Sa vakacava tiko?
How are you? (Formal)
Pronunciation
Full phrase pronunciation: sah vah-kah-THAH-vah TEE-koh
Word breakdown:
sa: sah — marker showing the state or situation is current
vakacava: vah-kah-THAH-vah — “how”, “what is it like”
tiko: TEE-koh — ongoing/state marker; gives the sense of “going” or “being”
Notes: Say the phrase in three clear parts: sa | vakacava | tiko. In Fijian, c is pronounced like th in “this,” so vakacava sounds like vah-kah-THAH-vah.
Common mistake: Beginners may pronounce vakacava with a hard k sound in the middle. Keep the c as a th sound: vah-kah-THAH-vah.
Meaning & Use
A polite conversational Fijian question meaning “How are you?” or “How are things going?” It is a useful greeting-style phrase because it asks about someone’s current state or situation, rather than just giving a quick hello.
Usage tip: Use this when checking in with someone respectfully. It can work in general conversation when you want to sound a little more considered than simply saying hello.
Good to know: Vakacava carries the idea of “how?” or “what is it like?” while tiko gives the phrase a current, ongoing sense — roughly “How is it going?”
Audio