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Tuvalu Travel Guide

Basic Tuvaluan

  • ao: yes
  • Ea koe?: How are you?
  • e fia?: how much? how many?
  • fafine: women
  • fakafetai: thank you
  • fakafetai lasi: thank you very much
  • fakamolemole: please, sorry
  • fakatali: wait
  • fale: house
  • falefoliki: toilet
  • fesoasoani: help
  • fiafia: happy
  • foliki: small
  • gali: nice, good
  • igoa: name
  • ika: fish
  • ikai: no
  • inu: drink
  • kai: to eat
  • Koe e fano ki fea?: Where are you going?
  • Koi tou igoa?: What is your name?
  • kou kou: to wash, bathe
  • lasi: big, large
  • lei: fine, well
  • makalili: cold
  • makona: full
  • Malosi fakafetai.: I am well, thank you.
  • masaki: sick
  • masei: bad
  • mataku: afraid
  • meakai: food
  • meakaigali: good food
  • mea pusi: cigarettes
  • moa: chicken
  • moe: sleep
  • niu: coconut
  • palagi: non-Tuvaluan
  • pi: drinking coconut
  • poo: night
  • seai: none, none left
  • Seiloa ne au: I don't know
  • sene: cent
  • taala: dollar
  • tagata: man
  • tai: salt water, the sea
  • taimi: time
  • talofa: hello, good morning
  • tamaliki: child
  • tapu: forbidden
  • ti: tea
  • tofaa: goodbye
  • Toku igoa ko: . . . My name is . . .
  • vai: fresh water
  • vaka: boat, canoe
  • vakalele: airplane
  • vela: hot