ilavo
/iˈla.βo/
ilavo is the Fijian word for money.
ilavo is a noun used to refer to currency.
Meaning: currency (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /iˈla.βo/.
Did you know?
- The word ilavo actually comes from the name of a bean seed. Long before modern currency arrived, the large, flat, brown seeds of the matchbox bean were used as a form of exchange.
- In traditional Fijian society, wealth was often measured by the possession of tabua (sperm whale teeth) rather than coins or ilavo.
Examples in context
- E sega na nona ilavo.S/he has no money.This sentence is useful for showing how to express that someone has no money using ilavo.
- Sauma na ilavo.Pay the money.This sentence is useful for an instruction to pay the money using ilavo.
- E dodonu me tiko na nomu ilavo.You must have your money.
Example conversation
Isoa and Adi are planning a trip to the market.
- IsoaO ya na nomu ilavo?Is that your money?
- AdiIo, o ya na noqu ilavo.Yes, that is my money.
- IsoaE sega ni levu na ilavo.The money is not much.
- AdiSa rawa sara ga.It will be enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries ilavo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ilavo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
