Marau ni yabaki vou
Marau ni yabaki vou is the Fijian way to say happy new year.
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
marau means happy, yabaki means year and vou means new. Literally, it translates to Happy of year new.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is built from the following components: marau (happy), yabaki (year) and vou (new).
Did you know?
- The word vou descends from the Proto-Austronesian root *baqəʀuh, linking the Fijian word for 'new' to languages spoken across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
- When celebrating the new year in Fiji, it is common to combine verbal well-wishes with the sharing of 'kava', a traditional ceremonial drink.
- The word marau describes a state of being glad or joyful, but in traditional Fijian culture, communal happiness is often prioritized over individual emotion.
Examples in context
- Marau ni yabaki vou!Happy New Year!
Example conversation
Sairusa and Adi meet at a party on January 1st.
- SairusaMarau ni yabaki vou, Adi!Happy New Year, Adi!
- AdiVinaka, Sairusa! Marau ni yabaki vou vei iko talega.Thank you, Sairusa! Happy New Year to you too.
- SairusaO sa vakacava tiko?How are you doing?
- AdiAu sa vinaka sara levu.I am doing very well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
