yaqona
/jaˈᵑɡona/
The English phrase kava is called yaqona in Fijian.
The term yaqona refers to both the plant itself and the prepared ceremonial drink. While English speakers use the word 'kava', the indigenous Fijian word for the beverage is yaqona.
Meaning: intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/jaˈᵑɡona/
When do people say it?
Drinking yaqona is a central part of Fijian social and ceremonial life, often involving a specific protocol of serving and receiving shells. Sevusevu refers to the presentation of kava as a gift during ceremonies or important events.
Did you know?
- When drinking yaqona in a formal circle, you must clap your hands once before drinking and once after to signal the completion of the act.
- In some rural Fijian contexts, yaqona is viewed not just as a drink but as a spiritual medium used to communicate with ancestors.
- The drink yaqona is traditionally consumed from a bilo, which is a cup made from a polished coconut shell.
Examples in context
- Sa lose tiko na yaqona.The kava is being mixed.This sentence shows the word yaqona being used to describe the kava being mixed.
- Era gunu yaqona ena soqo.They drink kava at the gathering.This sentence demonstrates the use of yaqona in the context of drinking it at a gathering.
- Sa sega ni vinakata na noqu itokani vulagi na yaqona.My foreign friend doesn't like kava.This sentence uses yaqona to express a lack of preference for the drink.
Example conversation
Mere and Semi are preparing for a traditional gathering.
- MereOya na yaqona era vakaa na tiko.That is the kava they are waiting for.
- SemiSa vakarau tiko na kupe.The bowl is being prepared.
- MereMe da gunu yaqona ena vula tiko.Let's drink kava in the moonlight.
- SemiE vinaka tiko, Mere.That sounds good, Mere.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kava” translations and entries yaqona, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
