mālō e lelei
In Tongan, hello is mālō e lelei.
mālō e lelei is a common way to say hello and carries the meaning "May you be well".
Meaning: greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mālō e lelei literally translates to "goodness is good" or "well-being is good".
Which one should you use?
While mālō e lelei is common, you may also encounter Talofa lava, which is used in formal settings or Fakaalofa atu, which is a warm and affectionate way to say hello that is understood by Tongans.
Did you know?
- Tongan has a complex system of 'honorifics' where different words for 'hello' are used depending on whether you are speaking to a commoner, a noble or the King.
- In Tongan culture, a greeting is often accompanied by a slight nod or a gentle bow. This physical gesture reflects the importance of 'faka'apa'apa', or showing deep respect to others.
- The word mālō in mālō e lelei is also used alone to say 'thank you'. Depending on the context, the same root word functions as both a greeting and a way to express gratitude.
Examples in context
- Mālō e lelei!Hello!This example shows how to use mālō e lelei as a greeting.Tatoeba #3296588 by Ricardo14, translation #373330 by CK
Example conversation
Akuila and Sina meet on the street.
- AkuilaMālō e lelei, Sina!Hello, Sina!
- SinaMālō e lelei, Akuila.Hello, Akuila.
- AkuilaFēfē hake koe?How are you?
- SinaSai lelei, mālō.Very well, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries mālō e lelei, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
