ava i roto i teie?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the alcohol percentage of a drink

   Grammar Note

   fifi means entangled or a chain, not strength. Quantities are asked with E hia? 'ava covers spirits and alcohol generally.

7. E hina'aro vau e tāmata i te uaina.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Used to express interest in a wine tasting session

   Grammar Note

   vai means water. To try or taste is tāmata, which can also mean to begin something. Use this verb for tasting.

8. 'Eiaha e monamona roa, māuruuru.

   Not too sweet, please.

   Usage

   Used when requesting a less sweet drink

   Grammar Note

   mīmī means urine or to urinate, so do not use it for sweetness in a shop. Sweet or very sweet is monamona; the short form mona also exists.

9. Eaha tā 'outou uaina?

   What is your wine?

   Usage

   Used to ask what wine a restaurant offers

   Grammar Note

   fare hau means government building. This asks what your wine is. Write what as one word, Eaha; 'ea alone means path.

10. No hea mai teie uaina?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the region of origin of a wine

    Grammar Note

    "No hea mai" asks about the origin or source

11. Ia ora na!

    Cheers! / Let's toast!

    Usage

    Used when making a toast

    Grammar Note

    māeva is a word of welcome, not a drinking toast. Raise the glass and say Ia ora na.

12. 'Ua to'eto'e ānei teie uaina?

    Is this wine chilled?

    Usage

    Used to check if the wine is served chilled

    Grammar Note

    'iri means skin, bark or a plank, not cold. Cold is to'eto'e. The resulting state is marked with perfective ua.

13. E inu 'ava 'ore ānei tā 'outou?

    Do you have non-alcoholic options?

    Usage

    Used to ask for non-alcoholic drink options

    Grammar Note

    'ore means without, so 'ava 'ore means without alcohol. inu covers drinks of any kind.

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