THE TAHITIAN ALPHABET
🔤 1. Number of Letters
The Tahitian alphabet uses 13 letters, based on the Latin script. It is a phonemic alphabet, meaning each letter corresponds to a single sound — there are no silent letters or complex combinations like in French or English.
It consists of:
Vowels (5):
A: pronounced like a in father
E: like e in they, but more open
I: like ee in see
O: like o in go
U: like oo in moon
Consonants (8):
F, H, M, N, P, R, T, V
👉 Important note:
Tahitian does not use the following letters: B, C, D, G, J, K, L, Q, S, W, X, Y, Z.
This makes the language particularly soft and fluid to the ear.
🌬️ 2. The ‘eta (ʻ): The Glottal Stop
In addition to the 13 letters, Tahitian uses a special character called the ʻeta (or glottal stop, written as ʻ), which represents a brief interruption in airflow, like a short pause between syllables.
✴️ Examples:
maʻa = food (pronounced ma–[pause]–a)
faʻa = to do / to make
taʻata = person / human being
This glottal stop is a true consonant and changes the meaning of words if omitted. It’s as important as any other sound.
📚 3. Origin of the Alphabet
The Tahitian writing system was standardized in the 19th century by Protestant missionaries from the London Missionary Society.
They aimed to faithfully transcribe the spoken language, resulting in a simplified and highly phonetic script.
Today, spelling rules are overseen by institutions like the Académie Tahitienne – Fare Vānaʻa.
🗣️ 4. Clear and Regular Pronunciation
Each letter is always pronounced the same way, regardless of the word.
There are no silent letters, no accents, and no complex liaisons.
The rhythm of the language depends on the clarity of vowels and musical syllables.
🎵 5. A Practical Example
Let’s take the word: fa’aitoito (meaning: “be strong” or “courage!”)
f = as in English
a’ = vowel a + glottal stop
i = as in machine
to = as in told
to = same sound again
Each vowel is clearly heard: fa–[glottal]–i–to–i–to
✨ Summary
Number of letters: 13 (5 vowels + 8 consonants)
Phonetic alphabet: Yes (1 letter = 1 sound)
Special symbol: ʻeta (ʻ), the glottal stop
Letters not used: No B, D, G, K, L, S, Z, etc.
Pronunciation rules: Fixed and regular