falemahaki
The Tongan word for hospital is falemahaki.
falemahaki is a noun used to refer to a large medical facility.
Meaning: large medical facility (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of fale (house or building) and mahaki (illness or sickness), literally meaning "house of sickness/illness".
Did you know?
- The concept of a 'house of sickness' reflects a descriptive way of naming things that is common in Polynesian languages, where meaning is built from functional components.
- The word fale originally referred to a traditional thatched house, but it now applies to everything from modern concrete hospitals to skyscrapers.
- The word fale in falemahaki is used as a prefix for dozens of buildings, such as falelotu for a church and falekola for a school.
Examples in context
- Kuo ʻalu ki he falemahaki ʻa Mele.Mele went to the hospital.
Example conversation
Mele and Akuila are discussing a sick relative.
- MeleʻOku ʻi he falemahaki e tamai.Father is at the hospital.
- AkuilaʻOku mālohi ia?Is he strong?
- MeleʻOku ʻinoʻino pē e falemahaki.The hospital is just crowded.
- AkuilaTau maveʻi atu atu.Let's go there.
