mālō e efiafi
The English phrase "good evening" is translated into Tongan as mālō e efiafi.
mālō e efiafi is a greeting used during the evening hours.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
Did you know?
- Tongan has a complex system of social registers, meaning the way you say mālō e efiafi can change depending on whether you are speaking to a royal person.
- The word mālō is used in greetings like mālō e efiafi but also means 'thank you' and 'healthy' or 'strong'.
- The word efiafi belongs to a massive linguistic family, sharing roots with words spoken in Southeast Asia and throughout the Pacific islands.
Examples in context
- Mālō e efiafi.Good evening.
- Mālō e efiafi kiate koe.Good evening to you.
- Mālō e efiafi, e kau fāmili.Good evening, family.
Example conversation
Sina and Sione meet outside a building at dusk.
- SinaMālō e efiafi, Sione.Good evening, Sione.
- SioneMālō e efiafi, Sina.Good evening, Sina.
- SinaFēfē koe?How are you?
- SioneSai pē, mālō.Fine, thanks.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries e, efiafi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
