kulī
/ku.liː/
kulī is the Tongan word for dog.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ku.liː/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Tongan culture, dogs were not just pets but were often used as a source of food and ritual offerings.
- The Tongan word kulī is a direct relative of the Māori word kurī, which was the specific name for the Polynesian dog species brought to New Zealand.
- Historically, the animals referred to as kulī in Tonga were distinct from the modern breeds brought by Europeans.
Examples in context
- ʻOku ʻi ai ha kulī.There is a dog.
Example conversation
Ana and Tevita are walking in a garden.
- AnaTevita, vakai ki he kulī ko ‘aá!Tevita, look at that dog!
- Tevita‘Oku lelei e kulī ko ‘aá.That dog is good.
- Ana‘Oku ‘ilo’i ‘e koe hēna?Do you know whose it is?
- Tevita‘Ikai, ‘oku ou ‘ilo’i ‘ikai.No, I do not know.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries kulī, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kulī, CC BY-SA 4.0.
