Tokelau Dictionary

When the 1986 Tokelau Dictionary was produced, Faipule at the time noted that the older generation of Tokelauans was brought up to speak two languages, Tokelauan and Samoan.

"Their first language was Tokelauan, acquired at home and playing in the village. Samoan they heard in church and learned at school. Samoan was the language of religion, of education; it was the language spoken to outsiders and used in writing. Tokelauan was the language that was just spoken among themselves. For the younger generation things are different. All of them in Tokelau, and many who are overseas, still acquire Tokelauan as their first language, but their second language is usually English. In Tokelau, Tokelauan and English are taught in the schools; children are now taught to write Tokelauan. Overseas, in New Zealand and elsewhere, English is the language learned and used outside the family and community, and many of the younger generation have become more fluent in English than in Tokelauan."

In the 1970s, the people of Tokelau recognised the need for a dictionary of their language, both as a practical resource for Tokelauans whether in Tokelau, in New Zealand or elsewhere, and as a record of their language.

The Tokelau Dictionary and an English to Tokelauan World List are available on this page for you to search.

Photo Credit Annotated proof of the Tokelau Dictionary. Judith Huntsman papers. MSS & Archives 2012/13, item 8/2/2. https://archives.library.auckland.ac.nz/repositories/2/archival_objects/105820

Tokelau Dictionary (1986)

First published 1986 by the Office of Tokelau Affairs, Apia, Western Samoa. It was printed in New Zealand at University Printing Services, The University of Auckland.

This orignal printed volume was published with assistance of funds from the United Nations Development Programme.

The Tokelau Dictionary and an English to Tokelauan World List are available below on this page for you to search.

Dictionary Foreword by Faipule of Tokelau

The older generation of Tokelau was brought up to speak two languages, Tokelauan and Samoan. Their first language was Tokelauan, acquired at home and playing in the village. Samoan they heard in church and learned at school. Samoan was the language of religion, of education; it was the language spoken to outsiders and used in writing. Tokelauan was the language that was just spoken among themselves. For the younger generation things are different. All of them in Tokelau, and many who are overseas, still acquire Tokelauan as their first language, but their second language is usually English. In Tokelau, Tokelauan and English are taught in the schools; children are now taught to write Tokelauan. Overseas, in New Zealand and elsewhere, English is the language learned and used outside the family and community, and many of the younger generation have become more fluent in English than in Tokelauan.

A decade or so ago, the Tokelau people recognised the need for a dictionary of their language, both as a practical resource for Tokelauans whether in Tokelau, in New Zealand or elsewhere, and as a record of their language.

We are proud that this dictionary has been largely produced by Tokelauans. We approved the appointment of Mr Ropati Simona, retired Tokelau headmaster resident in New Zealand, as lexicographer. Throughout his task, Mr Simona has sought our approval and advice, and our help. While the Tokelau dictionary is in a very real sense an achievement of the Tokelau people, it is also the product of a decade of demanding work by Mr Simona assisted by many others. We are most grateful to our compatriot for his willingness to undertake this task and for carrying it through to completion. We also wish to thank members of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Auckland for the advice and counsel they have provided.

Finally, we should like to express out gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the funds it has provided for the project.

Amusia Patea—Faipule of Atafu

Faafoi Sakaria—Faipule of Fakaofo

Tauanau Kele—Faipule of Nukunonu

Kupu Tomua mai na Faipule o Tokelau

Ko nā tupulaga tuai o Tokelau nae tautatala ma gagana i te gagana Tokelau ma te gagana Samoa i to lātou ola mai. Ko te gagana nae fakaaogā i ō lātou kāiga ma ā lātou tafaoga ko te gagana Tokelau. Kae nae fakaaogā te gagana Samoa i nā haunigā lotu, nae fehokotaki ma feiloaki ai ma tagata mai fafo ma tuhituhi ai i ā lātou tuhituhiga. Ko te gagana Tokelau nae fakaaogā lava i te tautala i ā lātou talanoaga. Kua hē vēnā i nā tupulaga fou i nā aho nei. Kua tau hē fakaaogāgia te gagana Samoa. Ko ta lātou gagana muamua ko te gagana Tokelau; kae ko te Igilihi (English) kua ako e fai ma gagana e lua. E ako e ki lātou te gagana Tokelau ma te Igilihi i nā āoga. I Niu Hila ma iētahi fenua i fafo o Tokelau ko te Igilihi lava te fakaaogā i nā kāiga ma nā māfutaga faka-fakapotopotoga. Kua fai te mea tēnā ma ala e lelei ai te Igilihi a nā tupulaga fou i 10 ta lātou tautala i te gagana Tokelau. E tuha ko te hefulu tauhaga taluai, na iloa ai i Tokelau e tatau lava ke i ei he Dictionary o ta lātou gagana mō te tuhituhiga i te gagana Tokelau.

E ia te ki mātou he mitamitaga ma te agaga fakafetai ona ko te lahiga o te galuega o te hauniga o tēnei Dictionary na fai lava e tagata Tokelau. Na fakamāonia e ki mātou te tōfia o Ropati Simona ke ia faia te Dictionary. Nae hākilikili e ia ni fehoahoani mai ia te ki mātou i ni ā mātou fautuaga ma ni mea nae fia fakamāonia te fakataunukuga. Ko te Dictionary la, he fua e ō he taumafaiga lava a tagata Tokelau. Ko te fua o he gāluega fitā i nā tauhaga e lahi a ki lātou uma na mafai ke fehoahoani ki te fitā o Ropati. E momoli ai ta mātou fakafetai kia te ia. Ko ia foki he fānau lava e ā Tokelau. Tēnei lā kua tau te galuega ki tona ikuga. E momoli atu foki ta mātou fakafetai lahi lele ki te Matāgāluega a te Anthropology i te Iunivehite o Aukilani ona ko nā fautuaga e lahi na maua ai e tuha ma nā taualumaga uma o tēnei gāluega.

Ko ta mātou fakafetai mulimuli lā tēnei, e momoli atu ki te Polokalame Atiake a Mālō-Kau-Fakatahi (UNDP) mō to fehoahoani tau tupe na ki Iātou tuku-maia mō te galuega tēnei.

Amusia Patea—Faipule o Atafu

Faafoi Sakalia—Faipule o Fakaofo

Tauanau Kele—Faipule o Nukunonu

Tokelau Dictionary

The dictionary is 484 pages and may take a few moments to load up. An English to Tokelauan word list is available below to help you with your search. Use the magnifying glass symbol to search and click on the 4 arrows icon to expand the view. Copyright belongs to the Government of Tokelau.

English - Tokelau Word List

The Word List is 69 pages and may take a few moments to load up. Use the magnifying glass symbol to search and click on the 4 arrows icon to expand the view.