matatahi
The Tongan word for "beach" is matatahi.
matatahi is a noun used to refer to a sandy shore.
Meaning: sandy shore (noun)
Which one should you use?
While matatahi is the noun for the sandy shore itself, the related verb mataatahi means to run something aground on a beach.
Related words
Did you know?
- The word matatahi shares the root 'mata' with many other Tongan words that relate to 'eye' or 'appearance', creating a subtle linguistic link between sight and the surface of the shore.
- While matatahi means 'beach', the word tahi independently means 'sea', showing how the language builds complex locations from basic nature words.
- The rhythm of saying matatahi follows a syllable-timed pattern, meaning each syllable has roughly equal duration, unlike the stress-timed rhythm of the English 'beach'.
Examples in context
- ʻOku tau ʻalu ki he matatahi.We go to the beach.
Example conversation
Sina and Viliami are planning a trip.
- SinaʻOku ke’e fakaʻu ki he matatahi?Are you going to the beach?
- ViliamiʻIo, ʻoku ou fakaʻu.Yes, I am going.
- SinaTe u’i foki atu.I will go too.
- ViliamiMālō, Sina.Thanks, Sina.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beach” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
