Author Archives: Ms Whaea

Mother, Teacher, Storyteller. Bilingual journey. Nurturing one's own Tongan roots, One word at a time.

5 ways to say the Tongan letter F

Tongan letter F

5 ways to say the Tongan letter F: FA-FE-FI-FO-FU

  • Tongan is a phonetic language – say it the way you read it.
  • Take your ʻEnglish languageʼ hat off when you are learning Tongan. There are no silent letters, therefore do not get caught up by second guessing yourself about how to pronounce each letter.
  • Remember the rule: Vowels always follow a Consonant.
  • Look for the VOWEL following the consonant which will tell you how to pronounce the syllable.
  • A vowel and itʼs corresponding consonant syllable can only be said one way eg. A = (ah) and consonant F = (fah)

Using the picture prompts above for the F syllable letters practice saying some of the following words;

  1. fafa = to carry someone on your back
  2. fefafa = to carry someone on your back
  3. fēfē? = how are you?
  4. fī = to plait

Mālō ho mou meʻa mai kihe peesi masiva ko ʻeni. Koloa pe ʻe lava eni ʻo tokoni kiate koe mo hoʻo feinga ke fakalakalaka ange ʻa e lea faka-Tonga ho mou fānau.

Fuaʻamotu and the white horse

This is the story of how Fuaʻamotu got the nickname, the white horse. Ko e tala eni ʻo e hoosi teaʼ ʻa ia ko e hingoa fakateneteneʼ ʻa Fuaʻamotu.

hoositea

Fuaʻamotu, a town in Tongatapu has the unusual nickname of hoosi tea’ which means the white horse. According to oral stories, this name came about during the time of Tungi vaivai, either the father or grandfather of Queen Saloteʼs husband, Tungī Mailefihi. He had a brother who lived in Fuaʻamotu and who would often ride his white horse to visit Tungī vaivai in Mu’a. On one of these occasions, Tungī vaivai heard the trotting steps of a horse and he asked his minders who was that trotting towards them.

Ko hai ‘ena ‘oku patupatū mai? his people replied “Ko e hoosi teaʼ”
Who is that trotting towards us? his people replied, it is the white horse. That is how Fuaʻamotu came to be known as ʻThe white horseʼ town.

Ko e tala ʻo e hoosi teaʼ

Ko e hingoa fakateneteneʼ ʻa Fuaʻamotu ne faʻu ia he taimiʼ ‘o Tungī vaivai ʻa ia ko e tamaiʼ pe ko e kuiʼ ʻa Tungī Mailefihi. Naʻe nofo ha tangataʻeiki ʻi Fuaʻamotu pea naʻaʼne faʻa ʻaʻahi ange ki Muʻa ʻo vakaiʻi ʻene taʻokete ko Tungī vaivaiʼ. ʻI he ʻaho e taha ne fanongo ʻa Tungī vaivai ki he patupatū ʻo pehe ʻange ki heʻene kau tauhi “Ko hai ʻena ʻoku patupatū mai?” Ne tali e kau Muʻa “Ko e hoosi teaʼ”. Aʻu ki he ʻahoʼni kuo ʻiloa hingoa fakatenetene ʻa Fuaʻamotu ko e hoosi teaʼ.

(Anyone who wants to correct my Tongan composition please feel free to do so.)

Tongan Letter M colouring in activity

Here is another letter activity for your kids to enjoy.

  • Letter M is for manupuna (bird)
  • Manupuna literally means flying animal: manu (animal) puna (flying)
  • pronounced as MA (mah)
  • Tip: keep it simple and colour in for the little toddlers
  • Tip: for the older kids add feathers & coloured paper for them to paste

letterManimalactivity

Check out our Activities page tab up the top for more activities.

Tongan hiko

ʻOkuʼ ke poto he hikoʼ ?  Are you skilled at juggling?

  1. ʻIo ʻoku ou poto lelei he hikoʼ – Yes I am quite skilled at juggling
  2. ‘Ikai ke poto au he hiko.  – No I am not good at juggling.
  3. ‘Oku ou vale he hiko – I am not skilled at juggling

It is an ancient art form of juggling and made into a dance performed by girls only. Any girl who grew up in Tonga would have played endless games with the tuitui nuts that they use to juggle with. The words are old and have lost its meaning but it certainly would have reflected the joyness of playing with ones friends and family.

Fuofua peau moʻua peau to he ʻanaua
Faifai peau fepaki, peau toki fehivai
He pai ko ʻulu ko Hateniti hatenata ua nga pe ʻala ma koli
Foʻi koli savaiki ʻa tofolo he pupunu ki lelenga

Ko hoku loto lyrics

Mou hiva mai! Sing-a-long time!

Ko hoku loto
 
Ko hoku loto ke maʻu e Sīsū 
ko ʻeku holi pe kiateia
te u feinga ka ʻikai lava
ko e ʻuhi ko e angahala
ka te u feinga pē ke u maʻu koe

My wish is to find Jesus
I only want him
I will try but will not happen
because of my sins
but I will keep trying to find you

chorus
ka ne ke ʻilo sīsū te u ʻomi mai he ʻahoʼni
pea te u fifili ko hai nai te u ʻofa ai
Kuo pau ke ne maʻu heku meʻa kotoa
ʻo ʻikai ha ʻilo pe moʻoku loto ke ne maʻu mo ia
ko ʻene fiemaʻu ke tokoni
ka naʻa ku mole mei he angahala
ke ne taki ʻa koe mo au
fakafoki ki ʻapi
he ko ʻene fiemaʻu
ke ma nofo mo ia

Describe your ex using a Tongan song title

Describe your ex using a Tongan song title
Describe your ex using a Tongan song title

Taimi fakamuna. Time for a bit of superficial fun and games. This would be an interesting list to compile. There are contemporary songs that are quite funny like Lome Lome and Satana and then there are old ʻHiva hanuʼ (sad songs of lost love) as well as Hiva Kakala which have lots of metaphors.

List of Tongan Song Titles

  • Satana – Satan
  • Lome Lome – Salome Salome
  • Tangi e lotoʻni  – This heart cries
  • Liʻekina (mai siʻi ʻeku ʻofa)  – My dear love has abandoned me
  • ʻE Hina te u tangi – Oh Hina I will cry
  • Pehe ange mai ʻoku kei pongipongi – Come around for it is still morning (metaphor) for wishing one was young again.

Tongan greetings from Randwick Park

Great to see more classes getting interactive with the Tongan language and posting them online. Practice your pronunciation and follow along with the kids from Randwick Park School from New Zealand. Note the intonation right at the end when they are asking a question fefe hake? ʻAlu ki fē?

Vavai ‘a ‘Amelika: a failing of America

I want you to speak in Tongan
I want you to speak in Tongan!

I’m currently travelling in America and the general comments I have been getting from the old folks have been the same everywhere I go.

  • They are happy to hear my children understand and speak in Tongan
  • They are happy to hear a mother speak in Tongan to their children
  • Their comments include “Vaivai ‘a ‘Amelika” America fails when it comes to passing on the language.That their own children understand little of the language.

But is it really only America with this problem? I think the problem is everywhere. Parents and grandparents and the community need to make the Tongan language a priority. Loose the language and you lose the culture and ones identity.

Tongan slang: Tamani

Tamani
Mani ē faka’ilifia! man that’s scary!

First of our Tongan slang series: Tamani comes from the word Tama = child or boy and Tama’ni meaning this boy. In slang however it is used as an interjection that means oh boy, man! wow, gee. An interjection is an abrupt remark or a side interruption. Or an exclamation esp. as a part of speech, e.g., ah! or dear me!.

I’ve always used the shorter version of tamani which is simply mani and I often say mani ē followed by a whole lot of laughter!

  • Tamani, faka’ofo’ofa ‘aupito ‘a e kofu ‘o Sinitalela. Man! Cinderella’s dress is beautiful.  
  • Mani ē! sio ‘atu ki he fefine’ mo ‘ene vala. Oh wow look at the lady and her clothes.  
  • Mani ē te u lua! Oh boy! i’m going to vomit
  • Mani ē sio ‘atu ka Mele. Gee! look at Mary.

Tongan Shortfilm: Feilaulau (Sacrifice)

This is a heart warming little short film in Tongan about feilaulau which means sacrifice. Produced by Tuʻitahi productions,this has a wonderful message to it.

Listen and watch,  cover the subtitles and test yourself if you can follow the narrative.

I think most people can relate to one of these characters.

1. Nicky Brick: The older hardworking brother.

2. Fasiʻeki: The younger wayward brother.

3. Nicky Brickʻs daughter: A daughter who recognises the sacrifice her father makes.