tokoua
The Tongan word for brother is tokoua. Wiktionary also lists tuonga'ane.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tongan |
|---|
| tokoua |
| tuonga'ane |
In Tongan, the term used to refer to a male sibling is tokoua.
Did you know?
- If you are a woman, your brother is your tokoua, but if you are a man, your brother is your tuonga'ane.
- In a traditional Tongan household, a sister often holds a higher ceremonial rank than her brother, regardless of his age.
- Because of 'fahu' rights, a brother may be expected to provide labor or gifts to his sister and her children.
Examples in context
- ʻOku ʻiate koe ha tokoua?Do you have a brother?
- Ko ʻeku tokoua ʻoku ʻalu ki Tonga.My brother is going to Tonga.
Example conversation
Losa is asking Tevita about his family.
- TevitaKo hai ho'o tokoua, Losa?Who is your brother, Losa?
- LosaKo Sione hoku tokoua.Sione is my brother.
- TevitaKo e hano taha ia?Is he the oldest one?
- LosaʻIo, ko ia hoku tokoua hano.Yes, he is my older brother.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
