taʻahine
The Tongan word for girl is taʻahine.
taʻahine refers to a young female person. In certain contexts, other terms may be more appropriate: hine can also mean 'daughter' or 'maiden' depending on the context, while fefine can also mean 'woman' depending on the context.
Meaning: young female person (noun)
Did you know?
- The term hine is frequently used in Tongan mythology and poetry to describe celestial beings or divine maidens, elevating the word for 'girl' to a spiritual status.
- Tongan uses inclusive and exclusive markers in its grammar that can change how a group of taʻahine is described depending on whether the listener is included in that group.
- Tongan kinship terms are often more about the relationship to the speaker than the age of the person, meaning hine might be used for someone older if they are viewed as a daughter figure.
Examples in context
- ʻOku ʻi ai ha taʻahine.There is a girl there.
- Ko e taʻahine fakaʻofoʻofa ia.That is a beautiful girl.
Example conversation
Sione and Ana are talking about a new neighbor.
- SioneKo hai ʻa e taʻahine foʻou ʻa Sione?Who is the new girl, Sione?
- AnaKo hoku tokoua ʻa ia, Ana.She is my cousin, Ana.
- SioneʻOku fakaʻamanaki ʻoku ia fakafoʻou.I hope she is friendly.
- AnaʻOku mālie moʻoni ʻa e taʻahine ko iá.That girl is very nice.
