Keitou lomani iko
The Fijian phrase for "we love you" is Keitou lomani iko.
This phrase is used by a group of people to express their affection for a single person.
Which one should you use?
Keitou lomani iko is used when the person being loved is part of the group that is doing the loving. If the person you are loving is not part of your group, you would use Keimami instead of Keitou.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing love to more than one person, you must change the object from iko to kemuni, resulting in Keitou lomani kemuni.
Did you know?
- The word for 'you' iko descends from a Proto-Austronesian root that is shared by languages spoken across thousands of miles from Taiwan to Madagascar.
- In formal settings, expressing love may be accompanied by a sevusevu or the presentation of kava root to establish a bond of kinship.
- The phrase Keitou lomani iko uses a paucal suffix, a rare grammatical feature used specifically when the group of people loving the person is small.
Examples in context
- Keitou lomani iko sara!We love you so much!
Example conversation
A group of friends is saying goodbye to Semi at the airport.
- AdiNi sa moce, Semi.Goodbye, Semi.
- SemiVinaka vaka levu.Thank you very much.
- AdiKeitou lomani iko.We love you.
- SemiVinaka, Adi.Thank you, Adi.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iko, keitou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
