How to Say “Bye” in Tongan

By Nathaniel Paul • Updated October 1, 2026

nofo ā

nofo ā is the Tongan way to say bye.

nofo ā is used as a short way to say goodbye.

Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)

Did you know?

The word nofo is the same word used when telling someone to 'sit down', making the act of saying goodbye linguistically similar to giving a seating instruction.
While 'bye' in English is a departure, nofo ā focuses entirely on the person remaining behind rather than the person leaving.
Tongan is a Polynesian language, meaning the root of nofo is related to similar words for 'sitting' or 'dwelling' in Hawaiian and Maori.

Examples in context

Nofo ā.
Bye.
Nofo ā, ʻoku ou ʻalu.
Bye, I am going.

Example conversation

Sione is leaving Mele's house after a visit.

Sione

Nofo ā, Mele.
Bye, Mele.
Mele

Nofo ā, Sione.
Bye, Sione.
Sione

ʻOfa atu.
Love you.
Mele

ʻOfa atu foki.
Love you too.

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About The Author

Nathaniel Paul

Mālō e lelei! I'm Nathaniel, a lover of the Tongan language and a passionate writer with a knack for breaking down linguistic barriers. I also enjoy cycling around the 'ālaina(pej (island) and exploring Tonga's rich culture. When I'm not doing that, you can find me strumming my ukulele or garnishing my posts with flavoursome Tongan phrases. My ultimate joy is sharing helpful guides, tips and examples on how to speak the beautiful language of Tonga. Alongside Tongan, I have fallen for Niuean, so I now share guides on saying everyday words in Niuean too. Fakamolemole, come follow my journey to become fluent in Tongan!

Nathaniel PaulHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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