ʻikai
The Tongan word for "no" is ʻikai.
The particle ʻikai is used to express negation or disagreement, functioning similarly to the English word "not".
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
Which one should you use?
ʻikai is used to negate facts (meaning "not"), whereas ʻoua is used for negative imperatives (meaning "don't" or to tell someone to stop doing something).
How does it change in a sentence?
ʻikai is used to negate verbs and adjectives. You can add the particle ai after ʻikai to create ʻikai ai, which means "not at all" or "not so" to emphasize the negation.
Did you know?
- Tongan belongs to the Austronesian language family, meaning ʻikai is a distant relative of words for 'no' or 'not' in languages spoken as far away as Madagascar and Hawaii.
- In traditional Tongan society, the way one says ʻikai can vary based on the social rank of the person being addressed, reflecting the language's complex system of honorifics.
- The glottal stop represented by the symbol ʻ at the start of ʻikai is a full consonant in Tongan. Omitting this brief catch in the throat can change the meaning or rhythm of the sentence.
Examples in context
- ʻIkai.No.
- ʻIkai ko eʻe.It is not that.
- ʻIkai ke u ʻalu.I will not go.
Example conversation
Sione asks Sina if she wants some water.
- SioneKe kehe ʻa e vaí, Sina?Do you want some water, Sina?
- SinaʻIkai, ʻoku ou ongoʻi vai.No, I don't need water.
- SioneʻOku ke’i ongoʻi kai?Are you hungry?
- SinaʻIo, ʻoku ou ongoʻi kai.Yes, I am hungry.
