tui
The Fijian word for king is tui.
The term tui is used to denote a king or a high-ranking chief within a Fijian context.
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
Did you know?
- Fijian society traditionally divides leadership between the tui, who holds the formal title of king or chief, and the matanivanua, the spokesperson who acts as the bridge between the ruler and the people.
- The authority of a tui is tied to the concept of mana, a tangible spiritual power believed to be concentrated within the royal bloodline.
- The term tui is a loanword from the Tongan language, reflecting centuries of political and cultural exchange between the two island nations.
Examples in context
- E dua na tui levu ko koya.He is a great king.This sentence is useful for describing someone as a great king using tui.
- Na tui e loma ni vale.The king is inside the house.
Example conversation
Sairusa and Teresia are discussing a history book.
- SairusaKena vaka vei na tui oqo?What about this king?
- TeresiaE sa mate o koya sa rua na yabaki.He died two years ago.
- SairusaSa tiko beka e dua na tui vou?Is there a new king now?
- TeresiaIo, sa tui talega na gonena.Yes, his son is also king.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations and entries tui, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
