Niuean (Vagahau Niuē)

Niuean is a Polynesian language spoken in Niue, the Cook Islands, Tonga and New Zealand by about 7,000 people. In 2011 there were about 1,300 Niue speakers on Niue, an island in the south Pacific west of Fiji and south of Samoa. Most other Niuean speakers live in New Zealand [source].

Niuean is closely related to Tongan, and more distantly related to Maori, Samoan, and Hawaiian.

Niuean was first write by Christian missionaries in the mid 19th century using a spelling system influenced by Samoan. A Niuean translation of the Bible was published in 1904, and there is also a Niuean dictionary and grammar.

Niuean alphabet (Alefapeti Niue)

Niuean alphabet

Niuean pronunciation

Niuean pronunciation

Notes

Download an alphabet chart for Niuean (Excel)

Sample text in Niuean

Pa pa teliga e, tuku teliga e
Pa pa teliga e, tuku teliga ko
Foaki mai a kala pule
Ke oage e tau fanau
Ke kai e tau futi momoho
Neke oti he mokulu ki tahi
Ko pule, ko pule
Taga niu e

Source: http://www.learnniue.com/vagahau

Sample video in and about Niuean

Information about Niuean | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Niuean languages and Niue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niuean_language
http://www.niueisland.com

Online Niuean lessons
http://www.learnniue.co.nz

Online Niuean phrases
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Niuean_phrasebook
http://www.digitaldialects.com/Niuean/phrases.htm
https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/5614/3769/0447/VAGAHAU_NIUE_keywords.pdf

Online Niuean radio
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/audio.php

Polynesian languages

Anutan, Austral, Emae, Futuna-Aniwa, Futunan, Hawaiian, Kapingamarangi, Mangareva, Māori, Marquesan (North), Marquesan (South), Mele-Fila, Moriori, Niuafoʻou, Niuatoputapu-Tafahi, Niuean, Nukumanu, Nukuoro, Nukuria, Ontong Java, Penrhyn, Pukapukan, Rakahanga-Manihiki, Rapa, Rapa Nui, Rarotongan, Rennellese, Samoan, Sikaiana, Tahitian, Takuu, Tikopia, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuamotuan, Tuvaluan, Vaeakau-Taumako, Wallisian, West Uvean

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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