Shopping

1. ʻOku fiha e totongi?

   ʻO-ku fi-ha e to-to-ngi?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Essential shopping phrase for markets and stores

   Grammar Note

   "fiha" is the question word for quantity/amount. Tongan currency is the Paʻanga (T$).

2. ʻOku ou fie fakatau e meʻa ni

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e fa-ka-tau e me-ʻa ni

   I would like to buy this

   Usage

   Used when pointing to an item you wish to purchase

   Grammar Note

   "fakatau" = "faka-" (causative prefix) + "tau" (value/trade) = "to buy." "meʻa" is a general noun meaning "thing/matter."

3. ʻE lava ke toe siʻi ange ʻa e totongi?

   ʻE la-va ke to-e si-ʻi a-nge ʻa e to-to-ngi?

   Can you give a discount?

   Usage

   Used when bargaining at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Lava" expresses possibility; "ʻE lava ke…?" forms a polite question. Bargaining is "toe siʻi ange ʻa e totongi" (make the price a little less) — the same wording as "ʻOku toe siʻi ange ha totongi?" ("can the price be a little lower?"). NOTE: "sīpinga" means "sample / model / pattern", not a discount.

4. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu e ngatu

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e-ma-ʻu e nga-tu

   I would like to buy ngatu (tapa barkcloth)

   Usage

   Ngatu (tapa barkcloth) is a traditional Tongan craft and popular souvenir

   Grammar Note

   Ngatu is traditional barkcloth made from the paper mulberry tree. It is a central "koloa" (treasure/wealth) item in Tongan ceremonies.

5. ʻOku ʻi ai ha falekoloa ʻo ofi?

   ʻO-ku ʻi ai ha fa-le-ko-lo-a ʻo o-fi?

   Is there a shop nearby?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a nearby shop

   Grammar Note

   "Falekoloa" = "fale" (building) + "koloa" (goods) = shop (e.g. "Ko fē ʻa e falekoloa taʻetotongi?", "ʻOku ʻi ai ha falekoloa ʻo ofi?"). NOTE: "faleʻi" means "to advise"; it is not a "fale + ʻi" compound.

6. ʻOku ke maʻu ʻa e meʻa ni ʻi ha lanu kehe?

   ʻO-ku ke ma-ʻu ʻa e me-ʻa ni ʻi ha la-nu ke-he?

   Do you have this in another color?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a different color of clothing or goods

   Grammar Note

   "Lanu" = colour, "kehe" = other/different.

7. ʻOku ou fie ʻahiʻahiʻi e meʻa ni

   ʻO-ku ou fi-e ʻa-hi-ʻa-hi-ʻi e me-ʻa ni

   I would like to try this on

   Usage

   Used when trying on clothes or shoes

   Grammar Note

   "ʻAhiʻahiʻi" = to try / to test (e.g. "mo ne ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻakinautolu"). "Fie + verb" = "want to". NOTE: "heka" means "to ride / mount", not "to wear / try" ("ʻa e taimi ʻe kamata ai ʻa e heka" refers to boarding).

8. ʻOku ʻikai te u fiemaʻu

   ʻO-ku ʻi-kai te u fi-e-ma-ʻu

   I don't want it / No thank you

   Usage

   Used to politely decline a product being offered

   Grammar Note

   "ʻikai" is placed before the verb phrase to negate. Tongan negation is "ʻOku ʻikai + subject pronoun + verb phrase", and the first-person singular subject pronoun in that slot is "te u". NOTE: putting the subject first, as in "ʻOku ou ʻikai", is wrong.

9. ʻOku ou totongi ʻaki e kaati

   ʻO-ku ou to-to-ngi ʻa-ki e ka-a-ti

   I will pay by card

   Usage

   Used when paying by credit card

   Grammar Note

   "kaati" is borrowed from English "card." "ʻaki" is an instrumental preposition meaning "with / by means of."

10. Tuku ki heni e talitotongi

    Tu-ku ki he-ni e ta-li-to-to-ngi

    Please give me the receipt

    Usage

    Used to request a receipt after a purchase

    Grammar Note

    "Tuku ki heni" literally means "put here", used in context to mean "hand it to me". "Talitotongi" = receipt.

11. ʻOku ʻikai te u fiemaʻu ha talitotongi

    ʻO-ku ʻi-kai te u fi-e-ma-ʻu ha ta-li-to-to-ngi

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Used to decline a receipt when it is offered

    Grammar Note

    "ʻOku ʻikai te u …" is the first-person singular negative; the object takes the indefinite article "ha". "Talitotongi" = receipt.

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