meʻa
The English word 'stuff' is translated into Tongan as meʻa.
meʻa is used to refer to miscellaneous items, things or stuff. When you specifically mean 'stuff' in the sense of belongings or possessions, it is common to use meʻa alongside verbs of carrying or taking, such as in the phrase meʻa ʻe taki (stuff to be taken/carried).
Meaning: miscellaneous items, things (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word meʻa literally means 'thing' or 'thing(s)'.
How does it change in a sentence?
meʻa can be used to refer to both singular and plural 'stuff' or 'items'.
Did you know?
- Tongan speakers may use meʻa to refer to a 'thing' that is actually a person in specific poetic or formal contexts to show humility or distance.
- The word meʻa is the root for many compound words in Tongan, such as meʻaʻofa, which combines 'thing' and 'love' to mean 'gift'.
- The word meʻa is a cognate with the word for 'thing' in other Polynesian languages, such as the Hawaiian mea.
Example conversation
Losa and Viliami are cleaning a room together.
- LosaKo e hā e meʻa ko ʻeni?What is this stuff?
- ViliamiKo e meʻa ʻa au pē.It is just my stuff.
- LosaLuhi e meʻa ko ʻení ki tuʻa.Move this stuff outside.
- ViliamiʻOku ou faka-māʻu ha meʻa ʻoku ou ʻiloa.I am keeping some stuff I know.
