INTRODUCTION TO THE TAHITIAN LANGUAGE

English
Written By Elise Levine

Tahitian (reo Tahiti) is a Polynesian language that belongs to the Austronesian language family. It is the native language of Tahiti and the Society Islands in French Polynesia. Here are a few key points to better understand this language:

1. status and use

  • Tahitian is not the official language of French Polynesia—French is—but it is recognized as a regional language.

  • It is widely spoken in the Society Islands, especially among older generations and in rural areas.

  • It is taught in schools and used in local media, songs, ceremonies, and traditional speeches.

2. LINGUISTIC FEATURES

Alphabet:

Tahitian has used the Latin alphabet since the 19th century, introduced by Protestant missionaries from the London Missionary Society. It consists of 13 letters:

  • Vowels: A, E, I, O, U

  • Consonants: F, H, M, N, P, R, T, V

  • The ‘eta (ʻ): a glottal stop that is phonemic (e.g. maʻa = food).

Example: ʻAita = no ; tāne = man ; vahine = woman

Grammar:

  • Word order: Verb–Subject–Object (VSO)
    → ʻĀpī te tamaiti i te parau = The child learns the lesson

  • No verb conjugation: Time is marked with particles:

    • e (future), ua (past), te ... nei (present)

  • Word reduplication: to show emphasis or repetition

    • nui = big, nui nui = very big

  • Personal pronouns: include singular, dual, plural, and inclusive/exclusive forms

    • māua = we two (excluding you), tāua = we two (including you)

  • Phonology: Tahitian is a very melodious language, with a sing-song prosody. It is characterized by:

    • No harsh consonants (no B, D, G, J, K, L, S, Z…)

    • Rhythm and vowel placement are essential

    • Stress is often on the final syllable.

Sample words:
‘ōrero (speech) ; fenua (land) ; maita’i (good)

3. Culture AND ORALITY

Tahitian is deeply rooted in oral tradition: legends, songs (himene), genealogy, and ritual speeches. The language carries the culture itself.

4. CURRENT SITUATION

  • Many local efforts aim to revitalize the language, such as bilingual books, media, and educational apps.

  • Other Polynesian languages are also spoken in French Polynesia, like Marquesan, Pa’umotu, and Mangarevan.

5. Exemples de mots et expressions

  • Hello: Ia ora na

  • Thank you: Māuruuru

  • Good bye: Nānā

  • How are you doing? : E aha te huru ?

  • Good: Māita’i

  • Land: Te fenua

  • To sleep: Moe

  • Sun, day: Rā

Elise Levine