Dietary & Allergies

1. ʻOku ʻikai te u kai kakanoʻimanu.

   I do not eat meat.

   Usage

   Vegetarian declaration

   Grammar Note

   Tongan negation: "'Oku 'ikai"

2. Ko au ko ha vēganī, ʻoku ʻikai te u kai ha meʻa mei he fanga manu.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat anything from animals.

   Usage

   Vegan declaration

   Grammar Note

   "Ko au ko" = "I am"

3. ʻOku uesia kovi au ʻe he nati.

   I am allergic to nuts.

   Usage

   Nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "ʻe he" marks the agent. Allergy is uesia kovi, used in the frame "ʻoku uesia kovi ia ʻe ha meʻatokoni, ngaahi ʻinisēkite pe ko ha faitoʻo" (is adversely affected by a food, insects or a medicine)

4. ʻOku ʻi ai ha meʻakai ʻoku ʻikai ʻi ai ʻa e gluten?

   Is there food without gluten?

   Usage

   Gluten-free inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "'i ai" indicates existence

5. Ko au ko ha Musolimi, ʻoku ʻikai te u kai ʻa e kakanoʻi puaka.

   I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Halal observance

   Grammar Note

   "kakano'i" + animal = "meat of"

6. ʻOku ʻikai lava ke u inu ʻa e huʻakau.

   I cannot drink milk.

   Usage

   Lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "lava" = able, negative "'ikai lava"

7. ʻOku uesia kovi au ʻe he ngaahi meʻa mei he tahi.

   I'm allergic to seafood.

   Usage

   Seafood allergy

   Grammar Note

   "tahi" = "sea", "ngaahi" plural marker. Allergy is uesia kovi, used in the frame "ʻoku uesia kovi ia ʻe ha meʻatokoni, ngaahi ʻinisēkite pe ko ha faitoʻo" (is adversely affected by a food, insects or a medicine)

8. Ko e hā ʻoku ʻi loto ʻi he meʻakai ko ʻení?

   What's in this food?

   Usage

   Ingredient inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "ko 'eni" = "this"

9. ʻE lava ke ke ngaohi ʻoku ʻikai ha onioni?

   Could you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Request to omit ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "'E lava ke ke" = "can you?". Onion is onioni, with no initial fakaʻua. aniani is the Samoan word.

10. ʻOku uesia kovi au ʻe he foʻi moa.

    I'm allergic to eggs.

    Usage

    Egg allergy

    Grammar Note

    "foʻi" is a classifier, "moa" = chicken. Allergy is uesia kovi, used in the frame "ʻoku uesia kovi ia ʻe ha meʻatokoni, ngaahi ʻinisēkite pe ko ha faitoʻo" (is adversely affected by a food, insects or a medicine)

11. ʻOku ʻi ai ha lisi ʻo e ngaahi meʻakai ʻoku fakatupu uesia kovi?

    Is there an allergen list?

    Usage

    Allergen menu request

    Grammar Note

    "ʻo e" = "of". Allergy is uesia kovi, used in the frame "ʻoku uesia kovi ia ʻe ha meʻatokoni, ngaahi ʻinisēkite pe ko ha faitoʻo" (is adversely affected by a food, insects or a medicine)

12. Ko ʻeku uesia kovi ʻe lava ke tāmateʻi au.

    My allergy can kill me.

    Usage

    Severe allergy warning

    Grammar Note

    "ʻe lava ke" = "can/may". Allergy is uesia kovi, used in the frame "ʻoku uesia kovi ia ʻe ha meʻatokoni, ngaahi ʻinisēkite pe ko ha faitoʻo" (is adversely affected by a food, insects or a medicine)

13. ʻOku ʻi ai ʻa e lolo pe ko e meʻa vela ʻi loto?

    Is there oil or spicy ingredients inside?

    Usage

    Asks about oil/spice

    Grammar Note

    "pe ko" = "or"

14. ʻE lava ke fefiofi ʻeku meʻakai mo e meʻakai kehe?

    Could my food mix with other foods?

    Usage

    Cross-contamination check

    Grammar Note

    "fe-...-fi" forms reciprocal

15. Mālō ʻaupito ʻi hoʻo tokangaekina.

    Thank you very much for your care.

    Usage

    Formal thanks

    Grammar Note

    "ho'o" = "your"

16. Ko e kakanoʻi puaka

    Pork

    Usage

    To check whether a dish contains pork

17. Ko e kakanoʻi pulu

    Beef

    Usage

    To check whether a dish contains beef

18. Ko e kakanoʻi moa

    Chicken

    Usage

    To check whether a dish contains chicken

19. Ko e ika

    Fish

    Usage

    To check whether a dish contains fish

20. Ko e foʻi moa

    Egg

    Usage

    To check whether a dish contains egg

21. Ko e huʻakau

    Milk / dairy

    Usage

    To check whether a dish contains dairy

22. Ko e pīnati

    Peanut

    Usage

    For a peanut allergy check

23. Ko e paka

    Crab

    Usage

    For a shellfish allergy check

24. Ko e mā

    Bread

    Usage

    To check for bread

25. Ko e kava mālohi

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Alcoholic drink; kava on its own is the traditional Tongan beverage

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