A collection of useful phrases in Tokelauan (Gagana Tokelau), a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Tokelau and New Zealand.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), dl = dual (said to two people), pl = plural (said to more than two people).
| Phrase | Gagana Tokelau (Tokelauan) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Ulu tons mai |
| Hello (General greeting) | Tālofa (sg - greetings to you) Mālō (sg) Tālofa nī (dl) Mālō nī (dl) Fakatālofa atu kia te koulua (pl) Fakatālofa atu kia te koutou (pl) |
| Hello (on phone) | Tālofa |
| How are you? | E ā mai koe? (sg) E ā mai koulua? (dl) E ā mai koutou? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Mālohi, fakafetai. Kae ā koe? E feolōlo, fakafetai. Kae ā koe? Ko au e lelei. Kae ā koe? Manuia lava, fakafetai. Kae ā koe? |
| Long time no see | |
| What's your name? | Ko ai tō igoa? |
| My name is ... | Ko ... toku igoa Ko toku igoa ko ... Ko au ko ... |
| Where are you from? | |
| I'm from ... | |
| Pleased to meet you | E lelei kua feiloaki kitāua, ni |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Manuia te taeao |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Aho |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Afiafi |
| Good night | Tōfā nī (sg) Tōfā koulua (pl) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Tōfā (sg) Tōfā koe (sg) Tōfā nī (sg) Tōfā koulua (dl) Tōfā koutou (pl) Toe fetaui (see you later) |
| Good luck! | |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | Manuia te aho! |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Kai fiafia! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
|
| Yes | Io Iā |
| No | Hēai |
| Maybe | |
| I don't know | E hē kō iloa |
| I understand | Kua mālamalama |
| I don't understand | Ko au e hē mālamalama |
| Please speak more slowly | |
| Please say that again | Fakamolemole, toe lea mai ake |
| Please write it down | |
| Do you speak English? | |
| Do you speak Tokelauan? | |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
|
| Speak to me in Tokelauan | |
| How do you say ... in Tokelauan? | |
| Excuse me | Tūlou nī Tūlou nī mua |
| How much is this? | |
| Sorry | Fakamolemole |
| Please | Fakamolemole |
| Thank you | Fakafetai Fakafetai lahi lele |
| Reply to thank you | Hē āfāina |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | |
| This lady will pay for everything | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ōmamai tātou hihiva fakataki (Come let us dance) |
| Do you come here often? | |
| I miss you | |
| I love you | |
| Get well soon | |
| Go away! | Fanokehe! |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! | |
| Fire! | |
| Stop! | |
| Call the police! | |
| Christmas greetings | Manuia te Kilihimahi |
| New Year greetings | Manuia te Tauhaga Fou |
| Easter greetings | Manuia te eheta |
| Birthday greetings | Ke manuia tō aho fānau |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Tokelauan | Phrases | Numbers
Other collections of Tokelauan phrases
http://pasifika.tki.org.nz/Pasifika-Languages/Gagana-Tokelau
http://www.tokelau.org.nz/Learn+Tokelauan.html
http://www.spasifikmag.com/documents/tokelauphrases
http://www.learntokelau.co.nz/documents/TauGagana.pdf
https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Tokelauan%20language&item_type=topic
https://www.aut.ac.nz/community/pasifika/pacific-language-weeks/tokelau-language-week/?a=695943
http://www.diversicare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Tokelauan.pdf
Hawaiian, Māori, Niuean, Rapa Nui, Samoan, Tahitian, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuvaluan
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