mohe ā
The Tongan phrase for "good night" is mohe ā.
mohe ā is used specifically as a farewell when parting from someone at night or before going to sleep, rather than as a greeting.
Meaning: a farewell (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb mohe (to sleep) and the particle ā (a particle used here to express a wish or a state).
Did you know?
- The word mohe (to sleep) is part of a language that uses a complex system of pronouns to distinguish between 'we' that includes the listener and 'we' that excludes them.
- Tongan is a VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) language, so the verb mohe naturally leads the phrase, reflecting the priority of the action over the person.
- If you use mohe ā as a greeting when arriving at someone's house in the evening, it would sound as though you are wishing them to go to sleep immediately.
Examples in context
- Mohe ā, e si'í.Good night, darling.
Example conversation
Viliami and Losa are saying goodbye before going to bed.
- ViliamiMohe ā, Losa.Good night, Losa.
- LosaMohe ā, Viliami.Good night, Viliami.
- ViliamiAā ġiki ētġ.See you tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good night” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
