A collection of useful phrases in Tongan, a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Tonga.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = said to one person, dl = said to two people, tr = said to three people
| English | Faka-Tonga (Tongan) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Talitali fiefia |
| Hello (General greeting) | Mālō e lelei (inf) Mālō ‘etau lava (frm) |
| How are you? | Fēfē hake? (sg) Mo fēfē hake? (dl) Mou fēfē hake? (tr) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Sai pē, mālō, fēfē koe? |
| Long time no see | Fuoloa 'e fepulingaki |
| What's your name? | Ko hai ho hingoa? |
| My name is ... | Ko hoku hingoa ko... |
| Where are you from? | Ko ho'o ha'u mei fe? |
| I'm from ... | Ko 'eku ha'u mei ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Fiefia ke toe feiloaki mo koe |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Mālō tau ma‘u e pongipongi ni |
| Good day | Mālō e lelei Mālō e laumalie (to a chief) Mālō e lakoifua (to a monarch) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Mālō tau ma‘u e ho‘ata ni |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Mālō tau ma‘u e efiafi ni |
| Good night | Po‘uli a Mohe a |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
‘Alu a (to sb going) Faka’au ā (to sb going - vfrm) Nofo ā (to sb staying) Toki sio (see you later - inf) |
| Good luck! | Monū'ia |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Ofa atu! |
| Have a nice day | Ma'u ha aho lelei |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
|
| I understand | ‘Oku mahino kiate ‘au |
| I don't understand | ‘ikai mahino |
| Please speak more slowly | Fakamolemole duku ho lea vave |
| Please say that again | Fakamolemole toe tala mai |
| Please write it down | Kataki ‘o tohi‘i mai |
| Do you speak English? | ‘Oku ke lava ‘o lea faka-pālangi? |
| Do you speak Tongan? | ‘Oku ke lava ‘o lea faka-Tonga? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
‘Oku ou lea faka-Tonga si’isi’i pē |
| How do you say ... in Tongan? | Ko e hā ‘a e le‘a faka-Tonga ki he ...? |
| Excuse me | Kātaki Tulou |
| How much is this? | ‘Oku fiha e? Fija hono totongi? |
| Sorry | Fakamolemole |
| Please | Kātaki |
| Thank you | Mālō Mālō ‘aupito |
| Reply to thank you | ‘Io mālō |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ko fē ‘a e falemālōlō? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tamasi'i. (>children & young people) 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tangata. (>married & middle aged people) 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tangata'eiki. (>the elderly) |
| This lady will pay for everything | 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tahine. (>children & young people) 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe fefine. (>married & middle aged people) 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe fine'eiki. (>the elderly) |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Teke lava tauolunga mo au? |
| I love you | ‘Oku ou ‘ofa ‘ia koe |
| Get well soon | |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! | Tokoni mai! |
| Fire! | Koe afi! |
| Stop! | Tuku ia! |
| Call the police! | Teu ta ki he polise! |
| Christmas greetings | Kilisimasi fiefia mo ha ta'u fo'ou monū'ia |
| Easter greetings | Ma'u ha 'aho Pekia fiefia. |
| Birthday greetings | Ma'u ha 'aho fiefie Ma'u ha 'aho fa'ele'i fiefia |
| One language is never enough | He'ikai fe'unga ke 'ilo ha lea 'e taha. |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Hoku vakapuna tētē 'i 'olunga fono 'i he toke. |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Tongan | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Collections of Tongan phrases
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294141-s604/Tonga:Important.Phrases.html
http://www.tongaturismo.info/dizionar.htm
http://www.mightyverse.com/en/languages/Tongan
Hawaiian, Māori, Niuean, Rapa Nui, Samoan, Tahitian, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuvaluan
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