kato
The English word bag is kato in Tongan.
kato refers to a flexible container.
Meaning: flexible container (noun)
Did you know?
- While kato is for general bags, a traditional woven basket like a kete is considered a piece of art and can be gifted to signify high social status.
- While kato describes a general bag, the Tongan language has distinct terms for bags based on their material, such as whether they are woven from pandanus leaves.
- For modern items like a school bag, many Tongans skip the word kato entirely and use an English loanword.
Examples in context
- 'Oku lahi ha me'a 'i he kato.There are many things in the bag.
Example conversation
Sione and Mele are packing for a trip.
- SioneMele, ʻoku ʻi fai he kato ʻa e kofú?Mele, are the clothes in the bag?
- MeleʻIo, ʻoku ʻi he kato kovi ko iá.Yes, they are in that small bag.
- SioneʻOku toe ʻiate kitautolu ha kato ʻe taha?Do we have one more bag?
- MeleʻIo, ʻoku ʻi he potu kofú.Yes, it is in the clothing area.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bag” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
