lako mai
The Fijian phrase for "come here" is lako mai.
lako mai is a command used to tell someone to move toward the speaker's current location.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of lako, which means "go" and mai, a directional particle meaning "towards the speaker". Together, they translate to "go/come here".
Did you know?
- While lako mai is a standard command, if you use it with a higher-ranking person or an elder, it can sound incredibly rude or even aggressive.
- The word mai descends from the Proto-Austronesian root *(um-)aʀi, connecting Fijian to a massive family of languages spoken from Madagascar to Easter Island.
- Fijian belongs to the Austronesian language family, meaning the word mai shares a distant relative with words in languages as far away as Tagalog and Malay.
Examples in context
- Lako mai!Come here!
- Lako mai mada!Please come here!
- Lako mai, rawa ni lako mai?Come here, can you come here?
- Lako mai lai!Hey, come here!
Example conversation
Sereana is calling Semi from across the room.
- SereanaSemi, lako mai!Semi, come here!
- SemiAu lako tiko.I am coming.
- SereanaTausoma vaka cepati.Hurry up.
- SemiAu sêga ni vakalailai.I am not delaying.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
