Word
tonga
Phoneticston·ga
US/ˈtɑnɡə/
UK/tˈɒŋɡɐ/
Definition
n. a light carriage with two wheels that is pulled by a horse. It is a common way to travel in parts of India and Pakistan.
n. a light, two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle used for transport in the Indian subcontinent. Typically features a canopy and seats for four passengers, with two facing forward and two backward.
Examples
“The tourists took a tonga to see the old city gates.”
“In many smaller towns, the rhythmic sound of a tonga on the road is still a familiar part of daily life.”
“While modern taxis have largely replaced traditional transport, the tonga remains a popular choice for those seeking a nostalgic journey through the historic districts of Lahore or Delhi.”
Examples
simple
“The tourists took a tonga to see the old city gates.”
contextual
“In many smaller towns, the rhythmic sound of a tonga on the road is still a familiar part of daily life.”
complex
“While modern taxis have largely replaced traditional transport, the tonga remains a popular choice for those seeking a nostalgic journey through the historic districts of Lahore or Delhi.”
Usage
Commonly used in South Asian contexts; the driver is often referred to as a 'tongawalla'.
Etymology
From Tongan Tonga, from Samoan toga (“southern”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/tonga