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Tuvaluan phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

You can check the original Wikivoyage article Here

    Tuvaluan is the main language of Tuvalu; it has under 20,000 native speakers, nearly all in either Tuvalu or New Zealand. It is a member of the Polynesian group of languages, a branch of the large Austronesian family.

    Pronunciation guide

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    Vowels

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    Consonants

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    Common diphthongs

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    Phrase list

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    Basics

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    Common signs


    OPEN
    CLOSED
    ENTRANCE
    EXIT
    PUSH
    PULL
    TOILET
    FALE FŌLIKI
    MEN
    WOMEN
    FORBIDDEN
    Hello.
    Tālofa. ( )
    Hello. (informal)
    . ( )
    How are you?
    E ā koe? ( ?)
    Fine, thank you.
    . ( )
    What is your name?
    Ko oi tou igoa? ( ?)
    My name is ______ .
    Toku igoa ko ______ . (_____ .)
    Nice to meet you.
    . ( )
    Please.
    Fakamolemole. ( )
    Thank you.
    Fakafetai. ( )
    You're welcome.
    E 'lei. ( )
    Yes.
    Āō. ( )
    No.
    Sēai. ( )
    Excuse me. (getting attention)
    Tulou. ( )
    Excuse me. (begging pardon)
    . ( )
    I'm sorry.
    Fakamolemole. ( )
    Goodbye
    Tōfa. ( )
    Goodbye (informal)
    . ( )
    I can't speak Tuvaluan [well].
    [ ]. ( [ ])
    Do you speak English?
    Koe e faipati faka-'Pālagi? ( ?)
    Is there someone here who speaks English?
    ? ( ?)
    Help!
    ! ( !)
    Look out!
    ! ( !)
    Good morning.
    . ( )
    Good evening.
    . ( )
    Good night.
    Manuia te pō. ( )
    Good night (to sleep)
    . ( )
    I don't understand.
    Au e sē malamalama. ( )
    Where is the toilet?
    Tēfea te fale fōliki? ( ?)

    Problems

    [edit]
    Leave me alone.
    . ( .)
    Don't touch me!
    ! ( !)
    I'll call the police.
    . ( .)
    Police!
    ! ( !)
    Stop! Thief!
    ! ! ( ! !)
    I need your help.
    . ( .)
    It's an emergency.
    . ( .)
    I'm lost.
    . ( .)
    I lost my bag.
    . ( .)
    I lost my wallet.
    . ( .)
    I'm sick.
    . ( .)
    I've been injured.
    . ( .)
    I need a doctor.
    . ( .)
    Can I use your phone?
    ? ( ?)

    Numbers

    [edit]
    1
    ( )
    2
    ( )
    3
    ( )
    4
    ( )
    5
    ( )
    6
    ( )
    7
    ( )
    8
    ( )
    9
    ( )
    10
    ( )
    11
    ( )
    12
    ( )
    13
    ( )
    14
    ( )
    15
    ( )
    16
    ( )
    17
    ( )
    18
    ( )
    19
    ( )
    20
    ( )
    21
    ( )
    22
    ( )
    23
    ( )
    30
    ( )
    40
    ( )
    50
    ( )
    60
    ( )
    70
    ( )
    80
    ( )
    90
    ( )
    100
    ( )
    200
    ( )
    300
    ( )
    1,000
    ( )
    2,000
    ( )
    1,000,000
    ( )
    1,000,000,000
    ( )
    1,000,000,000,000
    ( )
    number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
    ( )
    half
    ( )
    less
    ( )
    more
    ( )

    Time

    [edit]
    now
    ( )
    later
    ( )
    before
    ( )
    morning
    ( )
    afternoon
    ( )
    evening
    ( )
    night
    ( )

    Clock time

    [edit]
    one o'clock AM
    ( )
    two o'clock AM
    ( )
    noon
    ( )
    one o'clock PM
    ( )
    two o'clock PM
    ( )
    midnight
    ( )

    Duration

    [edit]
    _____ minute(s)
    ( )
    _____ hour(s)
    ( )
    _____ day(s)
    ( )
    _____ week(s)
    ( )
    _____ month(s)
    ( )
    _____ year(s)
    ( )

    Days

    [edit]
    today
    ( )
    yesterday
    ( )
    tomorrow
    ( )
    this week
    ( )
    last week
    ( )
    next week
    ( )
    Sunday
    Aso Sa ( )
    Monday
    Aso Gafua ( )
    Tuesday
    Aso Lua ( )
    Wednesday
    Aso Tolu ( )
    Thursday
    Aso Fa ( )
    Friday
    Aso Lima ( )
    Saturday
    Aso Ono ( )

    Months

    [edit]
    January
    Iānuali ( )
    February
    Fepuali ( )
    March
    Mati ( )
    April
    Apelila ( )
    May
    Mē ( )
    June
    Iuni ( )
    July
    Iulai ( )
    August
    Aokuso ( )
    September
    Setema ( )
    October
    Oketopa ( )
    November
    Novema ( )
    December
    Tesema ( )

    Writing time and date

    [edit]

    Colors

    [edit]
    black
    ( )
    white
    ( )
    grey/gray
    ( )
    red
    ( )
    blue
    ( )
    yellow
    ( )
    green
    ( )
    orange
    ( )
    purple
    ( )
    brown
    ( )

    Transportation

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    Bus and train

    [edit]
    How much is a ticket to _____?
    ( )
    One ticket to _____, please.
    ( )
    Where does this train/bus go?
    ( )
    Where is the train/bus to _____?
    ( )
    Does this train/bus stop in _____?
    ( )
    When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
    ( )
    When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
    ( )

    Directions

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    Taxi!
    ( )
    Take me to _____, please.
    ( )
    How much does it cost to get to _____?
    ( )
    Take me there, please.
    ( )

    Lodging

    [edit]
    Do you have any rooms available?
    ( )
    How much is a room for one person/two people?
    ( )
    Does the room come with...
    ( )
    ...bedsheets?
    ( )
    ...a bathroom?
    ( )
    ...a telephone?
    ( )
    ...a TV?
    ( )
    May I see the room first?
    ( )
    Do you have anything quieter?
    ( )
    ...bigger?
    ( )
    ...cleaner?
    ( )
    ...cheaper?
    ( )
    OK, I'll take it.
    ( )
    I will stay for _____ night(s).
    ( )
    Can you suggest another hotel?
    ( )
    Do you have a safe?
    ( )
    ...lockers?
    ( )
    Is breakfast/supper included?
    ( )
    What time is breakfast/supper?
    ( )
    Please clean my room.
    ( )
    Can you wake me at _____?
    ( )
    I want to check out.
    ( )

    Money

    [edit]
    Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
    ( )
    Do you accept British pounds?
    ( )
    Do you accept euros?
    ( )
    Do you accept credit cards?
    ( )
    Can you change money for me?
    ( )
    Where can I get money changed?
    ( )
    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)?
    ( )

    Eating

    [edit]
    A table for one person/two people, please.
    ( )
    Can I look at the menu, please?
    ( )
    Can I look in the kitchen?
    ( )
    Is there a house specialty?
    ( )
    Is there a local specialty?
    ( )
    I'm a vegetarian.
    ( )
    I don't eat pork.
    ( )
    I don't eat beef.
    ( )
    I only eat kosher food.
    ( )
    Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
    ( )
    fixed-price meal
    ( )
    a la carte
    ( )
    breakfast
    ( )
    lunch
    ( )
    tea (meal)
    ti ( )
    supper
    ( )
    I want _____.
    ( )
    I want a dish containing _____.
    ( )
    chicken
    moa ( )
    beef
    pulumakou ( )
    fish
    ika ( )
    ham
    puaka ( )
    sausage
    sosisi ( )
    cheese
    ( )
    eggs
    fua ( )
    salad
    ( )
    (fresh) vegetables
    vesiapolo ( )
    (fresh) fruit
    fuaga ( )
    bread
    falaoa ( )
    toast
    falaoa vela ( )
    noodles
    ( )
    rice
    laisi ( )
    beans
    ( )
    May I have a glass of _____?
    ( )
    May I have a cup of _____?
    ( )
    May I have a bottle of _____?
    ( )
    coffee
    ( )
    tea (drink)
    ( )
    juice
    ( )
    (bubbly) water
    ( )
    (still) water
    ( )
    beer
    ( )
    red/white wine
    ( )
    May I have some _____?
    ( )
    salt
    ( )
    black pepper
    ( )
    butter
    ( )
    Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
    ( )
    I'm finished.
    ( )
    It was delicious.
    ( )
    Please clear the plates.
    ( )
    The check, please.
    ( )

    Bars

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    I want to rent a car.
    ( )
    Can I get insurance?
    ( )
    stop (on a street sign)
    ( )
    one way
    ( )
    yield
    ( )
    no parking
    ( )
    speed limit
    ( )
    gas (petrol) station
    ( )
    petrol
    ( )
    diesel
    ( )

    Authority

    [edit]
    I haven't done anything wrong.
    ( )
    It was a misunderstanding.
    ( )
    Where are you taking me?
    ( )
    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?
    ( )


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