Na cava?
What is it?
Pronunciation
Full phrase pronunciation: nah THAH-vah
Word breakdown:
na: nah — marker used here as part of the question
cava: THAH-vah — “what”
Notes: Say the phrase in two clear parts: na | cava. In Fijian, c is pronounced like th in “this,” so cava sounds like THAH-vah.
Common mistake: Beginners may pronounce cava with a hard k sound. Keep the c as a th sound: THAH-vah.
Meaning & Use
A core beginner Fijian question meaning “What is it?” or simply “What?” This is one of the most useful short questions in conversational Fijian, especially when asking about an object, situation, word, sound, or thing you do not understand.
Usage tip: Use Na cava? on its own when asking “What?” For more specific questions, it can be expanded with extra words, such as asking what something is or what someone means.
Good to know: Cava means “what”. The phrase is short, but very useful because it gives beginners a quick way to ask for clarification.
Audio