Niuean phrasebook

Niuean (ko e vagahau Niuē) is the native language of Niuē. The majority of residents of the island speak English, but knowing the basics of Niuean can be useful for speaking to older members of the community.

Location of Niuē.

The flag of Niuē.

Pronunciation guide

Unlike its closest relatives Tongan and Samoan, Niuean does not contain the glottal stop (indicated by an apostrophe).

Vowels

A, Ā, E, Ē, I, Ī, O, Ō, U, Ū

Diacritics (bars) indicate a longer vowel sound.

Consonants

F, G, H, K, L, M, P, T and V appear in Niuean.

R and S appear in foreign loanwords.

'G' is pronounced as 'NG' in Niuean, like in 'Togo Chasm'.

After E or I, T is pronounced 'S', like in 'Avatele Beach'

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. 

Fakaalofa lahi atu! ( )

How are you? 

Malolo nakai a koe? / Fefe a koe? ( )

Fine, thank you. 

Malolo, fakaaue. ( )

What is your name? 

Ko hai e higoa haau? ( )

My name is ______ . 

Ko ______ e higoa haaku. ( )

I live in Tonga/Samoa/Australia/New Zealand. 

Nofo au i Tonga/Samoa/Ositalia/Niusilani. ( )

Nice to meet you. 

. Mitaki kua feleveia a taua( )

Please. 

Fakamolemole. ( )

Thank you. 

Fakaaue lahi. ( )

You're welcome. 

. ( )

Yes. 

E. ( )

No. 

Nakai./ Naha ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. (Fakamolemole la. )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. (Tulou )

I'm sorry. 

Fakamolemole la. ( )

Goodbye! The Niuean language has six diffferent ways to say goodbye depending on number of people and whether they are staying or leaving.

Goodbye (one person) 

Koe kia! ( )

Goodbye (two or more people) 

Mua kia( 2 People) Mutolu kia! (more than 2 people )

I can't speak Niuean [well]. 

[ ]Ai mitaki e Vagahau Niue haaku. ( [ ])

Help! 

! (Lagomatai !)

Look out! 

! ( !)

Good morning. 

Monuina e pogipogi. ( )

Good evening. 

Monuina e afiafi. ( )

Good night. 

Monuina e po. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

Mohe a. ( )

I don't understand. 

Ai maama e au. ( )

Where is the toilet? 

Ko fe e falevao? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

. (Toka la au .)

Don't touch me! 

! (Ua fota au !)

I'll call the police. 

. (To hea e au e leoleo.)

Police! 

! (Leoleo!)

Stop! Thief! 

! ! ( ! !)

I need your help. 

. (Manako au kehe lagomatai haau.)

It's an emergency. 

. ( .)

I'm lost. 

. (Galo tei au.)

I lost my bag. 

. (Galo e kato haaku.)

I lost my wallet. 

. ( Galo e pesi/kato tupe haaku.)

I'm sick. 

. ( Gagao au.)

I've been injured. 

. (Pakia tei au .)

I need a doctor. 

. ( Manako au kehe ekekafo.)

Can I use your phone? 

? ( Maeke nakai au ke fakaaoga e foni haau?)

Be careful of ugas (coconut crabs) when driving at night! 

Fakaholo fakasekiseki he po neke mapela e tau uga! ( !)

Numbers

0 

Nakai( )

1 

Taha ( )

2 

Ua ( )

3 

Tolu ( )

4 

Fa ( )

5 

Lima ( )

6 

Ono ( )

7 

Fitu( )

8 

Valu ( )

9 

Hiva ( )

10 

Hogofulu ( )

11 

Hogofulu ma taha ( )

12 

Hogofulu ma ua ( )

13 

Hogofulu ma tolu ( )

14 

Hogofulu ma fa ( )

15 

Hogofulu ma lima ( )

16 

Hogofulu ma ono ( )

17 

Hogofulu ma fitu ( )

18 

Hogofulu ma valu ( )

19 

Hogofulu ma hiva ( )

20 

Ua hogofulu ( )

21 

Ua hogofulu ma taha ( )

22 

Ua hogofulu ma ua ( )

23 

Ua hogofulu ma tolu ( )

30 

Tolu hogofulu ( )

40 

Fa hogofulu ( )

50 

Lima hogofulu ( )

60 

Ono hogofulu ( )

70 

Fitu hogofulu ( )

80 

Valu hogofulu ( )

90 

Hiva hogofulu ( )

100 

Taha e seau ( )

200 

Ua e seau( )

300 

tolu e seau( )

1,000 

( )

2,000 

( )

1,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000,000 

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

( )

half 

( )

less 

( )

more 

( )

Time

now 

mogonei

later 

magaaho atu

before 

magaaho fakamua / to

early dawn 

ko moa ( )

morning 

mogo/magaaho pogipogi ( )

mid afternoon 

pale laa ( )

late afternoon 

motua e aho ( )

evening 

afiafi ( )

dinner time 

mogo/maaaho kai afiafi ( )

night 

(‘“)

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

Hola taha ( )

two o'clock AM 

Hola ua ( )

noon 

Tupou laa ( )

one o'clock PM 

( )

two o'clock PM 

( )

midnight 

Tuloto po ( )

half past 

Hafa e ( )

quarter past 

Kuata he mole ( )

quarter to 

Kuata ke ta ( )

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

(tau)minisi

_____ hour(s) 

(tau)tula

_____ day(s) 

(tau)aho

_____ week(s) 

(tau)faahitapu

_____ month(s) 

(tau)mahina

_____ year(s) 

(tau)tau

Days

today 

Aho nei. ( )

yesterday 

Ine afi. ( )

tomorrow 

A pogi. ( )

this week 

Tapu nei. ( )

last week 

Tapu kua mole. ( )

next week 

Tapu ka hau. ( )

Sunday 

Aho Tapu ( )

Monday 

Aho Gofua ( )

Tuesday 

Aho Ua ( )

Wednesday 

Aho Lotu ( )

Thursday 

Aho Tuloto ( )

Friday 

Aho Falaile ( )

Saturday 

Aho Faiumu ( )

Months

January 

Ianuali ( )

February

Fepuali

March 

Masi ( )

April 

Apelila ( )

May 

Me ( )

June 

Iuni ( )

July 

Iulai ( )

August 

Aokuso ( )

September 

Sepetema ( )

October 

Oketopa ( )

November 

Novema ( )

December 

Tesemo ( )

Seasons

Spring 

Vaha Tau Tupu ( )

Autumn 

Vaha Tau Mateafu ( )

Winter 

Vaha Makalili ( )

Summer 

Vaha Mafana ( )

Hurricane season 

Vaha To Afa ( )

Drought 

Vaha To Laa ( )

Christmas 

Vaha Kilisimasi ( )

End of the year 

Kamataaga he Tau ( )

Writing time and date

Colors

black 

lanu uli ( )

white 

lanu tea ( )

grey 

lanu efuefu ( )

red 

lanu kula ( )

blue 

lanu moana ( )

yellow 

lanu ago ( )

green 

lanu lau futi ( )

orange 

lanu fuamoli ( )

pink 

lanu lau mame ( )

purple 

lanu fuahoi ( )

brown 

lanu kakī( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

(fiha e tau he tiketi ke fanau ki...)

One ticket to _____, please. 

(Taha ne e tiketi, fakaaue)

Where does this train/bus go? 

(fano ki fe e train/bus e)

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

(kofe e train/bus)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

(“ “)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

(“ “)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

( )

...the train station? 

( )

...the bus station? 

( )

...the airport? 

( )

...downtown? 

( )

...the youth hostel? 

( )

...the _____ hotel? 

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

( )

Where are there a lot of... 

( )

...hotels? 

( )

...restaurants? 

( )

...bars? 

( )

...sites to see? 

( )

Can you show me on the map? 

( )

street 

( )

Turn left. 

( )

Turn right. 

( )

left 

( )

right 

( )

straight ahead 

( )

towards the _____ 

( )

past the _____ 

( )

before the _____ 

( )

Watch for the _____. 

( )

intersection 

( )

north 

( )

south 

( )

east 

( )

west 

( )

uphill 

( )

downhill 

( )

Taxi

Taxi! 

( )

Take me to _____, please. 

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

( )

Take me there, please. 

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

( fiha tau he poko ke nofo taha/ua tagata?)

Does the room come with... 

( )

...bedsheets? 

(kafu )

...a bathroom? 

(fale kaukau )

...a telephone? 

(telefoni )

...a TV? 

(TV )

May I see the room first? 

(maeke mua au ke kitia poko )

Do you have anything quieter? 

( )

...bigger? 

(Poko Lahi )

...cleaner? 

( )

...cheaper? 

(nakai tau uka)

OK, I'll take it. 

(homo mai kia au/ E mai kia au)

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

(Nofo au ______po )

Can you suggest another hotel? 

( )

Do you have a safe? 

( )

...lockers? 

( )

Is breakfast/supper included? 

( )

What time is breakfast/supper? 

(Hola fiha e breakfast? )

Please clean my room. 

(fakamolemole, fakamea e poko haaku, fakaaue lahi (thank you))

Can you wake me at _____? 

(aala e au e...)

I want to check out. 

(oti tei e nofo haaku fia loto e au ke o)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

(maeke nakai au ke fakatogi he tau tupe Amelika, Ositalia ETC...)

Do you accept British pounds? 

( )

Do you accept Euros? 

( )

Do you accept credit cards? 

( )

Can you change money for me? 

(maeke nakai a koe ke hiki tau tupe haaku)

Where can I get money changed? 

(fano e au ki fe ke hiki tau tupe haaku)

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

( )

What is the exchange rate? 

(‘’ ‘’)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

(ha nefe e ATM?)

Eating

Eat.  Kai. Drink.  Inu. Food  Mena kai Bread  Falaoa Butter  Pata Fish  Ika) Crab  Kalahimu Sausage  Tosis Cooked chicken  Moa moho Salad  Salati Tomato  Tomato Pumpkin  Motini Kumara  Timala Lettuce  Letisi Cabbage  Kapiti Toast  Toti Porridge  Poleti

A table for one person/two people, please. 

( )

Can I look at the menu, please? 

(Fakakite mai la e menu, fakamolemole )

Can I look in the kitchen? 

(Fakakite mai la e peito )

Is there a house specialty? 

(kia dumblo )

Is there a local specialty? 

( )

I'm a vegetarian. 

( )

I don't eat pork. 

(Ai kai au e puaka )

I don't eat beef. 

(Ai kai au e povi )

I only eat kosher food. 

(Ko e tau mena kai kosher ni ne kai a au )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

( fakatote e ________ e.g butter oil)

fixed-price meal 

( )

a la carte 

( )

breakfast 

(kai pogipogi)

lunch 

( )

tea (meal) 

( )

supper 

( )

I want _____. 

(fia loto e au)

I want a dish containing _____. 

(Loto au ke kai_____ )

chicken 

(moa )

beef 

(povi )

fish 

(ika )

ham 

(puaka )

sausage 

(tosisi )

cheese 

(siisi )

eggs 

(fua moa )

salad 

(salati )

(fresh) vegetables 

(vesetapolo )

(fresh) fruit 

(fua lakau )

bread 

(falaoa )

toast 

(tosi )

noodles 

(nutolo )

rice 

(laisi )

beans 

(fua pine )

May I have a glass of _____? 

(tamai e kalase _____ )

May I have a cup of _____? 

(tamai e kapiniu _____ )

May I have a bottle of _____? 

(tamai e fagu _____ )

coffee 

(kofi )

tea (drink) 

(ti )

juice 

(huhua )

(bubbly) water 

( )

(still) water 

(vai )

beer 

(pia )

red/white wine 

(uaina )

May I have some _____? 

( )

salt 

(masima )

black pepper 

( )

butter 

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

(fakamolemole la)

I'm finished. 

(oti tei au)

It was delicious. 

(homo/mitaki koa tau kai)

Please clear the plates. 

(uta tau palesi fakaaue lahi)

The check, please. 

(fakamolemole, mai la e tohi totogi)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

( )

Is there table service? 

( )

A beer/two beers, please. 

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

( )

A pint, please. 

( )

A bottle, please. 

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

( )

whiskey 

( )

vodka 

( )

rum 

( )

water 

( )

club soda 

( )

tonic water 

( )

orange juice 

( )

Coke (soda) 

( )

Do you have any bar snacks? 

( )

One more, please. 

( )

Another round, please. 

( )

When is closing time? 

( )

Cheers! 

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

( )

How much is this? 

( )

That's too expensive. 

( )

Would you take _____? 

( )

expensive 

( )

cheap 

( )

I can't afford it. 

( )

I don't want it. 

( )

You're cheating me. 

( )

I'm not interested. 

(..)

OK, I'll take it. 

( )

Can I have a bag? 

( )

Do you ship (overseas)? 

( )

I need... 

( )

...toothpaste. 

( )

...a toothbrush. 

( )

...tampons. 

. ( )

...soap. 

( )

...shampoo. 

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

( )

...cold medicine. 

( )

...stomach medicine. 

... ( )

...a razor. 

( )

...an umbrella. 

( )

...sunblock lotion. 

( )

...a postcard. 

( )

...postage stamps. 

( )

...batteries. 

( )

...writing paper. 

( )

...a pen. 

( )

...English-language books. 

( )

...English-language magazines. 

( )

...an English-language newspaper. 

( )

...an English-English dictionary. 

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

( )

Can I get insurance? 

( )

stop (on a street sign) 

( )

one way 

(taha hala)

yield 

( )

no parking 

( )

speed limit 

( )

gas (petrol) station 

( )

petrol 

("penesini")

diesel 

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

( Ko higoa ne taute au?)

It was a misunderstanding. 

( )

Where are you taking me? 

(Ko e uta e koe au ki fe? )

Am I under arrest? 

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

( )

Can I just pay a fine now? "(Maeke nakai au ke totogi e fakahala mogonei?)"