Basic Greetings

Hello.

Mālō e lelei. (mah-loh eh leh-lay)

Good morning.

Pongipongi lelei. (poh-ngee-poh-ngee leh-lay)

Good evening.

Efiafi lelei. (eh-fee-ah-fee leh-lay)

Good night.

Pō lelei. (poh leh-lay)

Goodbye (to someone leaving).

'Alu ā. (ah-loo ah)

Goodbye (to someone staying).

Nofo ā. (noh-foh ah)

See you later.

Toki sio. (toh-kee see-oh)

Nice to meet you.

Fiefia 'i he fe'iloaki mo koé. (fee-eh-fee-ah ee heh feh-ee-loh-ah-kee moh koh-eh)

Welcome.

Mālō e lava mai. (mah-loh eh lah-vah my)

How are you?

Fēfē hake? (feh-feh hah-keh)

I’m fine.

Sai pē. (sye peh)

And you?

Kae fēfē koe? (kye feh-feh koh-eh)

Have a good day.

Ma'u ha 'aho lelei. (mah-oo hah ah-hoh leh-lay)

See you tomorrow.

Toki sio 'apongipongi. (toh-kee see-oh ah-poh-ngee-poh-ngee)

What’s up?

Ko e hā e ongoongó? (koh eh hah eh oh-ngo-oh-ngoh)

Nothing much.

Hala'atā. (hah-lah-ah-tah)

Long time no see.

Fuoloa 'eta ta'e fesiofakí. (foo-oh-loh-ah eh-tah tah-eh feh-see-oh-fah-kee)

Please come in.

Hū mai. (hoo my)

Make yourself at home.

Ongo'i tau'atāina pē. (oh-ngoh-ee tow-ah-tah-ee-nah peh)

Have a safe journey.

Folau lelei. (foh-low leh-lay)

Take care.

Tokanga. (toh-kah-ngah)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Fakamolemole. (fah-kah-moh-leh-moh-leh)

Thank you.

Mālō. (mah-loh)

Thank you very much.

Mālō 'aupito. (mah-loh ow-pee-toh)

You’re welcome.

'Io, mālō. (ee-oh mah-loh)

Excuse me.

Fakamolemole. (fah-kah-moh-leh-moh-leh)

I’m sorry.

Fakamolemole. (fah-kah-moh-leh-moh-leh)

No problem.

'Ikai ha palopalema. (ee-kye hah pah-loh-pah-leh-mah)

That’s okay.

'Oku sai pē. (oh-koo sye peh)

Of course.

Ka ko toe hā. (kah koh toh-eh hah)

Don’t worry.

'Oua e hoha'a. (oh-oo-ah eh hoh-hah-ah)

Yes.

'Io. (ee-oh)

No.

'Ikai. (ee-kye)

Maybe.

Mahalo. (mah-hah-loh)

Please wait.

Kātaki 'o tatali. (kah-tah-kee oh tah-tah-lee)

I understand.

'Oku mahino kiate au. (oh-koo mah-hee-noh kee-ah-teh ow)

I don’t understand.

'Oku 'ikai ke mahino kiate au. (oh-koo ee-kye keh mah-hee-noh kee-ah-teh ow)

Do you speak English?

'Oku ke lea faka-Pālangi? (oh-koo keh leh-ah fah-kah-pah-lah-ngee)

Just a little.

Si'isi'i pē. (see-ee-see-ee peh)

What does this mean?

Ko e hā hono 'uhinga 'o e me'á ni? (koh eh hah hoh-noh oo-hee-ngah oh eh meh-ah nee)

Please speak slowly.

Kātaki 'o lea māmālie. (kah-tah-kee oh leh-ah mah-mah-lee-eh)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern 1: I need …

'Oku ou fiema'u … (oh-koo oh-oo fee-eh-mah-oo)

I need help.

'Oku ou fiema'u tokoni. (oh-koo oh-oo fee-eh-mah-oo toh-koh-nee)

I need water.

'Oku ou fiema'u vai. (oh-koo oh-oo fee-eh-mah-oo vye)

I need food.

'Oku ou fiema'u me'akai. (oh-koo oh-oo fee-eh-mah-oo meh-ah-kye)

I need time.

'Oku ou fiema'u taimi. (oh-koo oh-oo fee-eh-mah-oo tye-mee)

I need a doctor.

'Oku ou fiema'u ha toketā. (oh-koo oh-oo fee-eh-mah-oo hah toh-keh-tah)

Pattern 2: I want …

'Oku ou loto ki … (oh-koo oh-oo loh-toh kee)

I want to eat.

'Oku ou loto ke kai. (oh-koo oh-oo loh-toh keh kye)

I want to sleep.

'Oku ou loto ke mohe. (oh-koo oh-oo loh-toh keh moh-heh)

I want to go.

'Oku ou loto ke 'alu. (oh-koo oh-oo loh-toh keh ah-loo)

I want a drink.

'Oku ou loto ki ha me'ainu. (oh-koo oh-oo loh-toh kee hah meh-ah-ee-noo)

I want this.

'Oku ou loto ki he me'á ni. (oh-koo oh-oo loh-toh kee heh meh-ah nee)

Pattern 3: I would like …

Te u fiema'u … (teh oo fee-eh-mah-oo)

I would like a coffee.

Te u fiema'u ha kofi. (teh oo fee-eh-mah-oo hah koh-fee)

I would like a table.

Te u fiema'u ha tēpile. (teh oo fee-eh-mah-oo hah teh-pee-leh)

I would like a room.

Te u fiema'u ha loki. (teh oo fee-eh-mah-oo hah loh-kee)

I would like to pay.

Te u fiema'u ke totongi. (teh oo fee-eh-mah-oo keh toh-toh-ngee)

I would like some information.

Te u fiema'u ha fakahinohino. (teh oo fee-eh-mah-oo hah fah-kah-hee-noh-hee-noh)

Pattern 4: Can you …?

Te ke lava 'o …? (teh keh lah-vah oh)

Can you help me?

Te ke lava 'o tokoni'i au? (teh keh lah-vah oh toh-koh-nee-ee ow)

Can you repeat that?

Te ke lava 'o toe 'ai mai? (teh keh lah-vah oh toh-eh eye my)

Can you show me?

Te ke lava 'o fakahā mai? (teh keh lah-vah oh fah-kah-hah my)

Can you write it?

Te ke lava 'o tohi ia? (teh keh lah-vah oh toh-hee ee-ah)

Can you wait?

Te ke lava 'o tatali? (teh keh lah-vah oh tah-tah-lee)

Pattern 5: Where is …?

'Oku 'i fē …? (oh-koo ee feh)

Where is the bathroom?

'Oku 'i fē 'a e falemālōlō? (oh-koo ee feh ah eh fah-leh-mah-loh-loh)

Where is the exit?

'Oku 'i fē 'a e matapā hū ki tu'á? (oh-koo ee feh ah eh mah-tah-pah hoo kee too-ah)

Where is my bag?

'Oku 'i fē 'eku kató? (oh-koo ee feh eh-koo kah-toh)

Where is the bank?

'Oku 'i fē 'a e pangikē? (oh-koo ee feh ah eh pah-ngee-keh)

Where is the hospital?

'Oku 'i fē 'a e falemahakí? (oh-koo ee feh ah eh fah-leh-mah-hah-kee)