Tokanga! Tokanga!
To-ka-nga! To-ka-nga!
Help! Watch out! Danger!
Usage
Used in emergencies to alert people nearby
Grammar Note
Repetition (Tokanga! Tokanga!) signals urgency. Used as an imperative. Emergency numbers in Tonga: police 922, ambulance 933, fire 999 (Tonga Fire & Emergency Services).
Kātaki ʻo tokoni mai!
Kā-ta-ki ʻo to-ko-ni mai!
Please help me!
Usage
Used when urgently asking for help
Grammar Note
"tokoni" = to help; the directional "mai" makes it "help me". Example: "ʻE tuʻi, ke ke tokoni mai." ("O king, help me."). "ʻoua" is NOT a politeness word — it is the prohibitive ("do not"). Requests use "kātaki ʻo …". English is also widely understood in Tonga.
ʻOku ou mamahi
ʻO-ku ou ma-ma-hi
I am in pain / I am not well
Usage
Used to communicate pain or illness
Grammar Note
"mamahi" is a stative verb meaning pain/suffering. The form uses partial reduplication (ma-mahi) for emphasis — a common Polynesian morphological pattern.
Ui mai ha toketā!
U-i mai ha to-ke-tā!
Call a doctor!
Usage
Used when urgent medical attention is needed
Grammar Note
"toketā" = doctor (from English). The directional "mai" means "toward here". "ui mai" = to summon ("naʻa ne ui mai ʻa Lesieli mo Lia").
Ui mai ʻa e polisi!
U-i mai ʻa e po-li-si!
Call the police!
Usage
Used when an incident or accident occurs
Grammar Note
"polisi" is borrowed from English "police." The Tongan police emergency number is 922. English is widely understood.
ʻOku ʻi ai ha falemahaki ʻi heni?
ʻO-ku ʻi ai ha fa-le-ma-ha-ki ʻi he-ni?
Is there a hospital near here?
Usage
Used when urgently looking for a hospital
Grammar Note
"falemahaki" = "fale" (building) + "mahaki" (illness) = "building of illness" = hospital. A clear example of Tongan compound word formation.
ʻOku ʻikai te u lava ʻo tuʻu hake
ʻO-ku ʻi-kai te u la-va ʻo tuʻu ha-ke
I cannot move / I cannot stand
Usage
Used to communicate inability to move due to injury or illness
Grammar Note
Tongan negation is "ʻoku ʻikai te u …" (e.g. "ʻOku ʻikai te u lava ʻo lea fakatonga."). "tuʻu hake" = to stand/get up. "mālohi" means "strong", not "move". The word order "ʻoku ou ʻikai" is wrong
ʻOku tafe ʻa e toto!
ʻO-ku ta-fe ʻa e to-to!
There is bleeding!
Usage
Used to report bleeding
Grammar Note
"tafe" = to flow. Example: "naʻe tafe ʻae toto mei he matalavea" ("the blood ran out of the wound"). "toto" = blood (Proto-Polynesian *toto; Hawaiian koko, Samoan toto).
ʻOku ou ʻosi mahaki
ʻO-ku ou ʻo-si ma-ha-ki
I feel sick
Usage
Used to communicate feeling unwell
Grammar Note
"ʻosi" is an aspectual marker meaning "already having come to be." "ʻOku ou ʻosi mahaki" = "I have already become sick / I am sick."
Ko ʻeku fika paasipooti ko...
Ko ʻe-ku fi-ka pa-a-si-po-o-ti ko...
My passport number is...
Usage
Used in emergencies or when presenting a passport to authorities
Grammar Note
"fika" = number (e.g. "hoʻo fika telefoni" = your phone number, "fika meili"); "paasipooti" = passport ("hoʻo paasipooti"). "fakahinohino" means "to guide/direct", not a number (e.g. "ke ke tataki au, ʻo fakahinohino au"). Tonga has few embassies; in emergencies, contact your nearest national embassy or the British High Commission.
ʻOua!
Stop it
Usage
Show it firmly without speaking — for touts and scams
ʻOua ʻe ala mai!
Do not touch me
Usage
When you do not want to be touched; deliberately blunt
Afi
Fire
Usage
Show it to report that something is on fire. It is the word used in emergencies, but it is regarded as a rather impolite word in Tongan; the polite alternatives are "maama" / "talikula"
Kaihaʻa
Thief
Usage
Show it when reporting a theft. The word covers both the thief and the act of stealing
Fakapō
Murder
Usage
Names both the act of murder and the person who commits it; the person can also be tangata fakapō
Fakamaveuveu
Riot
Usage
Names a crowd disturbance in which order breaks down; as an adjective it means "causing disorder"
Ko fē ʻa e polisi?
Ko fē ʻa e po-li-si?
Where are the police?
Usage
Asking where to go to report a theft
Grammar Note
"Ko fē ʻa e …?" ("Where is the …?") is the frame of "Ko fē ʻa e falemahaki?" and "Ko fē ʻa e fale talavai?"; only the noun is swapped for "polisi" ("police", the same form as "Ui mai ʻa e polisi!" and "Ko e kau polisi"). Note: "polisi" names the force or an officer rather than the building.
ʻOku ʻi ai ha tokotaha ʻoku lea faka-Siapani?
ʻO-ku ʻi ai ha to-ko-ta-ha ʻo-ku le-a fa-ka-Si-a-pa-ni?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Show it first at a police or hospital counter when looking for an interpreter
Grammar Note
"ʻOku ʻi ai ha …?" ("Is there a …?") is the frame of "ʻOku ʻi ai ha falemahaki ʻi heni?" and "ʻOku ʻi ai ha lifti heni?". "Lea faka- + language name" ("to speak X") is the pattern of "ʻOkú ke lea faka-Pilitānia?" ("Do you speak English?"), with only the language name swapped for "Siapani" (the same form as "Ko e Siapani au" and "…ke fekauʻi ki Siapani?"). "Tokotaha" ("person") is the same form as "Ko au ko e tokotaha ngāue".
Kātaki ʻo haʻu vave.
Kā-ta-ki ʻo ha-ʻu va-ve.
Please come right away
Usage
Telling someone on the phone, or through a third person, to come to where you are
Grammar Note
"Kātaki ʻo + verb" ("Please …") is the request frame of "Kātaki ʻo tokoni mai ki he meʻa ni", "Kātaki ʻo tala mai" and "Kātaki ʻo lea māmālie". The verb "haʻu" ("come") is the same form as "Haʻu" and "Te u toe haʻu."; "vave" ("fast") is the same form as "…ha fesoʻotaki vave ange?".
ʻOku ʻi ai ha fakatuʻutāmaki ʻi he hala.
ʻO-ku ʻi ai ha fa-ka-tu-ʻu-tā-ma-ki ʻi he ha-la.
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Reporting a road accident. Tonga's emergency number is 911
Grammar Note
Reuses the first clause of "ʻOku ʻi ai ha fakatuʻutāmaki — kātaki ʻo ui ʻa e kau tauhi ski" ("There has been an accident — please call ski patrol") and adds the location "ʻi he hala" ("on the road"). "Hala" ("road") is the same form as "Ko e hala"; "ʻi he + noun" is the form used in "Mālōlō ʻi he miniti ʻe nima…".
Kuo u lavea ʻi he meʻalele.
Ku-o u la-ve-a ʻi he me-ʻa-le-le.
I was hit by a car
Usage
Telling police or medical staff that a car hit you
Grammar Note
"Kuo u + verb" is the perfective of "Kuo u ngalo." ("I am lost"). "Lavea" ("to be injured") is the same form as "…ngāue maʻae kakai kuo lavea." and "…fale vai maʻae kakai kuo lavea?", both of which use "kuo lavea" = "have been injured". "Meʻalele" ("car") is the same form as "ʻOku ʻikai ke ʻalu ʻa e meʻalele.".
Kuo ngalo ʻeku kato.
Ku-o nga-lo ʻe-ku ka-to.
I left my bag behind
Usage
Reporting that you left a bag behind in a shop or on a bus
Grammar Note
The same construction as "Kuo ngalo ʻeku fānau." ("My child is lost"), with only the possession swapped for "kato" ("bag", the same form as "Ko e kato" and "Kātaki ʻomai ha kato"). "Ngalo" covers both being lost and being forgotten; it is also used in "Kuo u ngalo.".
Afi! Hola!
A-fi! Ho-la!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Shout it to alert others and get them moving when you see a fire
Grammar Note
"Afi" ("fire") followed by "hola" ("flee") to get people moving. Examples: "naʻe hola ʻae ngaahi tuʻi ʻo Sotoma mo Komola" (the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled), "naʻa nau hola ki he moʻunga" (they fled to the mountain).
Kaihaʻa! Puke ia!
Kai-ha-ʻa! Pu-ke i-a!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Calling for help from bystanders when someone snatches your belongings
Grammar Note
"Kaihaʻa" ("thief") followed by the command "puke ia" ("catch him"). "Puke" means to seize a person or thing, as in "Mafao atu ho nima ʻo puke ia ʻi hono iku" (stretch out your hand and take it by the tail).
Kuo taaʻi au.
Ku-o ta-a-ʻi au.
I was beaten
Usage
Reporting an assault to the police or to medical staff
Grammar Note
"Kuo + predicate" is the perfective. "Taaʻi" means "to strike", as in "ʻe ʻikai te u toe taaʻi ʻae ngaahi meʻa moʻui kotoa pē" (I will never again strike every living thing). Same frame as "Kuo u ngalo.".
Kuo hokaʻi au.
Ku-o ho-ka-ʻi au.
I was stabbed
Usage
Telling medical staff or police that you were stabbed
Grammar Note
"Kuo + predicate" is the perfective. "Hokaʻi" means to pierce with a blade or spear, as in "ʻo ne hokaʻi ʻakinaua ʻo ʻasi, ʻae tangata ʻIsileli, mo e fefine" (he ran both of them through). Same frame as "Kuo u ngalo.".
Kuo pongia ia.
Ku-o po-ngi-a i-a.
This person is unconscious
Usage
Telling emergency services the condition of a person who has collapsed
Grammar Note
"Kuo + predicate" is the perfective. "Pongia" describes a state of fainting or being overcome, as in "naʻe pongia hono loto ʻiate ia" (his heart failed within him) and "naʻe pongia ai honau laumālie" (their souls fainted). Same frame as "Kuo u ngalo.".
ʻOku melemo ha tokotaha!
ʻO-ku me-le-mo ha to-ko-ta-ha!
Someone is drowning
Usage
Alerting others when you see someone drowning at sea or in a river
Grammar Note
The frame is "ʻOku + predicate + ha + noun". "Melemo" describes a state of drowning, as in "ʻi he ngaahi vaitafe, ʻe ʻikai te ke melemo ai" (you will not drown in the rivers) and "naʻe melemo hoku ʻulu ʻi he ngaahi vai" (the waters closed over my head). "Tokotaha" means "person", as in "Ko au ko e tokotaha ngāue". Same frame as "ʻOku ʻi ai ha falemahaki ʻi heni?".
Naʻe fai kākā kiate au.
Na-ʻe fai kā-kā ki-a-te au.
I was deceived
Usage
Reporting a scam or a rip-off
Grammar Note
"Kiate au" means "to me". "Fai kākā kiate au" means "deceive me", as in "ke ʻoua naʻa ke fai kākā kiate au" (swear that you will not deceive me). Same frame as "ʻOku mahino ʻeku mata — ʻe lava ke ke tokoni mai kiate au?".
Kuo kaihaʻasia ʻeku kato paʻanga.
Ku-o kai-ha-ʻa-si-a ʻe-ku ka-to pa-ʻa-nga.
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Use it when filing a theft report; remember to cancel your cards too
Grammar Note
The shape is "Kuo + predicate + ʻeku + possession". The passive "kaihaʻasia" means "to be stolen", as in "kapau ʻe kaihaʻasia ia mei he fale ʻoe tangata" (if it is stolen from the man's house). "Kato paʻanga" means "wallet", as in "naʻe ʻilo taki taha ʻae tangata ʻene kato paʻanga ʻi he ngutu ʻo ʻene tangai" (each man found his money bag in the mouth of his sack). Same frame as "Kuo ngalo ʻeku fānau.".
Kātaki ʻo fakatoʻotoʻo.
Kā-ta-ki ʻo fa-ka-to-ʻo-to-ʻo.
Please hurry
Usage
Telling an ambulance or taxi that the situation is urgent
Grammar Note
The request frame "Kātaki ʻo + verb" with "fakatoʻotoʻo" ("hurry") placed in it. It is used as in "Pea ʻalu fakatoʻotoʻo ʻa ʻEpalahame ki he fale" (Abraham hurried into the tent) and "naʻa ne fakatoʻotoʻo ʻa hono ngaohi" (he hurried to prepare it). Same frame as "Kātaki ʻo tala mai".
More Tongan phrases
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