In Tahiti, the FIU is essential.
You have just arrived at the airport in Tahiti and the first thing you hear is FIU. Don’t worry, we’re not invaded by aliens, it’s just a Tahitian expression, but when I think about it, it’s much more than that. Come on, we’re telling you everything!
In this cultural article, we will define the fiu, illustrate it with examples, translate it, explain this expression specific to Polynesians, explain the FIU attitude.
What is the FIU in Tahiti?
According to the French Larousse dictionary (and yes, it has been in the dictionary since 2016),
Be fiu: in Polynesia, be plagued by a great weariness; have had enough.
The illustrated FIU
Let’s illustrate with examples of everyday life:
- You do the dishes, and you’re fed up, you want to send everything around, you’re fiu
- Your little sister has been talking to you about her for 1 hour and she hasn’t asked you to hear from you, you look out the window and you dream of being somewhere else, you sigh, you’re fiu
- It’s the middle of August, we’re in a heat wave, you don’t dare move to avoid getting hot, your brain is idling, now is not the time to ask you something, you’re fiu
- It’s Sunday, you’re bored. You’d like to do something. But you don’t have the strength to get off the couch. You’re fiu
- You’re in the middle of a party. There are 20 people with you. You discuss, but at the same time you start to get bored. Don’t look, you’re fiu
- This is the 20th time your spouse has told you about your weight gain. You’re tired of it, you just want to tell her, “I’m fiu of you.”
Whatever you do, as soon as you don’t want anymore to do what you were doing, you’re fiu.
As soon as you are pulled from a situation where you were comfortable and you don’t want to change, you’re fiu.
How to translate it?
It’s simple, since it was introduced in the dictionary Larousse, we can translate “fiu” as “fiu”.
Otherwise, it can be translated as:
- I’m sick of it
- I am bored
- I don’t want to
- You’re me off
- Not now
- This is not the time
- …
It depends on the situation.
An expression unique to Polynesians
In Tahiti, it’s simple. As soon as you feel that you are not anymore at what you were doing, you stop. And you just say, “I’m fiu.”
It is an admission of boredom, of weariness.
It’s also an alert to say: if I keep going, I risk getting angry, sending everything around, breaking something. I’m talking about dishes, for example, I wasn’t talking about banging on a wall.
FIU is a rather good expression, which describes a feeling: “There, now, right now, I’m fiu, so I stop”.
We’ll often hear friends, relatives say, “If you’re fiu, stop then.”
FIU attitude
Tahitians love this expression and claim it.
In Tahiti, everyone will use this expression at least once a day (or much, much more).
A FIU attitude brand even sells T-shirts, caps, shorts, and other accessories for women, men and children.