Language/Fijian/Grammar/Pronouns
Hi Fijian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will study Fijian pronouns. Pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases. They are essential in order to write and speak in a more fluent and natural way.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Negation, Give your Opinion, Plurals & Conditional Mood.
Personal Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Personal pronouns are used to replace the name of a person or thing. They show who is speaking (1st person), who is being spoken to (2nd person), or who is being spoken about (3rd person).
The following table shows the personal pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| au | ow | I, me |
| koya | koya | he, him, she, her |
| keda | kenda | we (inclusive) |
| keirau | kerow | we (exclusive) |
| kemuni | kemuni | you (plural or polite singular) |
| koya mada | koya mada | they (animate) |
| iratou | iratow | they (inanimate) |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Au lako saka, sa dredre na kau tiko kina. (I am going now, it's hard for me to stay there.)
- Person 2: Kemuni qai lako tale mai no. (You will come back later.)
Demonstrative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Demonstrative pronouns point out a particular person, place, or thing. In Fijian, they are divided into two types: proximal demonstrative (closer to the speaker) and distal demonstrative (farther from the speaker).
The following table shows the demonstrative pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| na | na | this (proximal) |
| ko | ko | that (distal) |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Ko cei sa mai tiko kina? (Who lives there?)
- Person 2: Na tamaqu sa mai tiko kina. (My father lives there.)
Interrogative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. In Fijian, they are divided into three types: who, what, and where.
The following table shows the interrogative pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| cei | they | who |
| cava | thava | what |
| vei dau tiko kina? | vay dau tiko kina | where |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Cei sa mai tiko kina? (Who lives there?)
- Person 2: Na tamaqu sa mai tiko kina. (My father lives there.)
Possessive Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership of a person or thing. In Fijian, they are formed by adding the possessive particle "na" to the personal pronouns.
The following table shows the possessive pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| noqu | nothu | mine |
| nomu | nomu | yours |
| nona | nona | his, hers |
| noda | noda | ours (inclusive) |
| na i keirau | na i kerow | ours (exclusive) |
| nomuni | nomuni | yours (plural or polite singular) |
| nodra | nodra | theirs |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Noqu vaqaqaraqataka e na vanua ni vulagi. (My experience in the foreign country.)
- Person 2: Era oti na nodra vakawati e na Cakaulevu. (They have finished their wedding in Cakaulevu.)
Reflexive Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Reflexive pronouns are used to show that the subject of a sentence acts upon itself. In Fijian, they are formed by adding the suffix "tu" to the personal pronouns.
The following table shows the reflexive pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| au tu | ow too | myself |
| koya tu | koya too | himself, herself |
| keda tu | kenda too | ourselves |
| kemuni tu | kemuni too | yourselves |
| nodra tu | nodra too | themselves |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Au qai saumi kina. (I will wash myself.)
- Person 2: Dodomo na vale me sivia na gagadre. (The house needs to be swept up.)
Indefinite Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to people or things in general, rather than to specific ones. In Fijian, they are formed by adding the particle "dina" after the interrogative pronouns "cei" and "cava".
The following table shows the indefinite pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ceidina | they-deena | anyone, someone |
| cavagina | thavagina | anything, something |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Cava na ka e tu kina? (What's that thing over there?)
- Person 2: Cavagina, sega ni kila. (Something, I don't know.)
Relative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Relative pronouns are used to link one phrase or clause to another in order to describe, identify or provide more information about a person or thing. In Fijian, there is only one relative pronoun, which is "o".
The following table shows the relative pronouns in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| o | ow | that, which, who |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: O cei sa mai tiko kina? (Who lives there?)
- Person 2: Na tamaqu o koya sa mai tiko kina. (My father who lives there.)
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Questions
- Give your Opinion
- Negation
- Conditional Mood
- Future Tense
- Adjectives
- Plurals
- How to Use Have
Sources[edit | edit source]