tahi
The Tongan word for "ocean" is tahi. Wiktionary also lists 'oseni.
Meaning: one of the large bodies of water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tongan |
|---|
| tahi |
| 'oseni |
Both tahi and 'oseni are used to refer to the ocean as one of the large bodies of water.
Which one should you use?
'oseni is a loanword from the English word "ocean".
Did you know?
- In Tongan, the word tahi is also used as a number meaning 'one'.
- The concept of the ocean in Tongan culture is deeply tied to the concept of 'territory', as the sea is seen as a connector of islands rather than a barrier.
- The word moana is used for the deep ocean and is the root of the word 'Moana' in the famous Disney film.
Example sentences for Tongan are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Tevita and Mele are standing on the beach.
- TevitaʻOku lelele ʻa e tahi faka-tō.The ocean is very rough today.
- MeleʻOku ui ko e tahi ʻa e moʻui.The ocean is the source of life.
- TevitaʻOku ke loto taha ke mālōlō ʻi he tahi?Do you want to relax in the ocean?
- MeleʻIo, Tevita, ʻoku ou loto taha.Yes, Tevita, I would love to.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ocean” translations and entries tahi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
