e
The English article "the" is translated into Tongan as e.
Meaning: article (article)
Did you know?
- Tongan does not have a word for 'a' or 'an'. To say 'a dog' or 'the dog', the word e may be used or omitted entirely depending on the focus of the sentence.
- Depending on the dialect or the speaker's intent, e can be used to create an 'emphatic' definite article, effectively acting like the English phrase 'the one and only'.
- The word e descends from the Proto-Polynesian root *(q)e, showing its ancient connection to other Pacific languages like Hawaiian and Samoan.
Example conversation
Mele and Viliami are looking for a book.
- MeleʻOku ʻi nai e tohi?Where is the book?
- ViliamiʻOku ʻi he polokalisi.It is in the box.
- MeleʻOku ʻilo e tohi?Is the book known?
- ViliamiʻIo, ʻoku ʻi ai.Yes, it is there.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries e, CC BY-SA 4.0.
