name Uncommon

Tonga

TONG-uh

Tonga (name) means a Pacific island kingdom in Polynesia, made up of more than 170 islands, with its capital at Nuku'alofa. Example: “Tonga is one of the few Pacific nations never formally colonized by a European power.”

name

A Pacific island kingdom in Polynesia, made up of more than 170 islands, with its capital at Nuku'alofa.

"Tonga is one of the few Pacific nations never formally colonized by a European power."

noun

A light, two-wheeled carriage pulled by a horse, traditionally used for passenger transport in South Asia.

"They hired a tonga to take them through the old city streets."

How to use Tonga

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often refers to the Pacific island nation; less commonly, a traditional horse-drawn cart used in India and Pakistan.

Easily confused with

Tongan

Word forms

Tongas plural, tongas plural

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_____ is one of the few Pacific nations never formally colonized by a European power.

Etymology

The country's name comes from a Polynesian word meaning "south." The carriage sense is unrelated, from a South Asian language.

Rhymes for Tonga

conga

See all rhymes for Tonga →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Tonga” mean?

The word “Tonga” means a Pacific island kingdom in Polynesia, made up of more than 170 islands, with its capital at Nuku'alofa. In plain terms, most often refers to the Pacific island nation; less commonly, a traditional horse-drawn cart used in India and Pakistan.

How do you pronounce “Tonga”?

“Tonga” is pronounced TONG-uh (/ˈtɑŋ.ɡə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Tonga” in a sentence?

Here is “Tonga” used in a sentence: “Tonga is one of the few Pacific nations never formally colonized by a European power.”

What part of speech is “Tonga”?

Depending on how it is used, “Tonga” can be a name and a noun.

Is “Tonga” a common word?

“Tonga” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Tonga” have?

“Tonga” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Pacific island kingdom in Polynesia, made up of more than 170 islands, with its capital at Nuku'alofa.