Useful phrases in Kiribati

A collection of useful phrases in Kiribati, a Micronesian language spoken on Kiribati and a number of other Pacific islands.

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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

Phrases in Micronesian languages

Chuukese, Kiribati, Marshallese, Pohnpeian

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