In Fijian, “waitui” means the sea or ocean, specifically saltwater , as opposed to inland fresh water.

More detail:

  • It is a commonly used noun referring to the sea/ocean that surrounds the islands of Fiji.
  • The word is a compound of “wai” (water) and “tui” (king) , so it literally carries the idea of “water-king,” expressing the vastness and majesty of the ocean.
  • In some Fijian resources it appears with the synonym “wasawasa” , another word for the open sea.

So when Fijian speakers say “waitui,” they are talking about the ocean – the great surrounding saltwater, not rivers or lakes.

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