koe
koe is the Tongan subject pronoun used to mean 'you'.
koe is used as a subject pronoun to refer to the person being spoken to.
Meaning: subject pronoun: the person being addressed (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a subject pronoun, koe identifies the person being addressed in a sentence.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'you' to a person of high status or a person you wish to respect, you must switch to a completely different set of pronouns.
- In Tongan culture, using koe in a direct confrontation can be perceived as more aggressive than in English, as it singles out the individual very sharply.
- The word for 'you' can change based on whether the person is a singular individual or part of a collective group.
Examples in context
- Ko koe e taulaʻa.You are the champion.
- Ko koe e fofonga ʻo e kemisi.You are the face of the mission.
Example conversation
Sione and Losa are talking about who will help with the chores.
- SioneKo sē ʻa e tokoni?Who is the helper?
- LosaKoe koe, Sione.It is you, Sione.
- SioneʻOku ou ʻamanaki kiate koe.I was hoping for you.
- LosaʻOku ou fakaʻamu.I am ready.
