How to Say “Merry Christmas” in Tahitian

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Ia ora e te Noera
Ia ora e te Noera is the Tahitian phrase for Merry Christmas.
In Tahiti, Ia ora e te Noera is the standard way to wish someone a Merry Christmas.
Meaning: good wishes at Christmas time (phrase)

Did you know?

  • Because Tahiti is in the Southern Hemisphere, Ia ora e te Noera is spoken during the peak of the tropical summer.
  • The grammatical structure of Ia ora e te Noera is more akin to 'Let there be life in the Christmas' than a simple 'Merry Christmas'.
  • Because Noera is a relatively recent addition to the Tahitian vocabulary due to Western contact, it is a perfect example of how traditional Polynesian linguistic roots are used to wrap around new, imported concepts.

Example conversation

Mareva and Manu are greeting each other at a holiday party.

  1. Mareva

    Ia ora e te Noera, Manu!
    Merry Christmas, Manu!
  2. Manu

    Ia ora e te Noera, Mareva!
    Merry Christmas, Mareva!
  3. Mareva

    E aha tō mea e tāmāre’a?
    What is your present?
  4. Manu

    E tāmāre’a no’oe!
    It is a present for you!
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Ruth Christine
Ruth ChristineHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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