Kilisimasi fiefia
Merry Christmas in Tongan is Kilisimasi fiefia.
Kilisimasi fiefia is used to express good wishes during the Christmas season.
Meaning: good wishes at Christmas time (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the loanword Kilisimasi (Christmas) and the adjective fiefia (happy).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Tongan, the adjective fiefia follows the noun Kilisimasi to form the phrase.
Did you know?
- While Kilisimasi fiefia is the standard greeting, Tongans may also use Malo e Kilisimasi, which blends a general greeting of 'well done' or 'hello' with the holiday name.
- The loanword Kilisimasi entered the language via English missionaries in the 19th century, reflecting the deep historical influence of Christianity in the Kingdom of Tonga.
- The word fiefia is a reduplication of fia, a process common in Polynesian languages to intensify a meaning or change a state into a feeling.
Examples in context
- Kilisimasi fiefia kiate koe.Merry Christmas to you.
Example conversation
Sina and Akuila meet at a family gathering during the holidays.
- AkuilaMālō e lelei, Sina.Hello, Sina.
- SinaMālō e lelei, Akuila. Kilisimasi fiefia!Hello, Akuila. Merry Christmas!
- AkuilaKilisimasi fiefia mo koe foki.Merry Christmas to you too.
- Sina‘Ofa atu.Love to you.
