marau
The Fijian word for happy is marau.
marau is an adjective used to describe a state of being contented or joyous.
Meaning: contented, joyous (adj)
Did you know?
- In Fijian, 'happiness' is often described through the concept of 'living well', where being 'marau' is intrinsically linked to the prosperity and health of one's community rather than just an individual's mood.
- There is a distinction in how one expresses 'happiness' when speaking to a chief versus a peer. Using the wrong level of formality can make your expression of joy seem disrespectful.
- While marau describes a state of joy, the word bomote is used to describe a person who is specifically 'happy-go-lucky' or easygoing in temperament.
Examples in context
- Au marau sara.I am very happy.
- O sa marau tiko?Are you happy?
Example conversation
Sairusa tells Teresia about his new job.
- SairusaAu sa rawata na cakacaka vou.I have found the new job.
- TeresiaO iko mo marau vakalevu, Sairusa!You must be very happy, Sairusa!
- SairusaIo, au marau vakalevu.Yes, I am very happy.
- TeresiaSega na ca, sa vinaka vakalevu.That is great, very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
