kohu
The Tongan word for smoke is kohu.
kohu is a noun used to describe the visible particles and vapour given off by burning material.
Meaning: visible particles and vapour given off by burning material (noun)
Did you know?
- The word kohu can be used metaphorically in Tongan poetry to describe a state of confusion or mental obscurity, much like a 'fog' in English.
- In the context of traditional cooking in an umu (earth oven), the presence of kohu signals that the heat is reaching the correct temperature.
- The word kohu is part of a linguistic pattern in many Polynesian languages where words for 'smoke', 'mist' and 'cloud' share a common root.
Examples in context
- 'Oku fakata'u e kohu.The smoke is thick.
- 'Oku mamala mai e kohu.The smoke is drifting out.
- 'Oku faka'ali'ali mai e kohu.The smoke is visible.
Example conversation
Ana and Akuila are looking at a fire in the yard.
- Ana‘Oku tō lōhi ‘a e kohu ko ‘ení.This smoke is drifting away.
- Akuila‘Oku mālōlō ‘a e afi, Ana.The fire is calming down, Ana.
- AnaKa ‘oku kei hā mai ‘a e kohu.But the smoke is still showing.
- Akuila‘Oku ‘ikai ke hā lalo ‘a e kohu.The smoke will not stay low.
