Useful Tahitian Phrases for Travellers

You only need a handful of Tahitian words to make a good impression: ‘Ia ora na (hello), māuruuru (thank you) and nānā (goodbye) will carry you through most days. English is spoken in hotels, shops and restaurants, and French is the everyday working language, but a greeting in Tahitian is noticed and appreciated. Below are the phrases visitors use most, with simple pronunciation notes.

Why a few words matter

Tahitian (reo Tahiti) and French are both in daily use across the Society Islands. Tahiti Tourisme’s guide to speaking Tahitian notes that although English is spoken in hotels, shops and restaurants, it is always appreciated when visitors use a word or phrase of Tahitian, and that a few simple French phrases are useful too.

Other islands have their own languages and dialects. In the Marquesas, Tuamotu or Austral Islands you will hear different words, but visitors use ‘Ia ora na and māuruuru wherever they travel in French Polynesia. Using them is less about vocabulary and more about showing respect for the place you are visiting. Our French Polynesia culture guide has more on visiting respectfully.

Greetings and goodbyes

‘Ia ora na is usually pronounced as a single flowing word, close to “yo-RAH-na”. Say it with a smile when you walk into a small shop or a family-run pension; it sets the tone for everything that follows.

Thank you, yes and no

• Māuruuru: thank you. Each vowel is sounded, roughly “mah-oo-roo-OO-roo”.
• Māuruuru roa: thank you very much. Use it for a guide at the end of a lagoon tour or a host after a meal.
• ‘Aita māuruuru: no, thank you. Handy at markets and when offered a second helping.
• ‘E or ‘Oia: yes.
• ‘Aita: no.
• ‘A: perhaps.

You will hear ‘aita ‘e pe’ape’a, “no problem”, constantly. It is the relaxed reply to almost any apology or request, and saying it back is a good way to show you have settled into island time.

Everyday words you will hear

Many of these appear on menus, signs, tour descriptions and place names.

You will also hear popa’a, which Tahiti Tourisme translates as “white foreigner”. You will hear it used matter-of-factly in conversation. Two useful phrases for dance shows and markets: haere mai (“come over here!”) and ‘ori ana’e (“let’s dance”).

Pronunciation: three simple rules

1. Sound every vowel. Vowels are pronounced much as in Spanish or Italian: a as in “father”, e as in “bet”, i as in “machine”, o as in “or”, u as in “rule”. Nothing is silent.
2. Respect the glottal stop. The ‘ mark (as in ‘Ia ora na or va’a) is a consonant: a brief catch in the throat, like the break in “uh-oh”. Tahiti Tourisme notes that it places stress on the syllable that follows.
3. Long vowels change meaning. A line over a vowel (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) marks a longer sound. Tahiti Tourisme’s light-hearted example is that te ū means milk while te hū means something else entirely, so don’t worry about small slips; people are generally amused and helpful.

For spelling and definitions, the online dictionary of the Académie tahitienne (Fare Vāna’a) is the reference. It searches from Tahitian or French.

French phrases that help

French is the language of menus, ferry announcements and many shopkeepers. A few basics go a long way:

• Bonjour (hello) and bonsoir (good evening)
• S’il vous plaît (please) and merci (thank you)
• Excusez-moi (excuse me)
• Combien ? (how much?)
• L’addition, s’il vous plaît (the bill, please)
• Une bouteille d’eau (a bottle of water) and un jus de fruit (a fruit juice)

Always open with a greeting before asking a question; launching straight into a request can come across as abrupt. A natural mix is common: ‘Ia ora na on arrival, French for the practical details, and māuruuru when you leave.

Putting the words to work

Phrases stick when you use them in real moments. A typical day might look like this:

• Arriving at a guesthouse: your host says Maeva; you reply ‘Ia ora na, and later māuruuru for the welcome flower or fruit.
• On a lagoon tour: point at the view and say nehenehe (beautiful); thank the skipper with māuruuru roa when you step off.
• At the market: greet the stallholder, ask the price in French, and use ‘aita māuruuru to decline politely.
• At a dance show: listen for the pahu drums that set the rhythm of the ‘ori, and if a dancer calls ‘ori ana’e, that is your invitation to join in.
• Leaving: a wave and nānā.

Tahiti Tourisme also points out that a few Tahitian words have already travelled into English. Taboo echoes the Tahitian word tapu, and mana, a sense of power and prestige, is now used worldwide. You already know more than you think.

Bottom line

Learn ‘Ia ora na, māuruuru and nānā before you fly, add ‘aita ‘e pe’ape’a once you arrive, and use them every day. If you want to go further, see our language immersion ideas, or try your new words on a local market visit. Far & Away Adventures can include cultural experiences with local hosts in your itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak French or Tahitian to visit Tahiti?

No. English is spoken in hotels, shops and restaurants used by visitors. A few words of Tahitian and French simply make interactions warmer and easier, especially in guesthouses and markets.

What is the difference between ‘Ia ora na and Maeva?

‘Ia ora na is the everyday hello you can say yourself. Maeva and manava mean welcome, so you will mostly hear them from hosts greeting you.

Will people mind if I mispronounce words?

Not at all. Tahiti Tourisme jokes that your mistakes will give Polynesians great pleasure. Trying is what counts, and people will often help you with the right sound, especially for the glottal stop and long vowels.

How do I say ‘Do you speak Tahitian?’

Tahiti Tourisme gives Parau Tahiti ‘oe? Expect a delighted reaction if you try it.