Public Transport

1. ʻOku ʻi fē ʻa e tuʻuʻanga pasi?

   Where is the bus stop?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a bus stop

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku ʻi fē" is the standard "where is" question and "ʻa e" is a noun-phrase marker. "Tuʻuʻanga pasi" = bus stop; "pasi" = bus (e.g. "hono ngāueʻaki ʻa e tekisi, pasi mo ha toe heka fevahevaheʻaki" = "using taxis, buses and other shared transport").

2. ʻE ʻalu ʻa e pasi ki Nukuʻalofa?

   Does this bus go to Nukuʻalofa?

   Usage

   Confirming the destination of a bus

   Grammar Note

   "ʻE" marks future or habitual tense. Nukuʻalofa is Tonga's capital. VSO word order puts the verb first.

3. Ko e hā ʻa e totongi?

   What is the fare?

   Usage

   Asking how much the transport fare is

   Grammar Note

   "Hā" is the question word "what"; "Ko e hā ʻa e …?" = "What is …?" is the standard frame (e.g. "Ko e hā ʻa e totongi?"). To ask an amount by number, use "ʻE fiha …?" (e.g. "ʻE fiha ʻa e totongi ʻo e poó?"). NOTE: "ʻE hā" mixes the two frames and is not used as a standalone question word.

4. Kātaki, tuku au ʻi heni

   Please let me off here

   Usage

   Requesting to be dropped off at the current location

   Grammar Note

   Leading with "Kātaki" creates a polite imperative. "ʻi heni" is a locative adverb meaning "here."

5. ʻOku hū ʻa e vaka ki heni?

   Does the ferry come here?

   Usage

   Checking ferry routes between islands

   Grammar Note

   Tonga is an island nation of more than 170 islands, and ferries are a main means of transport. "Vaka" = ship / boat (e.g. "Ko ʻenē hoko mai ʻi ʻaho fē e vaka?" = When does the boat arrive?). NOTE: "faka-" is a prefix that turns nouns and adjectives into verbs; it does not make vehicle names ("fola" means "to spread").

6. ʻE fiha miniti ki ai?

   How many minutes to the destination?

   Usage

   Asking how long until arrival

   Grammar Note

   "Fiha" is the question word for number (how many). "ʻE fiha + unit" asks about time or quantity (e.g. "ʻE fiha ʻa e totongi ʻo e poó?"). "Ki ai" = to there. NOTE: "ki he moʻunga" means "to the mountain" and has no general "destination" sense.

7. ʻOku ʻi fē ʻa e feituʻu taakisi?

   Where is the taxi stand?

   Usage

   Looking for a taxi stand or rank

   Grammar Note

   "feituʻu" means place or location. Public transport in Tonga is limited; taxis and private minibuses are the main options.

8. ʻOku tō ʻa e vakapuna ʻaho fē?

   On what day does the plane arrive?

   Usage

   Asking what day a flight arrives

   Grammar Note

   "vakapuna" = "vaka" (vessel) + "puna" (to fly) = "flying vessel." A classic Tongan compound word.

9. Fakamolemole, ʻoku ʻikai te u ʻilo

   Sorry, I don't know

   Usage

   Politely indicating that you do not know an answer

   Grammar Note

   "ʻikai" is the standard negator and "ʻilo" means "to know". NOTE: in a negative sentence the subject pronoun comes after "ʻikai", giving "ʻoku ʻikai te u + verb" (e.g. "ʻOku ʻikai te u ʻilo", "ʻOku ʻikai te u mahino", "ʻOku ʻikai te u lava ʻo lea fakatonga."). The order "ʻoku ou ʻikai" is wrong.

10. ʻOku ou fie fakatau tikite

    I want to buy a ticket

    Usage

    Expressing the desire to purchase a transport ticket

    Grammar Note

    "Fakatau" = to buy/sell (e.g. "Kapau te ke fakatau ha tamaioʻeiki", "ʻOku ou fie fakatau e meʻa ni"). The loanword "tikite" is spelled phonetically ("Ko e tikite"). NOTE: "faʻu" means "to make / weave / compose", not "to buy".

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