fieʻa
The Tongan word for nosey is fieʻa.
The phrase fieʻa is used to describe a person who is overly curious about other people's private business.
Did you know?
- In Tongan, being nosey is conceptually linked to a physical hunger or a craving. To be fieʻa is to possess an appetite for information that one cannot satisfy.
- The lack of a 'nose' metaphor in Tongan shows that 'noseyness' is an internal state of craving, whereas in English it is an external intrusion of a body part.
- The term can be used to describe not just people, but also an inquisitive gaze or even a persistent look.
Examples in context
- Ko e tangata fieʻa ia.He is a nosey man.
- ʻOua ʻe fieʻa atu.Don't be so nosey.
- Ko e fafine fieʻa ia.She is a nosey woman.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a neighbor who asks too many questions.
- ViliamiʻOku fieʻa ʻa tokelau ʻi he fakafoou.The neighbor is nosey about the updates.
- MeleʻOku ʻou kilo ia.I see that.
- ViliamiKaua e fieʻa kiate kimau.Don't be nosey toward us.
- MeleʻOku totonge ia.He is too much.
