motu
/mo.tu/
The Tongan word for island is motu.
motu refers to an area of land that is completely surrounded by water.
Meaning: area of land completely surrounded by water (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /mo.tu/.
Did you know?
- The root of motu comes from an ancient word meaning 'broken off' or 'detached'. In the ancient mindset, an island was viewed as a piece of land that had been severed from a larger mass.
- Tonga is an archipelago of 171 motu, but only 36 of them are permanently inhabited by people.
- In Tongan culture, the concept of motu is often tied to the concept of ancestral navigation, as the discovery of these 'detached' lands required extraordinary seafaring skills.
Examples in context
- ʻOku ʻalu atu ʻa e fāmili ki he motu.The family is going to the island.
Example conversation
Sione and Mele are looking at a map of the Pacific.
- SioneKo e hā e motu ʻeni, Mele?What island is this, Mele?
- MeleKo e motu ʻa Tongatapu ʻa ia.That is the island of Tongatapu.
- SioneʻOku mālohi e motu ʻa Tongatapu.Tongatapu is a strong island.
- MeleʻIo, ʻoku ʻuikefua e motu.Yes, the island is beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “island” translations and entries motu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries motu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
