mata
/ma.ta/
The English word "eyes" is translated into Tongan as mata.
mata refers to the organs of the body used for seeing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word mata is used for both the singular "eye" and the plural "eyes".
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ma.ta/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The Tongan language uses the same word mata to describe a 'point' or 'edge' of an object, such as the tip of a blade.
- In Tongan, the word mata does not only refer to the eyes, but is also used to mean 'face' or 'surface'.
- The word mata is a cognate found across many languages in the Pacific, reflecting its origin from the ancient Proto-Austronesian root maCa.
Example conversation
Ana and Sione are looking at a photo of a baby.
- AnaSi'i mata ʻoku 'i he fakafo'i ko 'ini.Small eyes are in this picture.
- SioneʻIo, ʻoku tatau ia ki he tōtō'i.Yes, they look like the father.
- AnaʻOku mata faka-lanu ʻa e tama'i.The baby has blue eyes.
- SioneʻOku mālohí ia.That is beautiful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
