| Fakafifine | |
| Classification: | Gender identity |
| Associated Terms: | Fakaleiti, Two-spirit, Trans woman, Akava'ine, Māhū, Pinapinaaine |
| Culture: | Niuean |
| Regions: | Polynesia |
| Region1: |  Niue |
Fakafifine are people from Niue, who were born assigned male at birth but who have a feminine gender expression. In Niue this is understood as a third gender, culturally specific to the country.[1] [2]
The term comes from Niuean and is composed of the prefix faka- (in the manner of) and the suffix -fifine (woman) and is defined in Niue Language Dictionary as 'to behave like a woman' or 'to be effeminate'.[3] A related term is fakataane which means 'to behave like a man'.[4]
Fakafifine is included in the acronym MVPFAFF+ (mahu, vakasalewalewa, palopa, fa'afafine, akava'ine, fakaleiti or leiti, fakafifine, and other), coined by Phylesha Brown-Acton, to "enhance Pasifika gender diversity awareness in addition to the term LGBTQI".[5] [6]