paʻanga
The Tongan word for money is paʻanga.
paʻanga is a noun used to refer to currency.
Meaning: currency (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, paʻanga means 'pound'.
Did you know?
- In traditional Tongan culture, the most prestigious form of 'wealth' was not paʻanga but ngatu, which are hand-printed barkcloths.
- The word paʻanga evolved from a term for a 'toy' before it came to mean 'money'.
- When giving money as a gift during a Tongan wedding or funeral, it is often presented alongside a wrap of 'kiekie' or mats to maintain cultural propriety.
Examples in context
- ʻOku ʻi ai ha paʻanga.There is some money.
- ʻOku ʻi ai ha paʻanga fakafoʻotulutolu?Is there any small change (money)?
Example conversation
Sina and Tevita are planning to buy food.
- SinaTevita, ʻoku ʻi ai ha paʻanga?Tevita, is there any money?
- TevitaʻIkai, kuo mamahi e paʻanga.No, the money is gone.
- SinaKo hai e paʻanga ʻoku tau maʻu?How much money do we have?
- TevitaʻOku ʻi ai ha paʻanga siʻi.There is a little money.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries paʻanga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries paʻanga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
