Tahitian

Tahitian is an umbrella term used to describe things related to Tahiti, the largest island of French Polynesia. It commonly refers to the Tahitian people, their language, and their culture.

The Tahitian language, or Reo Tahiti, is a Polynesian language spoken by the Tahitian people. It belongs to the Eastern Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family and is closely related to other Polynesian languages such as Māori and Hawaiian. In French Polynesia, Tahitian remains widely spoken and is taught in schools and used in media and everyday life alongside French, which is the official language.

The Tahitian people are the indigenous inhabitants of Tahiti. Their culture includes traditional dance (ori), tattooing (tatau), weaving, and pareu clothing, as well as crafts and boat navigation. The annual Heiva festival is a prominent celebration that showcases music, dance, and other traditional arts.

Geography and contemporary status: Tahiti is located in the central Pacific as the largest island of French Polynesia’s Society Islands group. It is the most populous island, with Papeete as the capital and main port. The Tahitian language is widely spoken in homes and communities, while French remains the official language of administration and education.