Au sega ni bula vinaka.
I feel sick.
Pronunciation
Full phrase pronunciation: ow SENG-ah nee BOO-lah vee-NAH-kah
Word breakdown:
au: ow — “I”, “me”
sega: SENG-ah — “not”, “no”
ni: nee — linking particle; here used after sega
bula: BOO-lah — “life”, “health”, “wellbeing”
vinaka: vee-NAH-kah — “good”, “well”, “fine”
Notes: Say the phrase in smaller parts: au | sega ni | bula vinaka. In Fijian, g is pronounced like ng, so sega sounds like SENG-ah. Keep bula vinaka steady and clear, with vinaka stressed in the middle: vee-NAH-kah.
Common mistake: Beginners may pronounce sega with a hard English g sound. Keep it soft and nasal: SENG-ah, not seh-gah.
Meaning & Use
A clear health-related Fijian phrase meaning “I feel sick” or more literally “I am not well.” The useful structure here is Au sega ni…, which gives the sense of “I am not…” or “I do not…” depending on the phrase that follows. In this sentence, bula vinaka points to being well or in good health.
Usage tip: Use this when you need to tell someone you are unwell, feeling off, or not in good condition. It is a useful phrase for travel, daily conversation, clinics, family settings, or asking for help.
Good to know: Sega ni is a useful negative structure in Fijian. Here it turns bula vinaka — “well” or “healthy” — into sega ni bula vinaka, meaning “not well.”
Audio