Tag: Tongan language

  • 5 daily Tongan greetings you can use today!

    Mālō e lelei is hello in Tongan . It literally means thank you for being good. But did you know that Tongan greetings are more than just a one word hello. It is a beautiful phrase that acknowledges and shows gratitude. There are variations and using these phrases can help to build relationships and connection.…

  • Know your Tongan: ki (v) kia

    Here is the first of our Thursday Grammar. Do you know the difference between the two words “ki” and “kia”?  Both mean the same English preposition word “to”. Read carefully the information above and fill in the blanks. Is it “ki” or “kia”? ‘Ave _____ Sione. Give it to John. Na’a’ ke lea _____ Mele? Did you talk to Mary?…

  • 2015 a year of learning

    At this time of year I like to remind myself and all the entire Tongan Language School of how much they have achieved in 2015. So I created this video. Kids always love to see themselves in videos. I then challenged my family to write down their new goals. Amongst our new family goals is to speak more…

  • Is it Taimi’ni or Taini’mi?

    This is another of my internal questions that has lingered in my head regarding the Tongan language. I have always used Taimi’ ni which means at this moment in time/ right now. Then I started to hear people say Taini’ mi, so are you saying it right or not. It has been confirmed by Tongan linguists so…

  • My first ebook in Tongan: The Hungry Little Mouse

    As promised, I have finally uploaded my first ebook onto youtube. This has been such a labour of love made only possible with faith that the Tongan Language School (Sydney) had in me. The goal was to make an engaging resource that our digital kids today would like. My kids gave it the two thumbs up so…

  • 5 Reasons your children are not speaking in Tongan

    I read a great article on Multilingual living and decided to put together a TOP 5 REAONS why your children are not speaking in Tongan. In my own experience with my children these are the 5 top reasons why they were not speaking in Tongan. So you want your children to speak in Tongan but you are finding…

  • Is ‘plastic’ the new norm?

    Is ‘plastic’ the new norm?. Ko e fehu’i mālie eni ‘a Alando Soakai. A very interesting question by Alando Soakai.  Have you been called ‘plastic’ because you speak more English than your native tongue? Other terms used to address you and your identity for not speaking the language is a pālangi (foreigner) or fie pālangi…

  • The limits of my Tongan language

    The goal for my blog in 2014 is to make learning the Tongan language easy, fun and shareable for you all in this digital age. Like climbing a coconut tree the view is better from the top but we can only share as much as we know. The limits of my language (ie my understanding of the…

  • Vavai ‘a ‘Amelika: a failing of America

    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”…

  • Malimali means Smile!

      In anyoneʼs language kids know how to smile and give them a toy camera and they start acting like professional photographers and happily snap away. So this is a great way to teach Tongan to your kids. Not only are they having fun but they are also learning simple phrases. Here are some useful…