A collection of useful phrases in Kiribati, a Micronesian language spoken on Kiribati and a number of other Pacific islands.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | taetae ni Kiribati (Kiribati) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Mauri |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ko na mauri (sg) Kam na mauri (pl) Kam na bane ni Mauri (addressing large crowds) Mauri |
| Hello (on phone) | Hello |
| How are you? | Ko uara? (sg) Kam uara? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ko rab'a, I marurung. Ao ngkoe, ko uara? |
| Long time no see | Ituai man nonooriko n taai aikai |
| What's your name? | Antai aram? |
| My name is ... | Arau ... Arau ngai ... |
| Where are you from? | Kaain iia ngkoe? |
| I'm from ... | Ngai boni kaain ... Boni kaain ... ngai |
| Pleased to meet you | E rab'a te kaitiboo! |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Ko kaman uuti? (Have you been awake for long?) E uara matiuum? (How was your sleep?) |
| Good night | Matiu raoi |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Ti a boo Ti a kaboo |
| Good luck! | Tekeraoi! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Marurung! Tekeraoi! |
| Have a nice day | Tekeraoi am bong! |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Bon kangae ko raoi (sg) Bon kangae ngkami raoi (pl) |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Tekeraoi te mwananga! |
| I understand | I ota |
| I don't understand | I aki oota |
| Yes | E eng |
| No | Tiaki |
| Maybe | I taku |
| I don't know | I aki ataia |
| Please speak more slowly | Taiaoka karaurau riki |
| Please say that again | Kan kaokia riki taiaoka |
| Please write it down | Ko kona n korobokia taiaoka |
| Do you speak English? | Ko rabakau te taetae n I-matang? |
| Do you speak Kiribati? | Ko rabakau n taetae ni Kiribati? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
E eng, ti teutana |
| Speak to me in Kiribati | Taiaoka kataetaeai ni Kiribati |
| How do you say ... in Kiribati? | Teraa n te taetae ni Kiribati te taeka ae ...? |
| Excuse me | Taiaoka |
| How much is this? | Iraua boon aio? |
| Sorry | Kabara au bure |
| Please | Taiaoka |
| Thank you | Ko rab'a Ko bati n rab'a |
| Reply to thank you | Te raoi |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Anga am roki? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | E na kabooa teuaio |
| This lady will pay for everything | E na kabooa neiei |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Tia nako ni mwaie (Motioning with both hands in a giving manner in front of them will also work without words) |
| I miss you | Ia rangi ni mitiniko |
| I love you | I tangiriko |
| Get well soon | Tekeraoi marurungim |
| Go away! | Naako! |
| Leave me alone! | Katiukuai! |
| Help! | Buokai! |
| Fire! | Te urarake naaka! |
| Stop! | Toki! |
| Call the police! | Tareboonia bureitiman! |
| Christmas greetings | Te Mauri Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa nakoimi nte Kirimati ao te Ririki ae Bou |
| Easter greetings | Tekeraoi n te itita aio! |
| Birthday greetings | Tekeraoi n am bong ni bung! |
| One language is never enough | E aki tau ti teaina te newe |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | E onrake au kaibuke n te rabono |
Corrections and additions by Karl Muller
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Kiribati | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
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