au
The English pronoun "me" is translated into Fijian as au.
au is the pronoun used by a speaker to refer to themselves.
Did you know?
- In Fijian culture, the way one refers to themselves often changes based on the social rank of the person they are speaking to, shifting from au to more humble forms.
- Fijian has a complex system of 'we' that distinguishes between including the listener and excluding them, making au the only way to be truly singular.
- The structure of the word au is a remnant of the Proto-Austronesian term *(i-)aku, which is a common pattern for first-person pronouns across the Pacific islands.
Examples in context
- E raici au ko Jone.John sees me.This sentence shows how to use au when it is the object of the verb 'sees'.
- Au sa lako ki na vanua vou.I am going to a new place.
- Au na lako sara ki na koro.I'll quickly go to the village.
- O au na turaga.I am the man.
- E raica au.He sees me.
Example conversation
Isoa and Adi are introducing themselves at a gathering.
- IsoaBula, au ko Isoa.Hello, I am Isoa.
- AdiBula, au ko Adi.Hello, I am Adi.
- IsoaO koya na nomu itabaga?Who is your relative?
- AdiE raici au na nodra itabaga.Their relatives see me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry au, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries au, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
