Taʻu Foʻou Fiefia
Happy New Year in Tongan is Taʻu Foʻou Fiefia.
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Taʻu (year), Foʻou (new) and Fiefia (happy).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Tongan, the adjective fiefia (happy) is placed at the end of the phrase, following the noun phrase Taʻu Foʻou (New Year).
Did you know?
- Because Tongan is a highly stratified language, the way you say Taʻu Foʻou Fiefia can change depending on whether you are speaking to a commoner or a member of the royal family.
- The word fiefia is a reduplicated form of fia, a common linguistic feature in Tongan where repeating a word intensifies its meaning or creates a new emotional state.
- The glottal stop represented by the ʻ in taʻu is a distinct consonant sound that a learner must pronounce to be understood.
Example conversation
Viliami and Mele meet for the first time in January.
- ViliamiMālō e lelei, Mele! Taʻu Foʻou Fiefia!Hello, Mele! Happy New Year!
- MeleMālō e lelei, Viliami! Taʻu Foʻou Fiefia foki!Hello, Viliami! Happy New Year also!
- ViliamiKo e hā ho kupu faka-foʻou?What is your new resolution?
- MeleʻOku ou fie ako faka-Tonga.I want to learn Tongan.
