In this lesson, we will learn the vocabulary of opposites in Tahitian with nouns, adjectives and verbs by adding their opposite word, their antonym, to each.
The vocabulary of opposites in Tahitian
If you have been wondering how to say:
- start and end in Tahitian
- open and close in Tahitian
- the beginning and the end in Tahitian…
This lesson will help you enlighten and help you acquire new vocabulary.
We will see successively nouns, then adjectives, and then verbs with their opposite for each word.
Do you remember back in school the lessons where we learned:
- synonyms: words with similar meanings
- antonyms: words with opposite meanings
We will do the same thing, in Tahitian this time.
Let’s learn to say antonym and synonym in Tahitian
Let’s start with the beginning:
Tahitian | English |
Te taa ê roa raa | The opposite, the antonym |
Te hōê ā huru | The similitude, the synonym |
Here are more details on the construction of these words.
Tahitian | English |
Taa | To be separate, distinct, to be understood |
Taa ê | To differ, different |
Te taa ê raa | The difference |
Taa ê roa | Inverted, opposite |
Te taa ê roa raa | The reverse, the opposite, the antonym |
Te huru | The gender, the condition, the ownership, the quality, the appearance, the kind |
Hōê ā huru | Similar, Identical |
Te hōê ā huru | The similitude, the synonym |
We already know Hōê ā huru with the lesson: Comparison in Tahitian – E mea … a’e … i/ia … – Hōê ā … e – Mai te …
Indeed, we learned previously that words could be created by affixing a prefix or suffix via the lesson: Prefixes and suffixes in Tahitian – Faa, Haa, Raa, Hia – Tei hea
Noun antonyms
Let’s start with the opposite nouns, also with a few verbs to better understand the formation of nouns.
English | Tahitian | English | Tahitian |
Finished | Oti, hōpe | ||
To start (the act of starting) | Haamata | To finish | Faaoti |
Start (the fact of being placed in front) | ‘Omua | To finish (until the end) | Faahōpe |
The beginning | Te haamataraa, te ‘omuaraa | The end | Te faaotiraa, te faahōpe’a |
To wrap in a bag, to cover | Pū’ohu | ||
The introduction | Te ‘omuaraa | The conclusion | Te pū’ohuraa |
The first | Te… mātāmua | The last | Te… faahōpe’a |
The day | Te mahana | The night | Te pō |
The work | Te ‘ohipa | The resting | Te faaearaa ‘ohipa |
The week | Te hepetoma | The weekend | Te hōpe’a hepetoma |
Opposite adjectives in Tahitian
In this second chapter, we will see the adjectives and for each its opposite in Tahitian.
English | Tahitian | English | Tahitian |
Good | Maita’i | Bad | ‘Ino |
Beautiful | Nehenehe, purotu | Ugly | Hā’iriiri |
Hot | Ve’ave’a | Cold | To’eto’e |
Short | Poto | Long | Roa |
Strong | Pūai | Low (weakened)
Weak (down, humble) |
Paruparu
Ha’ehaa |
Easy | ‘Ohie | Difficult | Fifi |
Clean | Mā | Dirty | Reporepo |
Big | Rahi | Small | Na’ina’i |
Happy | ‘Oa’oa | Unfortunate | ‘Ati |
Rich | Moni | Poor | Veve |
Fast | Vitiviti | Slow | Tāere |
Cheap | Māmā | Expensive | Moni |
Kind | Maita’i | Bad | ‘Ino |
New (thing) | Âpī | Old (thing) | Tahito |
Young (person) | Âpī | Old (nobody) | Rū’au |
On top | I ni’a | Below | I raro |
Inside | I roto | Outside | I rāpae |
Raw | Ota | Cooked | ‘Ama |
Opposite verbs in Tahitian
In this third chapter, we will learn opposite verbs.
English | Tahitian | English | Tahitian |
Open a door | ‘Iriti, tātara | Close a door | Ôpani |
Open with a key | Tāviri | Close with a key, lock | Tāviri |
Open a tap, a store | Mahuti | Close a tap, a store | Tāmau |
Open the eyes | Ara | Close eyes | Tāpiri |
Turn on a light | Tū’ama | Turn off a light | Tūpohe |
Start the fire | Tutu’i | Extinguish a fire | Tūpohe |
Tidy up, put in order | Faanahonaho | Disturb, to mess up | Hue |
Live | Ora | Pass away, die | Pohe |
Come together, join in | Âmui | Separate | Faataa |
Meet | Fārerei | Break up | Faataa |
And after ?
With this lesson, we have just learned the vocabulary of opposites in Tahitian. And also, we learned 88 vocabulary words and expressions.