Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs
Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs
A collection of useful phrases in Tongan. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = said to one person, dl = said to two people, tr = said to three people
If you can help fill in the gaps on this page, please contact me.
| English | Faka-Tonga (Tongan) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Talitali fiefia |
| Hello | Mālō e lelei (inf) / Mālō ‘etau lava (frm) |
| How are you? Fine thanks, and you? |
Fēfē hake? (sg) Mo fēfē hake? (dl) Mou fēfē hake? (tr) |
| Sai pē, mālō, fēfē koe? | |
| Long time no see | Fuoloa 'e fepulingaki |
| What's your name? My name is ... |
Ko hai ho hingoa? |
| Ko hoku hingoa ko... | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... |
Ko ho‘o ha‘u mei fe forma? |
| Ko ‘eku ha‘u mei ... | |
| Pleased to meet you | |
| Good morning | 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 | Mālō tau ma‘u e ho‘ata ni |
| Good evening | Mālō tau ma‘u e efiafi ni |
| Good night | Po‘uli a / Mohe a |
| Goodbye | ‘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! | |
| Have a nice day | |
| Bon appetit | |
| Bon voyage | |
| I understand | ‘Oku mahino kiate ‘au |
| I don't understand | ‘ikai mahino |
| Please speak more slowly | |
| Please say that again | |
| Please write it down | Kataki ‘o tohi‘i mai |
| Do you speak English? | ‘Oku ke lava ‘o lea faka-pālangi? |
| Do you speak Tongan? I speak a little Tongan |
‘Oku ke lava ‘o lea faka-Tonga? |
| ‘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 Response |
Mālō / Mālō ‘aupito |
| ‘Io mālō | |
| Where's the toilet? | Ko fē ‘a e falemālōlō? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything |
'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tamasi'i/tahine. (>children & young people) 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tangata/fefine. (>married & middle aged people) 'E totongi kātoa 'ehe tangata'eiki/fine'eiki. (>the elderly) |
| Would you like to dance with me? |
|
| I love you | ‘Oku ou ‘ofa ‘ia koe |
| Get well soon | |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! Fire! Stop! |
Tokoni mai! Koe afi! Tuku ia! |
| Call the police! | |
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year |
Kilisimasi fiefia mo ha ta‘u fo‘ou monū‘ia |
| Happy Easter | Ma'u ha 'aho Pekia fiefia. |
| Happy Birthday | 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, please contact me.
Information about written and spoken Tongan
Language learning materials for Tongan
Collections of Tongan phrases
http://www.aquariumcafevavau.com/tonganphrases.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294141-s604/Tonga:Important.Phrases.html
http://www.tongaturismo.info/dizionar.htm
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