Food & Drinks

1. ʻOku ou fie kai

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e kai

   I am hungry

   Usage

   Basic expression to indicate hunger before a meal

   Grammar Note

   "fie" is a pre-verbal particle expressing desire: "want to." "fie kai" = "want to eat." VSO word order is standard in Tongan.

2. ʻOku ou fie inu

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e i-nu

   I am thirsty

   Usage

   Used when asking for a drink

   Grammar Note

   "fie inu" = "want to drink." Traditional Tongan cuisine uses an earth oven called "umu" for feasts featuring lobster, octopus, and whole roasted pig.

3. Kole atu ha meʻakai

   Ko-le a-tu ha me-ʻa-kai

   Please bring some food

   Usage

   Used to request food at a restaurant or someone's home

   Grammar Note

   "meʻakai" is a compound: "meʻa" (thing) + "kai" (eat) = "something to eat." Tongan has definite "e" and indefinite "ha" articles.

4. ʻOku lelei e meʻakai

   ʻO-ku le-lei e me-ʻa-kai

   The food is delicious

   Usage

   Used to compliment the food after eating

   Grammar Note

   In Tongan VSO order, the predicate "ʻOku lelei" comes before the subject "e meʻakai." "e" is the definite article.

5. Ko e hā e meʻakai fakatonga?

   Ko e hā e me-ʻa-kai fa-ka-to-nga?

   What is Tongan food?

   Usage

   Used when asking about traditional local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "Ko e hā" is the question word "what is." "fakatonga" means "in the Tongan manner/style." Traditional dishes include umu-cooked food and lu (taro leaves with coconut cream).

6. ʻE fiha e totongi?

   ʻE fi-ha e to-to-ngi?

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   Used when asking for the price at a restaurant or market

   Grammar Note

   "ʻE fiha" asks about quantity or price. "Hā" means to appear or what, so it does not mean "how much". The currency of Tonga is the Paʻanga (T$).

7. ʻOku ʻikai te u kai ika

   ʻO-ku ʻi-kai te u kai i-ka

   I do not eat fish

   Usage

   Used to communicate dietary restrictions or allergies

   Grammar Note

   Negation structure: "ʻOku ʻikai te u" + verb (do not drop "te u"). "ika" (fish) is cognate with Hawaiian "iʻa," both from Proto-Polynesian *ika.

8. Kole atu ha vai

   Ko-le a-tu ha vai

   Please bring some water

   Usage

   Used to ask for water at a restaurant or home

   Grammar Note

   "vai" means water or liquid, sharing roots with Samoan and Hawaiian, all descending from Proto-Polynesian *wai.

9. Kole atu ha siaine

   Ko-le a-tu ha si-ai-ne

   Please bring some bananas

   Usage

   Used when buying fruit at a market

   Grammar Note

   "siaine" is the Tongan word for banana. Tonga is rich in tropical produce including taro, yam, and breadfruit alongside bananas.

10. ʻOku ou loto ke kai ʻi hē?

    ʻO-ku ou lo-to ke kai ʻi hē?

    Where can I eat?

    Usage

    Used when looking for a place to eat

    Grammar Note

    "loto" means heart/will/desire. "ʻi hē" is the question word "where." Tonga has eateries ranging from local restaurants to tourist-oriented dining.

11. Mālō e ʻoatu e meʻakai

    Mā-lō e ʻo-a-tu e me-ʻa-kai

    Thank you for the food

    Usage

    Expression of gratitude after being fed or hosted for a meal

    Grammar Note

    Being invited to eat in Tonga is an important form of hospitality. Expressing gratitude formally is valued in Tongan culture.

12. Ko e hā hono hingoa ʻo e meʻakai ni?

    Ko e hā ho-no hi-ngo-a ʻo e me-ʻa-kai ni?

    What is the name of this dish?

    Usage

    Used when asking the name of an unfamiliar dish

    Grammar Note

    "ni" is a demonstrative meaning "this" placed after the noun. "hono" is the third-person singular possessive for inalienable possession.

13. Ko e laise

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    To order or check for cooked rice

14. Ko e māsima

    Salt

    Usage

    To ask for salt or check salt content

15. Ko e suka

    Sugar

    Usage

    To ask for sugar or check for it

16. Ko e lolo

    Oil

    Usage

    To check for oil; lolo also covers coconut oil

17. Ko e fuaʻiʻakau

    Fruit

    Usage

    To order or buy fruit

18. Ko e onioni

    Onion

    Usage

    When asking for no onion, or at a market

19. Ko e polo

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    To check for chilli, or at a market

20. Melie

    Sweet

    Usage

    To ask about or describe sweetness

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