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 ʻetau 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 ʻe fepulingaki |
| What's your name? | Ko hai ho hingoa? |
| My name is ... | Ko hoku hingoa ko... |
| Where are you from? | Ko hoʻo haʻu mei fe? |
| I'm from ... | Ko ʻeku haʻu mei ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Fiefia ke toe feiloaki mo koe |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Mālō tau maʻu 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 maʻu e hoʻata ni |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Mālō tau maʻu e efiafi ni |
| Good night | Poʻuli a Mohe a |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
ʻAlu a (to sb going) Fakaʻau ā (to sb going - vfrm) Nofo ā (to sb staying) Toki sio (see you later - inf) |
| Good luck! | Monūʻia |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Ofa atu! |
| Have a nice day | Maʻu ha aho lelei |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
|
| I understand | ʻOku mahino kiate ʻau |
| I don't understand | ʻikai mahino |
| Please speak more slowly | Fakamolemole duku ho lea vave |
| Please say that again | Fakamolemole toe tala mai |
| Please write it down | Kataki ʻo tohiʻi mai |
| Do you speak English? | ʻOku ke lava ʻo lea faka-pālangi? |
| Do you speak Tongan? | ʻOku ke lava ʻo lea faka-Tonga? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
ʻOku ou lea faka-Tonga siʻisiʻi pē |
| How do you say ... in Tongan? | Ko e hā ʻa e leʻa faka-Tonga ki he ...? |
| Excuse me | Kātaki Tulou |
| How much is this? | ʻOku fiha e? Fija hono totongi? |
| Sorry | Fakamolemole |
| Please | Kātaki |
| Thank you | Mālō Mālō ʻaupito |
| Reply to thank you | ʻIo mālō |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ko fē ʻa e falemālōlō? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | ʻE totongi kātoa ʻehe tamasiʻi. (>children & young people) ʻE totongi kātoa ʻehe tangata. (>married & middle aged people) ʻE totongi kātoa ʻehe tangataʻeiki. (>the elderly) |
| This lady will pay for everything | ʻE totongi kātoa ʻehe tahine. (>children & young people) ʻE totongi kātoa ʻehe fefine. (>married & middle aged people) ʻE totongi kātoa ʻehe fineʻeiki. (>the elderly) |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Teke lava tauolunga mo au? |
| I love you | ʻOku ou ʻofa ʻia 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 taʻu foʻou monūʻia |
| Easter greetings | Maʻu ha ʻaho Pekia fiefia. |
| Birthday greetings | Maʻu ha ʻaho fiefie Maʻu ha ʻaho faʻeleʻi fiefia |
| One language is never enough | Heʻikai feʻunga ke ʻilo ha lea ʻe taha. |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Hoku vakapuna tētē ʻi ʻolunga fono ʻi 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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