lelei
/le.le.i/
The English word "good" is translated into Tongan as lelei.
lelei is an adjective used to describe something that is pleasant or enjoyable.
Meaning: pleasant, enjoyable (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /le.le.i/.
Did you know?
- Because Tongan is a highly hierarchical language, the way you express that something is 'good' can change depending on whether you are speaking to a person of high social rank.
- In Tongan culture, the concept of 'good' is often tied to faka'apa'apa, which means 'respect'. A person is frequently described as lelei if they show proper deference to elders and chiefs.
- The word lelei is a direct relative of the Samoan word lelei, meaning these languages share a common ancestor in the Pacific.
Examples in context
- Mālō e po.Good night
- 'Oku lelei e loto fiafia.The feeling of joy is good.
Example conversation
Sione and Losa are talking about a movie they just watched.
- SioneNaʻe lelei ʻa e fīlimali?Was the movie good?
- LosaʻIo, naʻe lelei ia au!Yes, it was very good!
- SioneʻOku ou fakaʻamu ki ha anke.I am looking forward to another one.
- LosaTau haʻu foki ʻa hapoy.Let's come back on Friday.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lelei, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lelei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
