Niuean phrasebook

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 like fin (IPA: f) G like sing (IPA: ŋ) H like hello (IPA: h) K like skit (IPA: k) L light L (higher-pitched, non-dental), like British light (IPA: l) M like milk (IPA: m) N like nose (IPA: n) P like spin (IPA: p) T like still (IPA: t). After E or I, like seem (IPA: s). V like very (IPA: v) R rolled/trilled R (loanwords only, can be pronounced as l; IPA: r) S like seem (loanwords only, can be pronounced as t; IPA: s)

Phrase list

Basics Hello. Fakaalofa lahi atu! ( ) How are you? Malolo nakai a koe? Yes I'm Fine, thank you. E 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/Ostalia/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 (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! (Ono ono atu ) Good morning. Monuina e pogipogi. ( ) Good evening. Monuina e afiafi. : .Have a good sleep Mohe taha And you too Pihia ni kia koe I'm thinking of you. Manamanatu au kia koe Good night. Monuina e po. Have a good day Monuina e aho I don't understand. Ai maama e au. Where is the toilet? Ko fe e falevao? :( Where are you going? Fano ki fe a koe? How long are you staying? Fiha e leva e nofo haau? Where are you staying? Nofo i fe a koe? Let us both go. Hau ke o a taua. Leave it Siaki (C-R-kee) / toka Do it again Liu la ke taute foki. Let's go fishing Hau ke o hi (hee) ika (e - ka) Did you see that! Kitia (kee-C-R) nakai e koe! Hold this for me please. Tòtò ena e fakamolemole. Do you want me to take this for you? Fia loto nakai a koe ke uta e au e na e mahaau? When do you want this work done by? Mogofe ka fia loto a koe ke fakaoti e gahua e? Yes that's right, that's true. E hako, e mooli. Left hand. Faahi hema. Right hand. Faahi matau. Lets go dancing. Hau ke o koli. Are you warm? Mafana nakai a koe? it is cold isn't it. Makalili kaà ( ma-ka-lee-lee ka-R) The plane is here. Kua hau tei e vakalele. Sing to me. Lologo mai la kia au. Happy Birthday to you. Kia monuina e aho fanau haau/haao Happy Birthday song. Kia monuina e aho 2x Kia monuina e aho fanau ha (name) Kia monuina e aho fanau! Do you want me to sing to you? Fia loto nakai a koe ke lologo au kia koe? Your voice is so nice. Mitaki haia e leo haau. Smile.