tamasi'i
The Tongan word for boy is tamasi'i.
tamasi'i is used to refer to a male child.
Meaning: male child (noun)
Did you know?
- While tamasi'i refers to a boy, Tongan language usage is deeply sensitive to the concept of 'tapu' or sacredness, which can dictate how children are addressed in specific settings.
- The word tamasi'i is part of a wider family of words starting with tama, which relates to male lineage and fatherhood.
- The word tamasi'i shares a linguistic root with other Polynesian languages, such as the Samoan tamasi, making it part of a vast oceanic family of words.
Examples in context
- Ko e tamasi'i ko e'í.That is the boy.
- 'Oku faka'ofo'ofa e tamasi'i.The boy is cute.
- Kuo 'alu e tamasi'i.The boy has gone.
Example conversation
Sina and Viliami are looking at a photo of a child.
- ViliamiKo au 'oku 'i he potu kehe.I am in the other part.
- SinaKo pehē e hingoa 'o e tamasi'i ko iá?What is the name of that boy?
- ViliamiKo e hingoa 'o e tamasi'i ko iá ko Sione.The name of that boy is Sione.
- SinaKo e tamasi'i mālohí ko iá.He is a strong boy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
