Pharmacy & Health

1. ʻOku ʻi ai ha faitoʻo ki he langaʻulu?

   ʻO-ku ʻi ai ha fai-to-ʻo ki he la-nga-ʻu-lu?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Tonga

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku ʻi ai" is the Tongan existential. "Langaʻulu" = headache ("langa" = to ache + "ʻulu" = head); migraine is "langaʻulu mafatukituki". NOTE: "puke ʻatamai" reads as MENTAL illness — "ʻatamai" is mind/intellect, not head. Head is "ʻulu".

2. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha faitoʻo ki he puke manava

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e-ma-ʻu ha fai-to-ʻo ki he pu-ke ma-na-va

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Fie ma'u" means "to want/need". "Manava" refers to the stomach or abdomen

3. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha faitoʻo ki he manava tafe

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e-ma-ʻu ha fai-to-ʻo ki he ma-na-va ta-fe

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Manava tafe" = "flowing stomach" — the Tongan expression for diarrhea. "Tafe" means "to flow"

4. ʻOku mofi au

   ʻO-ku mo-fi au

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Mofi" is the native word for being feverish. NOTE: "fiva" is the Samoan / Fijian borrowing, not a Tongan word.

5. ʻOku ʻi ai ʻeku uesia kovi

   ʻO-ku ʻi ai ʻe-ku u-e-si-a ko-vi

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   Allergy is uesia kovi: it is used in the frame "ʻoku uesia kovi ia ʻe ha meʻatokoni, ngaahi ʻinisēkite pe ko ha faitoʻo". Treating "ʻeku uesia kovi" as a noun is the same as "Ko ʻeku uesia kovi ʻe lava ke tāmateʻi au".

6. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha plaster

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e-ma-ʻu ha plaster

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   In Tonga the Commonwealth English word "plaster" is understood. NOTE: "tali" means "to receive / await / answer", not "bandage". The verb for binding a wound is "nonoʻo" ("ʻo ne nonoʻo hono lavea" = "he bound up his wounds").

7. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha insect repellent

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e-ma-ʻu ha insect repellent

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   The English phrase "insect repellent" is used as-is. NOTE: "ʻuhila" means lightning / electricity and has nothing to do with insect repellent.

8. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha kilimi maluʻi fohia

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e-ma-ʻu ha ki-li-mi ma-lu-ʻi fo-hi-a

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Sunscreen = kilimi maluʻi fohia (kilimi = cream, maluʻi = protect, fohia = sunburn; sunburn is also fohia). The object is a noun, so the verb is fiemaʻu, not fie.

9. Ko e hā ʻa e founga ke inu ʻaki ʻa e faitoʻo ni?

   Ko e hā ʻa e fou-nga ke i-nu ʻa-ki ʻa e fai-to-ʻo ni?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ko e hā 'a e founga" = "what is the method/way". "Inu" means to drink or take

10. ʻOku fiemaʻu ha prescription?

    ʻO-ku fi-e-ma-ʻu ha prescription?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    The English word "prescription" is understood. NOTE: "fakafoha" does not mean "prescription"; it means "to ripen; to make large". "Tohi" = paper / writing / book.

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