mataka
The Fijian word for "morning" is mataka.
mataka refers to the part of the day between dawn and midday.
Meaning: part of the day between dawn and midday (noun)
When do people say it?
To say "Good morning" in a formal context, the standard expression is Ni sa yadra vinaka.
Did you know?
- The word mataka is derived from the root mata, meaning 'eye'. It evokes the image of the eyes opening to greet the day.
- While mataka is the noun for 'morning', the greeting Ni sa yadra literally means 'you are awake'.
- The phrase Ni sa yadra vinaka uses the word vinaka, which can mean 'good', 'thank you' or 'pleasant'.
Example conversation
Teresia and Jone are talking about their plans for the day.
- TeresiaO cei era na qai tiko mataka?Who will be here in the morning?
- JoneAu na tiko, Teresia.I will be here, Teresia.
- TeresiaVinaka vakalevu, Jone.Thank you very much, Jone.
- JoneSega na cava.No problem.
