niu
/ni.u/
The Tongan word for coconut is niu.
niu is used to refer to the fruit of the coco palm.
Meaning: fruit of coco palm (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ni.u/.
Did you know?
- The Tongan word niu descends from a reconstructed root word *niuʀ used by Proto-Malayo-Polynesian speakers thousands of years ago.
- In Tongan culture, the niu is often called the 'tree of life' because every part of the plant is used for food, drink, shelter and fuel.
- The word niu is a cognate found in many other Pacific languages, such as Hawaiian and Samoan, reflecting a shared linguistic ancestry.
Examples in context
- Ko e niu 'oku ma'ama'a.The coconut is white.
- 'Oku 'i ai ha niu.There is a coconut.
Example conversation
Ana and Sione are preparing a drink in the kitchen.
- AnaSione, ʻala ʻu kumi niu.Sione, please look for a coconut.
- SioneʻOku ʻi he kaveʻi niu.It is by the coconut trees.
- AnaʻOku ou fakaa niu ʻa e kapiʻi.I am using the coconut milk.
- SioneʻOku lelei ia.That is good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coconut” translations and entries niu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries niu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
