Tokelauan language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tokelauan |
|
|---|---|
| Native to | Tokelau |
| Native speakers | 3,300 total, with 1400 in Tokelau (2017) |
| Language family |
Austronesian
|
| Official status | |
| Official language in | Tokelau |
Tokelauan is a language spoken in the Pacific Ocean. It is a Polynesian language, which means it belongs to a group of languages found on islands like Hawaii, New Zealand, and Samoa.
Tokelauan is very similar to the Tuvaluan language. People who speak Tokelauan can often understand people who speak Tuvaluan.
Where is Tokelauan Spoken?
Tokelauan is mainly spoken in Tokelau, a small island nation. It is one of the official languages there, along with English.
Many Tokelauan people also live in American Samoa and New Zealand. They continue to speak Tokelauan in these places, keeping their language alive.
How is Tokelauan Written?
Tokelauan is written using the Roman alphabet. This is the same alphabet used for English.
The Tokelauan alphabet has 15 letters: a, e, i, o, u, f, g, k, l, m, n, p, h, t, and v.
Common Tokelauan Phrases
Here are some simple phrases in Tokelauan with their English meanings:
| Tokelauan | English |
|---|---|
| Fanatu au là? | Shall I come too? |
| Ko toku nena e i Nukunonu. | My grandmother lives in Nukunonu. |
| Malo ni, ea mai koe? | Hello, how are you? |
| E hēai ni vakalele i Tokelau. | There are no aeroplanes in Tokelau. |
