Language/Fijian/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to tell time in Fijian. Telling time is an essential skill, especially when traveling or communicating with locals. Knowing the time and how to express it is crucial in everyday life, and it will help you plan your schedule, meet appointments, and catch public transportation. This lesson will cover how to ask and answer about the current time, how to express time in hours and minutes, and some interesting cultural information about time in Fiji.
Numbers and Time
Before we dive into telling time, let's have a brief review of the numbers in Fijian. You can find more information about numbers in lesson 2, "Numbers 1-10."
In Fijian, we use a 24-hour clock to express time. The word for time in Fijian is "gauna."
Telling Time
To ask someone for the time, you can use the following phrases:
- "Sa gauna e dina?" - What time is it?
- "Sa voli na gauna?" - What is the time?
- "Sa oti na nomu gauna?" - What is your time?
To answer these questions, you can use the following phrases:
- "Sa ka lima na gauna." - It is five o'clock.
- "Sa vitu na gauna ni sa yakavi." - It is seven o'clock in the evening.
- "Sa tolu na gauna ruarua." - It is three forty-five.
The pattern for expressing time is as follows:
Hour + na gauna (of time) + minute (if applicable).
For example:
- "Sa vitu na gauna" - It is seven o'clock.
- "Sa vitu na gauna ruasagavulu" - It is seven twenty.
- "Sa vitu na gauna tini" - It is seven ten.
Tip: The word "ruarua" means "forty-five" in Fijian. It is formed by the words "rua" (two) and "rua" (two), hence two times forty-five.
Practice
Let's practice asking and answering about time in Fijian. Use the following prompts to make sentences:
1. Sa oti na nomu gauna? 2. Sa gauna e dina? 3. Sa lima na gauna ni sa yakavi. 4. Sa vitu na gauna tini. 5. Sa tolu na gauna rautini. 6. Sa ka ono na gauna ni sa mataka. 7. Sa voli na gauna?
Check your answers below:
1. What is your time? 2. What time is it? 3. It is five o'clock in the evening. 4. It is seven ten. 5. It is three fifteen. 6. It is six o'clock in the morning. 7. What is the time?
Great job! Keep practicing.
Cultural Information
In Fijian culture, time is not always strictly adhered to. Being on time is important, but it is not uncommon for people to run late or to take their time in completing tasks. Fijians are known for their relaxed and laid-back attitude, and this is reflected in their concept of time.
In traditional Fijian society, time was measured by the sun and the moon, and there were no clocks or watches. The daily cycle was marked by different activities, such as farming, fishing, and hunting.
Today, Fiji has adopted the Western system of time measurement, but the traditional concept of time still holds a significant place in Fijian culture. Fijians value relationships and social interactions, and they prioritize spending time with family and friends over strict adherence to schedules and deadlines.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned how to tell time in Fijian, including how to ask and answer about the current time, and how to express time in hours and minutes. You also learned some interesting cultural information about time in Fiji, which will help you understand and appreciate Fijian culture better. Keep practicing and use this newfound skill to engage with locals and make the most of your time in Fiji. Vinaka vakalevu!
Other Lessons
- Asking for Directions
- Education
- Drinks
- Health
- Colors
- Feelings and Emotions
- Count to 10
- Family Members
- Ordering at a Restaurant
- Food
| ◀️ Numbers 1-10 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Subject-Verb-Object ▶️ |