Language/Fijian/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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Welcome to this exciting lesson on telling time in Fijian! Understanding how to express time is crucial for daily communication, whether you're planning a meeting, scheduling a meal, or simply catching up with friends. In Fijian culture, time is often intertwined with daily life, and knowing how to tell it can help you feel more at home when interacting with locals.
In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:
- Understanding the Fijian terms for hours and minutes
- How to ask for the time and respond to such questions
- Expressing time in different contexts, including formal and informal settings
The structure of our lesson will include:
1. Basic vocabulary related to time
2. How to ask and answer questions about time
3. Examples to illustrate each point
4. Exercises to practice what you've learned
Without further ado, let's dive into the world of Fijian time-telling!
Basic Vocabulary
To start, let's familiarize ourselves with some essential words and phrases related to time. Understanding these terms will serve as the foundation for our discussions.
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| na hora | /na ˈhoɾa/ | the hour |
| na miniti | /na ˈminiti/ | the minute |
| sa oti | /sa ˈoti/ | it is past |
| sa rabe | /sa ˈrambe/ | it is to |
| na siga | /na ˈsiŋa/ | the day |
| na veisiga | /na ˈveisiŋa/ | the week |
| na vula | /na ˈvula/ | the month |
| na yabaki | /na ˈjabaːki/ | the year |
| tukuna mai | /ˈtuku.na maɪ/ | tell me |
| vakacava | /va.kaˈθava/ | what time |
| tiko | /tiˈko/ | now |
Understanding these words will give you a solid framework to build upon as we move forward.
How to Ask for the Time
When you want to ask someone for the time, you can use the phrase "Vakacava na hora?" which means "What time is it?" in English. Here's how you can structure the question:
1. Vakacava - What
2. na hora - the hour
So, the full phrase is: "Vakacava na hora?"
Now, let's look at how to respond to that question. The typical format for answering the question is:
- Sa oti (It is past) or Sa rabe (It is to) + [hour] + na miniti (the minute)
For example:
- If it is 3:15, you would say: "Sa oti na tolu na miniti tolu." (It is past three fifteen.)
- If it is 5:45, you'd respond: "Sa rabe na lima na miniti va." (It is to six.)
Here are more examples to illustrate how to ask and answer about the time:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vakacava na hora? | /va.kaˈθava na ˈhoɾa/ | What time is it? |
| Sa oti na tolu na miniti lima. | /sa ˈoti na ˈtolu na ˈminiti ˈli.ma/ | It is past three five. |
| Sa rabe na lima na miniti va. | /sa ˈrambe na ˈlima na ˈminiti va/ | It is to six. |
| Vakacava na hora? | /va.kaˈθava na ˈhoɾa/ | What time is it? |
| Sa oti na vatu na miniti rua. | /sa ˈoti na ˈvatu na ˈminiti ˈru.a/ | It is past four two. |
| Sa rabe na ono na miniti tolu. | /sa ˈrambe na ˈono na ˈminiti ˈθo.lu/ | It is to seven three. |
Expressing Time in Different Contexts
Now that you know how to ask and answer about time, let's explore how to express time in different contexts.
1. Formal Contexts: When you are in a formal setting, such as a meeting or a ceremony, it’s best to keep your language polite and respectful. Use full sentences and avoid slang.
2. Informal Contexts: In casual settings with friends or family, you can be more relaxed with your language. Short phrases or even gestures can be acceptable.
Here are some examples of expressing time in formal and informal contexts:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| E dua na hora sa oti na tolu. | /e ˈdua na ˈhoɾa sa ˈoti na ˈtolu/ | It is now three o'clock. |
| E vica na miniti sa oti? | /e ˈvi.θa na ˈminiti sa ˈoti/ | How many minutes past? |
| O cei e tiko? | /o ˈθei e ˈti.ko/ | Who is now (present)? |
| Tiko na hora? | /ˈti.ko na ˈhoɾa/ | What time is it? |
| E vica na miniti? | /e ˈvi.θa na ˈminiti/ | How many minutes? |
Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding, let’s go through some practice exercises. Each exercise will focus on different aspects of telling time in Fijian.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Fijian term.
1. Vakacava na ______? (What time is it?)
2. Sa ______ na miniti ______. (It is past the minute.)
3. Sa rabe na ______ na miniti ______. (It is to the hour and minute.)
Answers:
1. hora
2. oti
3. hora
Exercise 2: Translate to Fijian
Translate the following sentences into Fijian.
1. What time is it?
2. It is past four fifteen.
3. It is to five.
Answers:
1. Vakacava na hora?
2. Sa oti na vatu na miniti lima.
3. Sa rabe na lima.
Exercise 3: Create Your Own Questions
Create three questions asking for the time in Fijian.
Example Answers:
1. Vakacava na hora?
2. E vica na miniti?
3. Tiko na hora?
Exercise 4: Time Conversion
Convert the following times to Fijian.
1. 2:30
2. 7:45
3. 9:15
Answers:
1. Sa oti na dua na miniti tolu.
2. Sa rabe na walu na miniti va.
3. Sa oti na nona na miniti lima.
Exercise 5: Role Play
Pair up with a classmate and take turns asking and answering about the time in Fijian. Record your conversation and play it back to check for accuracy.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've made it through the lesson on telling time in Fijian. By now, you should feel more comfortable asking for the time and responding appropriately. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep revisiting these phrases and exercises until they become second nature.
As you continue your journey in learning Fijian, don't hesitate to immerse yourself in conversations and daily interactions. That's the best way to solidify your knowledge and make it a part of your everyday life.
Other Lessons
- Asking for Directions
- Education
- Drinks
- Health
- Colors
- Feelings and Emotions
- Count to 10
- Family Members
- Ordering at a Restaurant
- Food
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