Tongan–English Dictionary

Look up Tongan words and get English translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Browse the common-word table below or type a Tongan word into the lookup tool.

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Browse common Tongan vocabulary

Word	Part of speech	Translation	Example
au	pronoun	I	ʻOku ou ʻi heni he taimi ni. I am here now.
koe	pronoun	you	Ko hoku kaumeʻa koe. You are my friend.
ia	pronoun	he	ʻOku ʻi ʻapi ia. He is at home.
ia	pronoun	she	ʻOku fiefia lahi ia. She is very happy.
kitautolu	pronoun	we	ʻOku tau ʻalu he ʻaho ni. We are going today.
kinautolu	pronoun	they	ʻOku nau ʻi he ako. They are at school.
ko e hā	pronoun	what	Ko e hā ho hingoa? What is your name?
fē	adverb	where	ʻOku ʻi fē ho fale? Where is your house?
ʻahea	adverb	when	Te ke haʻu ʻahea? When will you come?
ko hai	pronoun	who	Ko hai ʻa e tokotaha ko ia? Who is that person?
ko e hā	adverb	why	Ko e hā ʻoku ke loto-mamahi ai? Why are you sad?
fēfē	adverb	how	ʻOku ke fēfē he ʻaho ni? How are you today?
maʻu	verb	to have	ʻOku ou maʻu ha tohi. I have a book.
fai	verb	to do	ʻOku ou fai ʻeku ngāue. I do my work.
ʻalu	verb	to go	ʻOku nau ʻalu ki kolo. They go to town.
haʻu	verb	to come	Kataki ʻo haʻu heni he taimi ni. Please come here now.
mamata	verb	to see	ʻOku ou mamata ki he māhina. I see the moon.
ʻilo	verb	to know	ʻOku ou ʻilo ʻa e talanoa ko ia. I know that story.
fakakaukau	verb	to think	ʻOku tau fakakaukau ki he moʻui. We think about life.
fiemaʻu	verb	to want	ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha vai. I want some water.
fiemaʻu	verb	to need	ʻOku tau fiemaʻu ha meʻakai lahi ange. We need more food.
ngaohi	verb	to make	ʻOku nau ngaohi ha tēpile. They make a table.
ʻave	verb	to take	ʻAve ʻa e tohi ki ʻapi. Take the book home.
foaki	verb	to give	ʻOku ou foaki atu ha vai kiate koe. I give you water.
pehē	verb	to say	ʻOku nau pehē ha ngaahi lea lelei. They say good words.
tala	verb	to tell	Tala mai ʻa e talanoa. Tell me the story.
fehuʻi	verb	to ask	ʻOku ou fehuʻi ha fehuʻi ʻe taha. I ask one question.
maʻu	verb	to find	ʻOku tau maʻu ʻa e ki. We find the key.
sio	verb	to look	Sio ki he langi. Look at the sky.
ngāueʻaki	verb	to use	ʻOku ou ngāueʻaki ʻa e tēpile ni. I use this table.
ngāue	verb	to work	ʻOku nau ngāue ʻi he ʻaho kotoa pē. They work every day.
kai	verb	to eat	Te tau kai laise he pō ni. We eat rice tonight.
inu	verb	to drink	ʻOku ou inu tī vela. I drink hot tea.
mohe	verb	to sleep	ʻOku mohe ʻa e tamasiʻi he taimi ni. The child sleeps now.
luelue	verb	to walk	ʻOku tau luelue ki he ako. We walk to school.
lele	verb	to run	ʻOku lele vave ʻa e tamasiʻi. The boy runs fast.
lau	verb	to read	ʻOku ne lau ha tohi. She reads a book.
tohi	verb	to write	ʻOku ou tohi hoku hingoa. I write my name.
lea	verb	to speak	ʻOku nau lea faka-Tonga lelei. They speak Tongan well.
fanongo	verb	to listen	Fanongo ki he hiva. Listen to the music.
ongoʻi	verb	to hear	ʻOku ou ongoʻi ʻa e matangi. I hear the wind.
fakatau	verb	to buy	ʻOku tau fakatau mai ha ika foʻou. We buy fresh fish.
fakatau atu	verb	to sell	ʻOku nau fakatau atu ʻa e mā ʻi heni. They sell bread here.
totongi	verb	to pay	ʻOku ou totongi ʻa e paʻanga. I pay the money.
tokoni	verb	to help	Kataki ʻo tokoni ki heʻeku faʻē. Please help my mother.
ʻofa	verb	to love	ʻOku tau ʻofa ki hotau fāmili. We love our family.
mate	verb	to die	ʻOku mate māmālie ʻa e ngaahi ʻakau motuʻa. Old trees die slowly.
ako	verb	to learn	ʻOku ako ʻa e fānau ʻi he ako. Children learn at school.
akoʻi	verb	to teach	ʻOku nau akoʻi ʻa e fānau. They teach the children.
ava	verb	to open	Ava ʻa e matapā he taimi ni. Open the door now.
tapuni	verb	to close	Tapuni ʻa e matapā, kātaki. Close the door, please.
tokotaha	noun	person	ʻOku angaʻofa ʻa e tokotaha ko ia. That person is kind.
tangata	noun	man	ʻOku lōloa ʻa e tangata. The man is tall.
fefine	noun	woman	ʻOku fiefia ʻa e fefine. The woman is happy.
tamasiʻi	noun	child	ʻOku mohe ʻa e tamasiʻi. The child is sleeping.
tamasiʻi tangata	noun	boy	ʻOku lau lelei ʻa e tamasiʻi tangata. The boy reads well.
tamasiʻi fefine	noun	girl	ʻOku hiva ʻa e tamasiʻi fefine. The girl is singing.
fāmili	noun	family	ʻOku lahi hoku fāmili. My family is large.
faʻē	noun	mother	ʻOku ʻi heni ʻeku faʻē. My mother is here.
tamai	noun	father	ʻOku ngāue mālohi ʻeku tamai. My father works hard.
kaumeʻa	noun	friend	Ko hoku kaumeʻa ia. She is my friend.
fale	noun	house	ʻOku foʻou honau fale. Their house is new.
ʻapi	noun	home	ʻOku tau ʻalu ki ʻapi. We are going home.
ako	noun	school	ʻOku lahi ʻa e ako. The school is big.
kolo lahi	noun	city	ʻOku femoʻuekina ʻa e kolo lahi ni. This city is busy.
fonua	noun	country	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa hotau fonua. Our country is beautiful.
māmani	noun	world	ʻOku lahi ʻa e māmani. The world is large.
loki	noun	room	ʻOku siʻi ʻa e loki. The room is small.
taimi	noun	time	ʻOku ʻalu vave ʻa e taimi. Time goes quickly.
ʻaho	noun	day	Ko e ʻaho lelei ʻa e ʻaho ni. Today is a good day.
pō	noun	night	ʻOku momoko ʻa e pō. The night is cold.
pongipongi	noun	morning	ʻOku mokomoko ʻa e pongipongi. The morning is cool.
efiafi	noun	evening	ʻOku tau luelue he efiafi ni. We walk this evening.
uike	noun	week	ʻOku femoʻuekina ʻa e uike ni. This week is busy.
māhina	noun	month	ʻOku lōloa ʻa e māhina ni. This month is long.
taʻu	noun	year	ʻOku mahuʻinga ʻa e taʻu ni. This year is important.
he ʻaho ni	adverb	today	ʻOku ou ngāue he ʻaho ni. I work today.
ʻapongipongi	adverb	tomorrow	Te mau haʻu ʻapongipongi. We will come tomorrow.
ʻaneafi	adverb	yesterday	Naʻe haʻu ia ʻaneafi. He came yesterday.
he taimi ni	adverb	now	Haʻu heni he taimi ni. Come here now.
laʻā	noun	sun	ʻOku vela ʻa e laʻā. The sun is hot.
māhina	noun	moon	ʻOku ulo ʻa e māhina. The moon is bright.
fetuʻu	noun	star	ʻOku ulo ʻa e fetuʻu ko ia. That star is bright.
langi	noun	sky	ʻOku lanu pulū ʻa e langi. The sky is blue.
afi	noun	fire	ʻOku vela ʻa e afi. The fire is hot.
vai	noun	water	ʻOku momoko ʻa e vai. The water is cold.
ʻuha	noun	rain	ʻOku lahi ʻa e ʻuha. The rain is heavy.
matangi	noun	wind	ʻOku mālohi ʻa e matangi. The wind is strong.
ʻakau	noun	tree	ʻOku lōloa ʻa e ʻakau. The tree is tall.
fugalaʻau	noun	flower	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa ʻa e fugalaʻau ni. This flower is beautiful.
moʻunga	noun	mountain	ʻOku māʻolunga ʻa e moʻunga ko ia. That mountain is high.
vaitafe	noun	river	ʻOku lōloa ʻa e vaitafe. The river is long.
tahi	noun	sea	ʻOku lanu pulū ʻa e tahi. The sea is blue.
meʻakai	noun	food	ʻOku mateuteu ʻa e meʻakai. The food is ready.
mā	noun	bread	ʻOku foʻou ʻa e mā. The bread is fresh.
laise	noun	rice	ʻOku tau kai laise ʻi he ʻaho kotoa pē. We eat rice daily.
kakanoʻi manu	noun	meat	ʻOku vela ʻa e kakanoʻi manu. The meat is hot.
ika	noun	fish	ʻOku foʻou ʻa e ika. The fish is fresh.
foʻi moa	noun	egg	ʻOku ou kai ha foʻi moa ʻe taha. I eat one egg.
huʻakau	noun	milk	ʻOku momoko ʻa e huʻakau. The milk is cold.
fuaʻiʻakau	noun	fruit	ʻOku melie ʻa e fuaʻiʻakau ni. This fruit is sweet.
tī	noun	tea	ʻOku vela ʻa e tī. The tea is hot.
kofe	noun	coffee	ʻOku mālohi ʻa e kofe. The coffee is strong.
ʻulu	noun	head	ʻOku mamahi hoku ʻulu he ʻaho ni. My head hurts today.
mata	noun	eye	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa hono mata. Her eyes are beautiful.
telinga	noun	ear	ʻOku mamahi hoku telinga. My ear hurts.
ngutu	noun	mouth	Ava ho ngutu, kātaki. Open your mouth, please.
ihu	noun	nose	ʻOku momoko hoku ihu. My nose is cold.
nima	noun	hand	ʻOku mālohi hoku nima. My hand is strong.
vae	noun	foot	ʻOku mamahi hono vae he taimi ni. His foot hurts now.
mafu	noun	heart	ʻOku mālohi hoku mafu. My heart is strong.
hingoa	noun	name	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa ho hingoa. Your name is beautiful.
tohi	noun	book	ʻOku foʻou ʻa e tohi ni. This book is new.
lea	noun	word	ʻOku mahuʻinga ʻa e lea ko ia. That word is important.
lea	noun	language	Ko e lea faka-Tonga ko ha lea fakaʻofoʻofa. Tongan is a beautiful language.
paʻanga	noun	money	ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha paʻanga lahi ange. I need more money.
ngāue	noun	work	ʻOku faingataʻa ʻa e ngāue. The work is hard.
ʻofa	noun	love	ʻOku mahuʻinga ʻa e ʻofa ʻi he moʻui. Love is important in life.
hiva	noun	music	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa ʻa e hiva. The music is beautiful.
talanoa	noun	story	ʻOku moʻoni ʻa e talanoa ko ia. That story is true.
hala	noun	way	ʻOku faingofua ʻa e hala ni. This way is easy.
meʻa	noun	thing	ʻOku ʻaʻaku ʻa e meʻa ko ia. That thing is mine.
moʻui	noun	life	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa ʻa e moʻui. Life is beautiful.
matapā	noun	door	ʻOku ava ʻa e matapā. The door is open.
tēpile	noun	table	ʻOku lahi ʻa e tēpile. The table is big.
sea	noun	chair	ʻOku foʻou ʻa e sea. The chair is new.
meʻalele	noun	car	ʻOku vave ʻa e meʻalele. The car is fast.
lelei	adjective	good	ʻOku lelei ʻa e meʻakai ni. This food is good.
kovi	adjective	bad	ʻOku kovi ʻa e vai ko ia. That water is bad.
lahi	adjective	big	ʻOku lahi ʻa e fale. The house is big.
siʻi	adjective	small	ʻOku siʻi ʻa e loki. The room is small.
foʻou	adjective	new	ʻOku ou maʻu ha tohi foʻou. I have a new book.
motuʻa	adjective	old	ʻOku motuʻa ʻa e fale ko ia. That house is old.
lōloa	adjective	long	ʻOku lōloa ʻa e hala. The road is long.
nounou	adjective	short	ʻOku nounou ʻa e talanoa. The story is short.
māʻolunga	adjective	high	ʻOku māʻolunga ʻa e moʻunga. The mountain is high.
maʻulalo	adjective	low	ʻOku maʻulalo ʻa e sea ko ia. That chair is low.
vela	adjective	hot	ʻOku vela ʻa e tī. The tea is hot.
momoko	adjective	cold	ʻOku momoko ʻa e vai. The water is cold.
fiefia	adjective	happy	ʻOku fiefia ʻa e tamasiʻi. The child is happy.
loto-mamahi	adjective	sad	ʻOku loto-mamahi ia he ʻaho ni. She feels sad today.
fakaʻofoʻofa	adjective	beautiful	ʻOku fakaʻofoʻofa ʻa e fugalaʻau. The flower is beautiful.
faingofua	adjective	easy	ʻOku faingofua ʻa e ngāue ni. This work is easy.
faingataʻa	adjective	hard	ʻOku faingataʻa ʻa e lēsoni ko ia. That lesson is hard.
vave	adjective	fast	ʻOku vave ʻa e meʻalele. The car is fast.
tuai	adjective	slow	ʻOku tuai ʻa e honu. The turtle is slow.
totonu	adjective	right	ʻOku tonu ho tali. Your answer is right.
hala	adjective	wrong	ʻOku hala ʻa e tali ko ia. That answer is wrong.
mahuʻinga	adjective	important	ʻOku mahuʻinga ʻa e tohi ni. This book is important.
moʻoni	adjective	true	ʻOku moʻoni ʻa e talanoa. The story is true.
fonu	adjective	full	ʻOku fonu ʻa e ipu. The cup is full.
lala	adjective	empty	ʻOku lala ʻa e loki. The room is empty.
talavou	adjective	young	ʻOku kei talavou ia. He is still young.
mālohi	adjective	strong	ʻOku mālohi ʻa e tangata. The man is strong.
vaivai	adjective	weak	ʻOku vaivai ʻa e tamasiʻi. The child is weak.
kulokula	adjective	red	ʻOku kulokula ʻa e fugalaʻau. The flower is red.
pulū	adjective	blue	ʻOku pulū ʻa e langi. The sky is blue.
lanumata	adjective	green	ʻOku lanumata ʻa e ʻakau. The tree is green.
engeenga	adjective	yellow	ʻOku engeenga ʻa e fugalaʻau. The flower is yellow.
ʻuliʻuli	adjective	black	ʻOku ʻuliʻuli ʻa e meʻalele. The car is black.
hinehina	adjective	white	ʻOku hinehina ʻa e fale. The house is white.
ʻio	interjection	yes	ʻIo, ʻoku ou mahino. Yes, I understand.
ʻikai	interjection	no	ʻIkai, ʻe ʻikai te u lava ʻo haʻu. No, I cannot come.
ʻikai	adverb	not	ʻOku ʻikai te u mateuteu. I am not ready.
mo	conjunction	and	ʻOku ʻi heni ʻa e faʻē mo e tamai. Mother and father are here.
pe	conjunction	or	ʻOku lelei pē ʻa e tī pe kofe. Tea or coffee is fine.
ka	conjunction	but	ʻOku ou vaivai, ka ʻoku ou fiefia. I am tired, but happy.
kapau	conjunction	if	Kapau ʻe ʻuha, nofo ʻi ʻapi. If it rains, stay home.
he	conjunction	because	Naʻá ku nofo ʻi ʻapi he naʻe ʻuha. I stayed home because rain fell.
mo	preposition	with	Naʻá ku haʻu mo hoku kaumeʻa. I came with my friend.
taʻe	preposition	without	Naʻe ʻalu ia taʻe paʻanga. He left without money.
maʻa	preposition	for	ʻOku maʻau ʻa e meʻaʻofa ni maʻau. This gift is for you.
mei	preposition	from	Naʻá ku haʻu mei he ako. I came from school.
ki	preposition	to	ʻOku tau ʻalu ki kolo. We go to town.