nana
The Fijian word for mom is nana.
Both nana and tinā are used to refer to a female parent.
Which one should you use?
nana is the informal version, while tinā is the formal term for a mother.
Did you know?
- The word nana shares the same ancient linguistic root as the word for a 'sandfly' or 'gnat'.
- While nana is used for a biological mother, it is common in Fiji to use maternal terms for female elders or aunts to show affection.
- The sound na is a common building block in many Fijian kinship terms, appearing across various words used to describe family relations.
Example conversation
Isoa is asking Sereana about her mother.
- SereanaO vei na nana?Where is your mom?
- IsoaSa lako nana ki na siga.My mom went to the market.
- SereanaSa qai lava na nana?Is your mom finished?
- IsoaIo, sa lako mai nana.Yes, mom is coming now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
