Tuvalu

See also: Túvalú and tuvalu

English

Flag of Tuvalu

map of Tuvalu

Etymology

From Tuvaluan Tuuvalu (literally “eight standing together”) in reference to the eight inhabited islands of Tuvalu, although Tuvalu consists of nine islands. The ninth island, Niulakita, was inhabited in 1949. Compare to Proto-Austronesian *walu (“eight”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌtuːvəˈluː/, /tuːˈvɑː.luː/, /ˈtuː.və.luː/

  • Audio (UK):

    (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /tuˈvɑ.lu/, /ˈtu.və.lu/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (Australian) IPA^(key): /tʉːˈvɐːlʉː/
• Rhymes: -uː

Proper noun

Tuvalu

2. A country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania. Capital and largest city: Funafuti.
   • 2024 March 22, Emma Bubola, “The A.I. Boom Makes Millions for an Unlikely Industry Player: Anguilla”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     Tuvalu, a string of islands northwest of Australia, sold the rights to its suffix, “.tv,” to a Canadian entrepreneur for $50 million, and used the money to put electricity on the outer islands, create scholarships and finance the process to join the United Nations.

   • 2026 March 4, “Taiwan foreign minister visits Tuvalu to strengthen diplomatic ties”, in Taiwan News‎^[2], archived from the original on 4 March 2026, Politics‎^[3]:

     This marks Lin’s [translating 林 (Lín)] third visit to Tuvalu. During a welcome ceremony, Lin said he was pleased to see Prime Minister Feleti Teo and other senior officials and looked forward to reviewing projects showcasing bilateral cooperation.

Derived terms

• Tuvaluan

Translations

country in Oceania

• Afrikaans: Toewaloe, Tuvalu
• Amharic: ቱቫሉ (tuvalu)
• Arabic: تُوفَالُو f (tufālū)
• Armenian: Տուվալու (Tuvalu)
• Assamese: টুভালু (tubhalu)
• Asturian: Tuvalu (ast)
• Azerbaijani: Tuvalu (az)
• Bengali: টুভালু (bn) (ṭubhalu)
• Breton: Tuvalu
• Bulgarian: Тува́лу (bg) n (Tuválu)
• Burmese: တူဗားလူ (tuba:lu)
• Catalan: Tuvalu (ca)
• Cherokee: ᏚᏩᎷ (duwalu)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 圖瓦盧 / 图瓦卢 (zh) (Túwǎlú) (Mainland China), 吐瓦魯 / 吐瓦鲁 (zh) (Tǔwǎlǔ) (Taiwan)

• Czech: Tuvalu (cs)
• Danish: Tuvalu (da)
• Dutch: Tuvalu (nl)
• Esperanto: Tuvalo (eo)
• Finnish: Tuvalu (fi)
• French: Tuvalu (fr)
• Georgian: ტუვალუ (ṭuvalu)
• German: Tuvalu (de)
• Greek: Τουβαλού (el) (Touvaloú)
• Gujarati: તુવાલુ (tuvālu)
• Hebrew: טובלו f (tuvalú)
• Hindi: तुवालु (hi) m (tuvālu)
• Hungarian: Tuvalu (hu)
• Icelandic: Túvalú n
• Ido: please add this translation if you can
• Interlingua: Tuvalu
• Irish: Tuvalu
• Italian: Tuvalu (it)
• Japanese: ツバル (ja) (Tsubaru)
• Kalenjin: Tuvalu
• Kamba: Tuvalu
• Kannada: ತುವಾಲು (kn) (tuvālu)
• Khmer: ទូវ៉ាលូ (km) (tuuvaaluu)
• Kikuyu: Tuvalu
• Korean: 투발루 (ko) (Tuballu)
• Luhya: Tuvalu
• Luo: Tuvalu
• Macedonian: Ту́валу n (Túvalu)
• Malayalam: തൂവാലു (tūvālu)
• Māori: Tūwaru
• Marathi: तुवालू (tuvālū)
• Meru: Tuvalu
• Navajo: Tʼoobááloo
• Nepali: please add this translation if you can
• Norman: Tuvalu (Jersey)
• Norwegian: Tuvalu
• Odia: ଟୁଭାଲୋ (ṭubhālo)
• Pohnpeian: Dupahlu
• Polish: Tuvalu (pl), Tuwalu (pl)
• Portuguese: Tuvalu (pt)
• Punjabi: ਤੁਵਾਲੂ (tuvālū)
• Romanian: Tuvalu (ro) n
• Russian: Тува́лу (ru) f or n (Tuválu)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: Ту̀валу m

  Latin: Tùvalu (sh) m

• Slovak: Tuvalu n
• Spanish: Tuvalu (es)
• Swahili: Tuvalu (sw)
• Swedish: Tuvalu (sv)
• Tagalog: Tubalu
• Tamil: துவாலு (tuvālu)
• Telugu: please add this translation if you can
• Thai: ตูวาลู (th) (dtuu-waa-luu)
• Turkish: Tuvalu (tr)
• Turkmen: Tuwalu
• Ukrainian: Тува́лу (Tuválu)
• Uzbek: Tuvalu (uz)
• Vietnamese: Tu-va-lu (羞𢯠盧)
• Volapük: please add this translation if you can
• Yoruba: Túfálù

See also

• Appendix:Countries of the world

countries in Oceania (appendix)edit

• Australia
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Niue
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

• Funafuti

Anagrams

• Tuluva

Afrikaans

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. alternative spelling of Toewaloe: Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Related terms

• Tuvaluaan
• Tuvaluaans

Central Nahuatl

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈtuvalu]

Proper noun

Tuvalu n (indeclinable, relational adjective tuvalský, demonym Tuvalan)

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Danish

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Related terms

• tuvaler
• tuvalsk

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌtuˈvaː.lu/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aːlu
• Hyphenation: Tu‧va‧lu

Proper noun

Tuvalu n

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Finnish

Etymology

From Tuvaluan Tuuvalu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtuʋɑlu/, [ˈt̪uʋɑ̝lu]
• Rhymes: -uʋɑlu
• Syllabification^(key): Tu‧va‧lu
• Hyphenation^(key): Tu‧va‧lu

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Declension

Inflection of Tuvalu (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		Tuvalu	—
genitive		Tuvalun	—
partitive		Tuvalua	—
illative		Tuvaluun	—
		singular	plural
nominative		Tuvalu	—
accusative	nom.	Tuvalu	—
	gen.	Tuvalun
genitive		Tuvalun	—
partitive		Tuvalua	—
inessive		Tuvalussa	—
elative		Tuvalusta	—
illative		Tuvaluun	—
adessive		Tuvalulla	—
ablative		Tuvalulta	—
allative		Tuvalulle	—
essive		Tuvaluna	—
translative		Tuvaluksi	—
abessive		Tuvalutta	—
instructive		—	—
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Tuvalu (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Tuvaluni — accusative nom. Tuvaluni — gen. Tuvaluni genitive Tuvaluni — partitive Tuvaluani — inessive Tuvalussani — elative Tuvalustani — illative Tuvaluuni — adessive Tuvalullani — ablative Tuvalultani — allative Tuvalulleni — essive Tuvalunani — translative Tuvalukseni — abessive Tuvaluttani — instructive — — comitative — — second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Tuvalusi — accusative nom. Tuvalusi — gen. Tuvalusi genitive Tuvalusi — partitive Tuvaluasi — inessive Tuvalussasi — elative Tuvalustasi — illative Tuvaluusi — adessive Tuvalullasi — ablative Tuvalultasi — allative Tuvalullesi — essive Tuvalunasi — translative Tuvaluksesi — abessive Tuvaluttasi — instructive — — comitative — — first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Tuvalumme — accusative nom. Tuvalumme — gen. Tuvalumme genitive Tuvalumme — partitive Tuvaluamme — inessive Tuvalussamme — elative Tuvalustamme — illative Tuvaluumme — adessive Tuvalullamme — ablative Tuvalultamme — allative Tuvalullemme — essive Tuvalunamme — translative Tuvaluksemme — abessive Tuvaluttamme — instructive — — comitative — — second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Tuvalunne — accusative nom. Tuvalunne — gen. Tuvalunne genitive Tuvalunne — partitive Tuvaluanne — inessive Tuvalussanne — elative Tuvalustanne — illative Tuvaluunne — adessive Tuvalullanne — ablative Tuvalultanne — allative Tuvalullenne — essive Tuvalunanne — translative Tuvaluksenne — abessive Tuvaluttanne — instructive — — comitative — — third-person possessor singular plural nominative Tuvalunsa — accusative nom. Tuvalunsa — gen. Tuvalunsa genitive Tuvalunsa — partitive Tuvaluaan Tuvaluansa — inessive Tuvalussaan Tuvalussansa — elative Tuvalustaan Tuvalustansa — illative Tuvaluunsa — adessive Tuvalullaan Tuvalullansa — ablative Tuvalultaan Tuvalultansa — allative Tuvalulleen Tuvalullensa — essive Tuvalunaan Tuvalunansa — translative Tuvalukseen Tuvaluksensa — abessive Tuvaluttaan Tuvaluttansa — instructive — — comitative — —

Derived terms

• tuvalu
• tuvalulainen

German

Pronunciation

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Proper noun

Tuvalu n (proper noun, genitive Tuvalus or (optionally with an article) Tuvalu)

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈtuvɒlu]
• Hyphenation: Tu‧va‧lu
• Rhymes: -lu

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	Tuvalu	—
accusative	Tuvalut	—
dative	Tuvalunak	—
instrumental	Tuvaluval	—
causal-final	Tuvaluért	—
translative	Tuvaluvá	—
terminative	Tuvaluig	—
essive-formal	Tuvaluként	—
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	Tuvaluban	—
superessive	Tuvalun	—
adessive	Tuvalunál	—
illative	Tuvaluba	—
sublative	Tuvalura	—
allative	Tuvaluhoz	—
elative	Tuvaluból	—
delative	Tuvaluról	—
ablative	Tuvalutól	—
non-attributive possessive – singular	Tuvalué	—
non-attributive possessive – plural	Tuvaluéi	—

Possessive forms of Tuvalu

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	Tuvalum	—
2nd person sing.	Tuvalud	—
3rd person sing.	Tuvaluja	—
1st person plural	Tuvalunk	—
2nd person plural	Tuvalutok	—
3rd person plural	Tuvalujuk	—

Derived terms

• tuvalui

See also

countries in Oceania: Ausztrália és Óceánia országai (appendix)edit

• Ausztrália
• Cook-szigetek
• Fidzsi-szigetek
• Kiribati
• Marshall-szigetek
• Mikronéziai Szövetségi Államok, (loosely) Mikronézia
• Nauru
• Niue
• Palau
• Pápua Új-Guinea
• Salamon-szigetek
• Szamoa
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Új-Zéland
• Vanuatu

Italian

Etymology

Internationalism.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tu.vaˈlu/^*
• Rhymes: -u

Proper noun

Tuvalu m

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Lithuanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [tʊ²ˈʋɑːlʊ]
• Rhymes: -ɑːlʊ
• Syllabification: Tu‧vã‧lu

Proper noun

Tuvãlu m (uncountable, indeclinable, relational adjective tuvaliẽtiškas, demonym tuvaliẽtis, female demonym tuvaliẽtė)

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

See also

countries in Oceania: Okeãnijos valstýbės (appendix)edit

• Austrãlija
• Fi̇̀džis
• Kiribãtis
• Kùko Sãlos
• Máršalo Sãlos
• Mikronèzija
• Naujóji Zelándija
• Naùru
• Niùjė
• Paláu
• Pãpua Naujóji Gvinė́ja
• Saliãmono Sãlos
• Samòa
• Tònga
• Tuvãlu
• Vanuãtu

Further reading

• “Tuvalu” in Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija [Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia]

Norwegian Bokmål

Flag of Tuvalu

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Related terms

• tuvaler
• tuvalsk

Norwegian Nynorsk

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Related terms

• tuvalar
• tuvalsk

Polish

Alternative forms

• Tuwalu

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Tuvaluan Tuuvalu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tuˈva.lu/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -alu
• Syllabification: Tu‧va‧lu

Proper noun

Tuvalu n (indeclinable, related adjective tuwalski)

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

See also

countries in Oceania: kraje Oceanii (appendix)edit

• Australia
• Fidżi
• Kiribati
• Mikronezja
• Nauru
• Niue
• Nowa Zelandia
• Palau
• Papua-Nowa Gwinea
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Tuvalu ~ Tuwalu
• Vanuatu
• Wyspy Cooka
• Wyspy Marshalla
• Wyspy Salomona

Further reading

• “Tuvalu”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[4] (in Polish)

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /tu.vaˈlu/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /tu.vaˈlu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /tu.vaˈlu/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /tu.baˈlu/ [tu.βaˈlu]

• Rhymes: -u
• Hyphenation: Tu‧va‧lu

Proper noun

Tuvalu m

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Derived terms

• tuvaluano

Spanish

Alternative forms

• Tuvalú

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tuˈbalu/ [t̪uˈβ̞a.lu]

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -alu
• Syllabification: Tu‧va‧lu

Proper noun

Tuvalu ?

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Derived terms

• tuvaluano

Swedish

Proper noun

Tuvalu n (genitive Tuvalus)

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Related terms

• tuvaluan
• tuvaluansk
• tuvaluanska

See also

countries in Oceania: Oceaniens länder (appendix)edit

• Australien
• Cooköarna
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshallöarna
• Mikronesien
• Nauru
• Nya Zeeland
• Palau
• Papua Nya Guinea
• Salomonöarna
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

References

• “Tuvalu”, in Svenska Akademiens ordböcker [Dictionaries of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• Utrikes namnbok (12th ed., 2024)

Turkish

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Tuvalu

1. Tuvalu (a country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania)

Declension

Declension of Tuvalu

	singular
nominative	Tuvalu
accusative	Tuvalu'yu
dative	Tuvalu'ya
locative	Tuvalu'da
ablative	Tuvalu'dan
genitive	Tuvalu'nun

Possessive forms of Tuvalu

	singular	plural
benim (my)	Tuvalu'm	Tuvalularım Tuvalu'larım
senin (your)	Tuvalu'n	Tuvaluların Tuvalu'ların
onun (his/her/its)	Tuvalu'su	Tuvaluları Tuvalu'ları
bizim (our)	Tuvalu'muz	Tuvalularımız Tuvalu'larımız
sizin (your)	Tuvalu'nuz	Tuvalularınız Tuvalu'larınız
onların (their)	Tuvalu'su Tuvaluları Tuvalu'ları	Tuvaluları Tuvalu'ları

Derived terms

• Tuvalulu

See also

countries in Oceania: Okyanusya ülkeleri (appendix)edit

• Avustralya
• Cook Adaları
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshall Adaları
• Mikronezya
• Nauru
• Niue
• Palau
• Papua Yeni Gine
• Samoa
• Solomon Adaları
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Yeni Zelanda