Money & Exchange

1. Ko e hā ʻa e totongi?

   Ko e hā ʻa e to-to-ngi?

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   When asking the price of goods or services

   Grammar Note

   "Ko e hā" (what is) is the basic Tongan question form. "Totongi" means both "price" and "payment."

2. Ko fē ʻa e fale pangikē?

   Ko fē ʻa e fa-le pa-ngi-kē?

   Where is the bank?

   Usage

   When asking for the location of a bank

   Grammar Note

   "Fale pangikē" = "fale" (house/building) + "pangikē" (bank from English), forming "building of the bank."

3. Ko fē ʻa e misini ATM?

   Ko fē ʻa e mi-si-ni ATM?

   Where is the ATM?

   Usage

   When looking for an ATM to withdraw cash

   Grammar Note

   "Misini" is borrowed from English "machine." "Misini ATM" literally means "ATM machine."

4. ʻOku ou fie liliu ha paʻanga.

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e li-li-u ha pa-ʻa-nga.

   I want to exchange money.

   Usage

   When wanting to exchange foreign currency

   Grammar Note

   "Pa'anga" is Tonga's official currency, containing the glottal stop "'" as a phonemic element. "Liliu" also means "to translate."

5. ʻOku ke tali ʻa e kaati?

   ʻO-ku ke ta-li ʻa e ka-a-ti?

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   When checking if credit card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "'Oku ke" (you + present marker) is the second-person singular present construction. "Tali" means both "to receive" and "to answer."

6. Kātaki ʻo ʻomai ha talitotongi.

   Kā-ta-ki ʻo ʻo-mai ha ta-li-to-to-ngi.

   Please give me a receipt.

   Usage

   When requesting a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Kātaki ʻo + verb" is the request frame for "please …" (same form as "Kātaki ʻo lea māmālie"). "ʻOmai" combines "bring" with the directional "mai" (towards speaker). "Talitotongi" is the word for receipt.

7. ʻOku toe siʻi ange ha totongi?

   ʻO-ku to-e si-ʻi a-nge ha to-to-ngi?

   Can the price be a little lower?

   Usage

   When trying to negotiate a lower price

   Grammar Note

   "Toe si'i ange" (a little more/smaller) combines "toe" (more) + "si'i" (small) + "ange" (directional for comparison). "Ange" marks comparative direction.

8. Ko e hā ʻa e totongi kotoa?

   Ko e hā ʻa e to-to-ngi ko-to-a?

   What is the total cost?

   Usage

   When asking for the total amount of all expenses

   Grammar Note

   "Kotoa" means "all/everything" in Tongan. "Totongi kotoa" (all the costs) expresses the total amount.

9. ʻOku ou totongi ʻaki ha paʻanga.

   ʻO-ku ou to-to-ngi ʻa-ki ha pa-ʻa-nga.

   I will pay with cash.

   Usage

   When indicating payment by cash

   Grammar Note

   "'Aki" is the Tongan instrumental preposition meaning "using/with." "Ha" before "pa'anga" functions like an indefinite article.

10. ʻOku ke ʻomai ha mahuʻinga totoe?

    ʻO-ku ke ʻo-mai ha ma-hu-ʻi-nga to-to-e?

    Can you give me the change?

    Usage

    When receiving change after a purchase

    Grammar Note

    "Mahu'inga" (value/importance) + "totoe" (remainder) = "remaining value" = change. "Mahu'inga" derives from "mahū" (precious/important).

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