Directions

1. Ko fē ʻa e ...?

   Where is the ...?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the location of any place

   Grammar Note

   "Ko fē" is the Tongan location question. "Ko" is a predicative particle and "e" is the definite article.

2. Muimui holo ki luma.

   Mu-i-mu-i ho-lo ki lu-ma.

   Go straight ahead.

   Usage

   When directing someone to go straight

   Grammar Note

   "Ki luma" (towards the front) combines preposition "ki" (towards) with directional "luma" (front).

3. Tafoki ki he hema.

   Ta-fo-ki ki he he-ma.

   Turn to the left.

   Usage

   When directing someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Hema" (left) and "to'omata'u" (right) are Tongan directional words. "Ki he" is the prepositional phrase "to the."

4. Tafoki ki he toʻomataʻu.

   Ta-fo-ki ki he to-ʻo-ma-ta-ʻu.

   Turn to the right.

   Usage

   When directing someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "To'omata'u" is a compound word. The glottal stop "'" within the word is phonemically significant in Tongan.

5. ʻOku mamaʻo?

   ʻO-ku ma-ma-ʻo?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   When checking if the destination is far

   Grammar Note

   "'Oku" is the Tongan present tense marker placed before all predicates. It is a key functional word in Tongan grammar.

6. Kuo u ngalo.

   Ku-o u nga-lo.

   I am lost.

   Usage

   When asking for help after getting lost

   Grammar Note

   "Kuo" is the perfect aspect marker in Tongan. Together with "'oku" (present), "na'e" (past), and "te" (future), it forms the TAM system.

7. ʻOku ʻi he tafaʻaki ʻo e falekoloa.

   ʻO-ku ʻi he ta-fa-ʻa-ki ʻo e fa-le-ko-lo-a.

   It is beside the shop.

   Usage

   When describing a location using a landmark

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku ʻi" (is located at) is the existential predicate and "ʻo e" is the genitive phrase "of the". "Falekoloa" = shop. "Faleʻi" means "to advise / advice", not a shop.

8. Ko e pasi fē ʻoku ʻalu ki Nukuʻalofa?

   Ko e pa-si fē ʻo-ku ʻa-lu ki Nu-ku-ʻa-lo-fa?

   Which bus goes to Nukuʻalofa?

   Usage

   When checking which bus goes to Nukuʻalofa, Tonga's capital

   Grammar Note

   "Pasi fē" = which bus (the question word fē follows the noun). "Ki" (to/towards) is the directional preposition. The "ʻ" in "Nukuʻalofa" is the glottal stop (fakauʻa).

9. ʻE ngaahi miniti ʻe fiha ke ō?

   ʻE nga-a-hi mi-ni-ti ʻe fi-ha ke ō?

   How many minutes does it take?

   Usage

   When asking how long it takes to reach a destination

   Grammar Note

   "'E fiha" (how many) is the Tongan quantity question. "Ke ō" (to go) uses "ke" as a complementizer introducing purpose.

10. Faʻiteliha ke ke fakahā mai ʻi he mape.

    Fa-ʻi-te-li-ha ke ke fa-ka-hā mai ʻi he ma-pe.

    Could you show me on the map?

    Usage

    When wanting to see the location on a map

    Grammar Note

    "Mai" (towards the speaker) is a Tongan directional adverb. It pairs with "atu" (away from speaker).

11. Toʻomataʻu

    Right

    Usage

    To signal right in a taxi or on foot

12. Toʻohema

    Left

    Usage

    To signal left in a taxi or on foot

13. Hangatonu

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    To signal "keep going straight"

14. Foki

    Go back

    Usage

    To ask the driver to turn back

15. Tuʻu

    Stop

    Usage

    To ask someone to stop where they are

16. Tokelau

    North

    Usage

    For compass directions on a map

17. Tonga

    South

    Usage

    Same form as the country name; tonga is the compass direction south

18. Hahake

    East

    Usage

    For compass directions on a map

19. Hihifo

    West

    Usage

    For compass directions on a map

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