kuini
The Tongan word for queen is kuini.
kuini is a noun used to refer to a female monarch.
Meaning: female monarch (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word kuini is a loanword from the English word 'queen'.
Did you know?
- When referring to the kuini in formal speech, Tongans use a special 'honorific' register of the language that uses entirely different words for common actions.
- In traditional Tongan society, the power of the kuini was often balanced by the influence of the 'fahu', the highest ranking female relative in a family.
- The adoption of kuini is a linguistic footprint of the 19th-century contact between the Tongan monarchy and British missionaries and diplomats. It marks a specific era of cultural exchange.
Examples in context
- Ko e kuini ʻa e fakaʻilonga.The queen is the symbol.
Example conversation
Tevita and Ana are watching a news report about the monarchy.
- TevitaʻOku fakaʻapaʻapa e kakai ki he kuini.The people respect the queen.
- AnaʻIo, ʻoku ʻofa e kakai ki ai.Yes, the people love her.
- TevitaKo e kuini ʻa Tonga ia.She is the queen of Tonga.
- AnaKo e fakaʻilonga mahuʻinga ia.She is an important symbol.
