Language Learning

1. ʻOku ou ako ʻa e lea fakatonga

   I am learning Tongan

   Usage

   Telling someone you are studying Tongan

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku" marks present tense. "Ako" = learn. "Lea fakatonga" = Tongan language, where "lea" = language and "fakatonga" = in the Tongan way.

2. Ko e hā ʻa e lea fakatonga ki he ...?

   What is the Tongan word for ...?

   Usage

   Asking for the Tongan equivalent of a word

   Grammar Note

   "Ko e hā" = what is. "Ki he" = for/of. This is the standard phrase for asking vocabulary equivalents.

3. ʻOku ou ʻiloʻi siʻi pe ʻa e lea fakatonga

   I only understand a little Tongan

   Usage

   Explaining that you only know a little Tongan

   Grammar Note

   "Siʻi" = small/little, "pe" = only/just. "ʻIloʻi" is "ʻilo" (knowledge) with the transitivising suffix "-ʻi".

4. ʻE lava ke ke lea māmālie ange?

   Can you say that more slowly?

   Usage

   Asking a speaker to slow down

   Grammar Note

   "ʻE lava ke" = can you (asking ability/possibility). "Ange" is a particle adding comparative meaning (more).

5. ʻE lava ke ke tohi ia maʻaku?

   Can you write that down for me?

   Usage

   Asking someone to write a word or phrase for you

   Grammar Note

   "Tohi" = write. "Maʻaku" = "maʻa" (for) + "ku" (me) = for me.

6. ʻOku ou fiefia ke ako ʻa e faka-Tonga

   I enjoy learning about Tongan culture

   Usage

   Expressing enjoyment in learning about Tongan culture

   Grammar Note

   The "faka-" prefix means "in the manner of" — "faka-Tonga" = in the Tongan way / Tongan culture. Widely used for cultural expressions.

7. Ko e hā ʻa e fakaʻuhinga ʻo e lea ko ʻeni?

   What is the meaning of this word?

   Usage

   Asking for the meaning of a word

   Grammar Note

   "Fakaʻuhinga" = meaning (from "ʻuhinga" = reason/meaning + "faka-" prefix). "Ko ʻeni" = this.

8. ʻOku totonu ʻeku lea?

   Is my pronunciation correct?

   Usage

   Checking if your pronunciation is correct

   Grammar Note

   "Totonu" = correct, functioning as a predicate adjective. "ʻEku" = my (first-person singular possessive).

9. ʻOku ou loto ke maʻu ha tokotaha akoʻi lea

   I am looking for a language exchange partner

   Usage

   Looking for a language exchange partner to practise Tongan

   Grammar Note

   "Tokotaha" = person, "akoʻi" = teach, "lea" = language. Combined: a person who teaches language.

10. Fakamolemole, toe pehē mai

    Please say that again

    Usage

    Asking someone to repeat what they said

    Grammar Note

    "Fakamolemole" is the polite request particle. "Toe" = again. "Mai" is a directional particle indicating movement toward the speaker.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages