What Language Do They Speak in Fiji?
Although Fiji is a nation of beautiful exotic islands, communication is pretty easy. There are three official languages in Fiji: English, Fijian and Hindi. In this quick guide to the Fiji language, we’ll go through what language is spoken in the islands of Fiji.
To simplify, native Fijians speak Fijian as their first language, Indo-Fijians speak Hindi as their first language, and both groups speak English as a second language. That’s not to say that English isn’t used excessively, with most communications through the media, business and even on the restaurant menus being in English. For English-speaking tourists, you won’t feel too far out of depth when in Fiji. It’s easy! It’s “Fiji time“!
Before we dive into this guide on the Fiji language, don’t forget to bookmark The Guide to the Fiji Culture for Travellers.
5 Fun Facts About the Fiji Languages
- The Fijian language is made up of many different dialects throughout the islands
- The standard Fijian language used more commonly today takes most of its words from the dialect used on the island of Bau, as historically it was the most prestigious and politically dominant island
- Indo-Fijians have their own version of the Hindi language called Fiji Hindi
- The island of Rotuma has its own completely separate language called Rotuman
- There are many silent letters in the written version of Fijian words.
If you like this, then you might like our 13 Fun Facts About Fiji.
© Public DomainEnglish in Fiji
English is used and understood by most of the population in Fiji, mostly as a second language. School children are taught English after they become proficient in their first language, so English is widely understood. English is the language used for most communications, whether it’s in the media, on signage or for doing business.
So when visiting Fiji, English-speakers are unlikely to find a language barrier when talking to the locals.
Why Do People Speak English in Fiji?
With more than half the population being native Fijians and the other vast majority being Indo-Fijians, why is English the common language in Fiji? English was first introduced to the islands during the exploring and trading days some 150 years ago. However, the English language became more dominant in Fiji after the British colonisation of Fiji in 1874. With that, all government communication was in English. Fiji remained a British colony until 1997, but the impact of the British influence remains.
© Public DomainFijian in Fiji
The Fijian language, known as Fijian, is spoken as a first or second language by just over half of the population. Fijian is a type of Malayo-Polynesian languages, a subgroup of Austronesian languages with similarities to other languages spoken in the South Pacific, as well as Southeast Asia.
Before colonisation, there were several different dialects spoken across the Fijian islands. Today, there is a “standard Fijian” used mainly for administrative purposes and is the type of Fijian language most commonly spoken. Nevertheless, you may still hear some slight variations in the dialects between the regions of Fiji.
Fijian Language Pronunciation
Fijian words have different vowel sounds to how you read words in English. On top of that, there are a few differences worth mentioning between how to pronounce letters in Fijian compared to English. For example:
- “D” has an unwritten “n” in front of it, so Nadi is pronounced “Nandi”
- “G” has an unwritten “n” in front, so “Sigatoka” pronounced “Singatoka”
- “C” is pronounced “th”, so the “Mamanucas” is pronounced “Mamanuthas”.
Learn more about pronouncing Fijian words in our Guide to the Fijian Language. Plus, learn some common words used in Fiji with our 10 Fijian Words You Need to Know When Visiting Fiji.
© PixabayHindi in Fiji
Spoken by around 37% of the population as a first or second language, Hindi is an official language in Fiji. Although the language is called “Hindi” locally, outsiders refer to the language as Fijian Hindi due to the variations of the language compared to the Hindi spoken in the Indian subcontinent. The language has combined elements of the Hindi dialects from Awadhi and Bhojpuri variations of the language, mixed with Fijian, Arabic and English words.
Why Do People Speak Hindi in Fiji?
During Britain’s colonisation of Fiji, indentured labourers from India were sent to Fiji for the sugar trade. Coming from different regions of India with different dialects of Hindi, the common language of Fiji Hindi was formed to make communicating in the workplace easier, as well as for young children of the labourers to communicate when left in daycare centres.
Learn more about the Fiji population in our Guide to the Fiji People.
© PixabayOther Languages Spoken in Fiji
Although there are three official languages in Fiji, other languages are spoken in Fiji to reflect the diverse population of immigrants, as well as some Fijian islands having their own indigenous dialects.
The other common languages spoken in Fiji include:
- Rotuman – Spoken by the people living on the Fijian island group of Rotuma
- Gujarati – Spoken by Indian immigrants (not related to the Indian labourers)
- Punjabi – Spoken by Indian immigrants (not related to the Indian labourers)
- Cantonese – Spoken by Chinese immigrants
- Mandarin – Spoken by Chinese immigrants
- Tongan – Spoken by Tongan immigrants and Fijians of Tongan descent.
