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=Ten Minute Guide to Tongan=
== Order of words ==
Tongan is called a VSO (verb subject object) language in linguistics, meaning that the verb usually comes before the subject and the object. This is very interesting but somewhat very confusing especially during translational purposes. English is SVO (subject verb object), it is always a struggle trying to understand the differences between SVO and VSO languages. Let us have a look at an example.
*In Tongan you put an adjective <u>after</u>, not before a noun, i.e. ''big house'' becomes literally ''house big'' in Tongan:
*''Big House'' (this becomes <font color="blue">"House Big"</font> in Tongan, i.e the noun comes before the adjective)
{{mu|fale lahi|big house|house big}}
 
{{gl|fale|house}}
Consider the following simple sentence.
{{gl|lahi|big}}
 
*In Tongan first you put a verb, then a subject, then an object. This might be confusing for speakers of English since in English usually you put a subject, then a verb, then an object:
{{mu|Ko e fale lahi eni|This is a big house.}}
{{mu|Ko e fale lahi eni|This is a big house.|this house big is}}
{{gl|Ko e|this}}
{{gl|ko e|this}}
{{gl|eni|is}}
{{gl|eni|is}}
{{gl|fale|house}}
{{gl|fale|house}}
{{gl|lahi|big}}
{{gl|lahi|big}}
*Wrong: '''*Ko e lahi fale eni'''
Wrong: '''*Ko e lahi fale eni'''
 
= Tongan alphabet (Koe 'A Faka-Tonga) =
 
<center>
{|class=wikitable
|-
| A
| E
| F
| H
| I
| K
| L
| M
| N
| NG
| O
| P
| S
| T
| U
| V
| '
|}
=Normal Vowels (Vauele)=
 
{| class=wikitable
|-
| a
| e
| i
| o
| u
|}


(same as English).
== Tongan alphabet (Koe 'A Faka-Tonga) ==
:'''A E F H I K L M N NG O P S T U V <nowiki>'</nowiki>'''


=== Long Vowels (Vauele Loloa) ===
== Normal Vowels (Vauele) ==
:'''a e i o u'''


{| class=wikitable
== Long Vowels (Vauele Loloa) ==
|-
:'''ā ē ī ō ū'''
| a
| e
| i
| o
| u
|}


(each vowel has a bar above it - '''faka'ilonga toloi''', however I am still looking for a macro to draw the bar for me. If someone out there knows where to get this word macro for Tongan characters then please let me know).
Thus each long vowel can has a macron, bar above it ('''faka'ilonga toloi''').


The effect of having a bar on top makes each sounds as if each vowel is doubled. E.g. '''mama''' as in Normal Vowel (a) means chew whereas '''maama''' as in Long Vowel(aa) means light. Obviously the effect of having either a normal vowel or long vowel definitely affects the meaning.
The effect of having a bar on top makes each sound as if it is doubled. E.g. '''mama''' means ''chew'' whereas '''māma''' with a long vowel ('''ā''') means ''light''. Obviously the effect of having either a normal vowel or long vowel definitely affects the meaning.


== Note ==
== Note ==
The following characters are not in the Tongan alphabet:


The following characters are not in the Tongan alphabet:<center>
:'''b c d g j q r w x y z'''
{| class=wikitable
|-
| b
| c
| d
| g
| j
| q
| r
| w
| x
| y
| z
|}


Also '''ng''' are counted as one, they must always go together. The '''n''' can be by itself but '''g''' can't.
Also '''ng''' are counted as one, they must always go together. The '''n''' can be by itself but '''g''' can't.


This explains why the name '''Tonga''' is spelled as such. You can't have '''Toga''' (illegal syntax - can't have g by itself). However, you can have '''Tona''' - meaning "wart" , well different meanings ,aren't they?
This explains why the name '''Tonga''' is spelled as such. You can't have '''Toga''' (illegal syntax - can't have g by itself). However, you can have '''Tona''' - meaning "wart" , well different meanings, aren't they?
 
=Numbers: Decimal System=


== Numbers: Decimal System ==
{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
Line 122: Line 70:
| Hiva
| Hiva
|}
|}
="Weights" or Place Values=
 
== "Weights" or Place Values ==
{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
| <font color="blue">Tongan</font>
!Tongan
| <font color="blue">English</font>
!English
| EXAMPLES
!Examples
|-
|-
| Matelau
| Matelau
| Units
| Units
| e.g. taha, ua, tolu, ....
| e.g. '''taha''', '''ua''', '''tolu''', ....
|-
|-
| Ngofulu
| Ngofulu
| Tens
| Tens
| e.g. taha ua, ua nima, tolu ono, ....
| e.g. '''taha ua''', '''ua nima''', '''tolu ono''', ....
|-
|-
| Ngeau
| Ngeau
| Hundreds
| Hundreds
| e.g. teau, teau ma ua, teau ma tolu, ....
| e.g. '''teau''', '''teau ma ua''', '''teau ma tolu''', ....
|-
|-
| Afe
| Afe
| Thousands
| Thousands
| e.g. tahaafe, tahaafe ma ua, tahaafe ma tolu, ....
| e.g. '''tahāfe''', '''tahāfe ma ua''', '''tahāfe ma tolu''', ....
|-
|-
| Mano
| Mano
| Tens of Thousands
| Tens of Thousands
| e.g. taha mano, tahamono uaafe, tahamano toluafe, ....
| e.g. '''taha mano''', '''tahamono uāfe''', '''tahamano toluafe''', ....
|-
|-
| Kilu
| Kilu
| Hundreds of thousands
| Hundreds of thousands
| e.g. tahakilu, tahakilu uamano, tahakilu uamano toluafe, ....
| e.g. '''tahakilu''', '''tahakilu uamano''', '''tahakilu uamano toluafe''', ....
|-
|-
| Miliona
| Miliona
| Millions
| Millions
| e.g. tahamiliona, tahamiliona uakilu, tolumiliona, ....
| e.g. '''tahamiliona''', '''tahamiliona uakilu''', '''tolumiliona''', ....
|}
|}




{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
| SAMPLE NUMBERS
| Sample numbers
| EXPRESSIONS
| Expressions
|-
|-
| 10
| 10
| Hongofulu, You may also say ''Taha noa'' as in "One zero"
| '''hongofulu''', you may also say '''taha noa''' as in "one zero"
|-
|-
| 11
| 11
| Hongofulu ma taha or simply ''Taha taha'' (one one)
| '''hongofulu ma taha''' or simply '''taha taha''' (one one)
|-
|-
| 20
| 20
| Uofulu or simply ''Ua noa'',the rest follows a similar pattern
| '''oofulu''' or simply '''ua noa''',the rest follows a similar pattern
|-
|-
| 28
| 28
| Ua valu
| '''ua valu'''
|-
|-
| 100
| 100
| Teau or taha noa noa
| '''teau''' or '''taha noa noa'''
|-
|-
| 500
| 500
| Nima ngeau
| '''nima ngeau'''
|-
|-
| 1,000
| 1,000
| Taha afe
| '''taha afe'''
|-
|-
| 6,000
| 6,000
| Ono afe
| '''ono afe'''
|-
|-
| 30,000
| 30,000
| Tolu mano
| '''tolu mano'''
|-
|-
| 90,000
| 90,000
| Hiva mano
| '''hiva mano'''
|-
|-
| 400,0000
| 400,0000
| Fa kilu
| '''fa kilu'''
|-
|-
| 800,0000
| 800,0000
| Valu kilu
| '''valu kilu'''
|-
|-
| 7,000,000
| 7,000,000
| Fitu miliona
| '''fitu miliona'''
|}
|}


=Freguently used words and phrases=
== Frequently used words and phrases ==
 
{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
| <font color="blue">Tongan</font>
!Tongan
| <font color="blue">English</font>
!English
|-
|-
| Malo e lelei
| '''Malo e lelei'''
| Hello
| Hello
|-
|-
| Fefe hake
| '''Fefe hake'''
| How are you?
| How are you?
|-
|-
| Sai pe
| '''Sai pe'''
| Fine, Alright,well
| Fine, Alright,well
|-
|-
| Malo
| '''Malo'''
| Thank you
| Thank you
|-
|-
| Malo 'aupito
| '''Malo 'aupito'''
| Thank you very much
| Thank you very much
|-
|-
| 'Ikai
| '''<nowiki>'Ikai</nowiki>'''
| No
| No
|-
|-
| 'Io
| '''<nowiki>'Io</nowiki>'''
| Yes
| Yes
|-
|-
| 'Api
| '''<nowiki>'Api</nowiki>'''
| Home
| Home
|-
|-
| Feitu'u
| '''Feitu'u'''
| Place
| Place
|-
|-
| 'Omai
| '''<nowiki>'Omai</nowiki>'''
| Get , bring
| Get, bring
|-
|-
| 'Ave,'oatu, foaki
| '''<nowiki>'Ave, 'oatu, foaki</nowiki>'''
| Give
| Give
|-
|-
| 'Oku ou;au
| '''<nowiki>'Oku ou;au</nowiki>'''
| Am
| Am
|-
|-
| Taimi
| '''Taimi'''
| Time
| Time
|-
|-
| Kai
| '''Kai'''
| Eat
| Eat
|-
|-
| Inu
| '''Inu'''
| Drink
| Drink
|-
|-
| 'Alu
| '''<nowiki>'Alu</nowiki>'''
| Go
| Go
|-
|-
| Ha'u
| '''Ha'u'''
| Come
| Come
|-
|-
| Ako
| '''Ako'''
| Study,Learn
| Study, learn
|-
|-
| 'Uhinga
| '''<nowiki>'Uhinga</nowiki>'''
| Because
| Because
|-
|-
| Sio
| '''Sio'''
| Watch,look
| Watch, look
|-
|-
| Va'inga
| '''Va'inga'''
| Play
| Play
|-
|-
| 'O e
| '''<nowiki>'O e</nowiki>'''
| Of
| Of
|-
|-
| Ngaahi
| '''Ngāhi'''
| Plural word(s) to go with any noun<br />e.g house = fale <> houses,cars etc = ngaahi fale, ngaahi ka
| Plural word(s) to go with any noun<br />e.g house = fale <> houses, cars etc = ngāhi fale, ngāhi ka
|-
|-
| Ko hai ho hingoa ?
| '''Ko hai ho hingoa ?'''
| Who are you? What is your name?
| Who are you? What is your name?
|}
|}


==Questions(Fehu'i)==
==Questions (Fehu'i)==


{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
| '''<font color="blue">Tongan</font>'''
!Tongan
| '''<font color="blue">English</font>'''
!English
|-
|-
| Koe ha ?
| '''Koe ha ?'''
| What ?
| What ?
|-
|-
| Fakaku ?
| '''Fakaku ?'''
| When ?
| When ?
|-
|-
| I fe ? ; Ko fe ?
| '''I fe ? Ko fe ?'''
| Where ?
| Where ?
|-
|-
| 'Uhinga ?
| '''<nowiki>'Uhinga ?</nowiki>'''
| Why ?
| Why ?
|}
|}


=Tongan Currency (Tongan Pa'anga (TOP))=
== Tongan Currency (Tongan Pa'anga (TOP)) ==
 
{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
| '''<font color="blue">Tongan</font>'''
!Tongan
| '''<font color="blue">English</font>'''
!English
|-
|-
| Seniti
| '''Seniti'''
| Cents
| Cents
|-
|-
| e.g Seniti e nima noa
| '''Seniti e nima noa'''
| Fifty cents
| Fifty cents
|-
|-
|-
|-
| Pa'anga
| '''Pa'anga'''
| Dollars
| Dollars
|-
|-
| e.g Pa'anga e taha nima
| '''Pa'anga e taha nima'''
| Fifteen dollars
| Fifteen dollars
|}
|}
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{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
| '''<font color="blue">Tongan</font>'''
!Tongan
| '''<font color="blue">English</font>'''
!English
|-
|-
| Kataki ha'u o' kai
| '''Kataki ha'u o' kai'''
| Please come and eat
| Please come and eat
|-
|-
| Malo 'oku ikai keu fiekaia
| '''Malo 'oku ikai keu fiekaia'''
| Thank you, I am not hungry
| Thank you, I am not hungry
|-
|-
| Ko fe pangike ?
| '''Ko fe pangike ?'''
| Where is the bank ?
| Where is the bank ?
|-
|-
| Koe ha e taimi ?
| '''Koe ha e taimi ?'''
| What is the time ?
| What is the time ?
|-
|-
| 'Alu 'o sio Televisone
| '''<nowiki>'Alu 'o sio Televisone</nowiki>'''
| Go and watch Television
| Go and watch Television
|-
|-
| Ha'u 'o Va'inga
| '''Ha'u 'o Va'inga'''
| Come and Play
| Come and Play
|-
|-
| 'Omai e pa'anga 'e tolu nima
| '''<nowiki>'Omai e pa'anga 'e tolu nima</nowiki>'''
| Bring thirty five dollars
| Bring thirty five dollars
|-
|-
| Ko e ha e totongi 'o e sitapa? (ngaahi sitapa?)
| '''Ko e ha e totongi 'o e sitapa? (ngāhi sitapa?)'''
| What is the cost of one stamp? (stamps ?)<br />Can also specify the number of stamps
| What is the cost of one stamp? (stamps ?)<br />Can also specify the number of stamps
|}
|}


=Links=
== Links ==
*http://web.archive.org/web/20070807165618/http://loseli.tripod.com/tasks.html
*http://web.archive.org/web/20070807165618/http://loseli.tripod.com/tasks.html

Latest revision as of 16:26, 27 March 2015

Order of words

  • In Tongan you put an adjective after, not before a noun, i.e. big house becomes literally house big in Tongan:
fale lahi
big house
house big [literally]
fale = house
lahi = big
  • In Tongan first you put a verb, then a subject, then an object. This might be confusing for speakers of English since in English usually you put a subject, then a verb, then an object:
Ko e fale lahi eni
This is a big house.
this house big is [literally]
ko e = this
eni = is
fale = house
lahi = big

Wrong: *Ko e lahi fale eni

Tongan alphabet (Koe 'A Faka-Tonga)

A E F H I K L M N NG O P S T U V '

Normal Vowels (Vauele)

a e i o u

Long Vowels (Vauele Loloa)

ā ē ī ō ū

Thus each long vowel can has a macron, bar above it (faka'ilonga toloi).

The effect of having a bar on top makes each sound as if it is doubled. E.g. mama means chew whereas māma with a long vowel (ā) means light. Obviously the effect of having either a normal vowel or long vowel definitely affects the meaning.

Note

The following characters are not in the Tongan alphabet:

b c d g j q r w x y z

Also ng are counted as one, they must always go together. The n can be by itself but g can't.

This explains why the name Tonga is spelled as such. You can't have Toga (illegal syntax - can't have g by itself). However, you can have Tona - meaning "wart" , well different meanings, aren't they?

Numbers: Decimal System

Digits Numerical Names
0 Noa
1 Taha
2 Ua
3 Tolu
4 Fa
5 Nima
6 Ono
7 Fitu
8 Valu
9 Hiva

"Weights" or Place Values

Tongan English Examples
Matelau Units e.g. taha, ua, tolu, ....
Ngofulu Tens e.g. taha ua, ua nima, tolu ono, ....
Ngeau Hundreds e.g. teau, teau ma ua, teau ma tolu, ....
Afe Thousands e.g. tahāfe, tahāfe ma ua, tahāfe ma tolu, ....
Mano Tens of Thousands e.g. taha mano, tahamono uāfe, tahamano toluafe, ....
Kilu Hundreds of thousands e.g. tahakilu, tahakilu uamano, tahakilu uamano toluafe, ....
Miliona Millions e.g. tahamiliona, tahamiliona uakilu, tolumiliona, ....


Sample numbers Expressions
10 hongofulu, you may also say taha noa as in "one zero"
11 hongofulu ma taha or simply taha taha (one one)
20 oofulu or simply ua noa,the rest follows a similar pattern
28 ua valu
100 teau or taha noa noa
500 nima ngeau
1,000 taha afe
6,000 ono afe
30,000 tolu mano
90,000 hiva mano
400,0000 fa kilu
800,0000 valu kilu
7,000,000 fitu miliona

Frequently used words and phrases

Tongan English
Malo e lelei Hello
Fefe hake How are you?
Sai pe Fine, Alright,well
Malo Thank you
Malo 'aupito Thank you very much
'Ikai No
'Io Yes
'Api Home
Feitu'u Place
'Omai Get, bring
'Ave, 'oatu, foaki Give
'Oku ou;au Am
Taimi Time
Kai Eat
Inu Drink
'Alu Go
Ha'u Come
Ako Study, learn
'Uhinga Because
Sio Watch, look
Va'inga Play
'O e Of
Ngāhi Plural word(s) to go with any noun
e.g house = fale <> houses, cars etc = ngāhi fale, ngāhi ka
Ko hai ho hingoa ? Who are you? What is your name?

Questions (Fehu'i)

Tongan English
Koe ha ? What ?
Fakaku ? When ?
I fe ? Ko fe ? Where ?
'Uhinga ? Why ?

Tongan Currency (Tongan Pa'anga (TOP))

Tongan English
Seniti Cents
Seniti e nima noa Fifty cents
Pa'anga Dollars
Pa'anga e taha nima Fifteen dollars

Putting together what you have learnt so far

Tongan English
Kataki ha'u o' kai Please come and eat
Malo 'oku ikai keu fiekaia Thank you, I am not hungry
Ko fe pangike ? Where is the bank ?
Koe ha e taimi ? What is the time ?
'Alu 'o sio Televisone Go and watch Television
Ha'u 'o Va'inga Come and Play
'Omai e pa'anga 'e tolu nima Bring thirty five dollars
Ko e ha e totongi 'o e sitapa? (ngāhi sitapa?) What is the cost of one stamp? (stamps ?)
Can also specify the number of stamps

Links

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