tokelau islands: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ˌtɒkəˈlaʊ ˈaɪləndz/US/ˌtoʊkəˈlaʊ ˈaɪləndz/

Formal/Neutral

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “tokelau islands” mean?

A group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, forming a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, forming a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand.

Refers to the geographical, cultural, and political entity known for its Polynesian heritage, reliance on fishing and remittances, and vulnerability to climate change due to low elevation.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in usage; both variants refer to the same territory.

Connotations

Neutral geographical and political term.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both British and American English, primarily used in specific contexts like geography or news.

Grammar

How to Use “tokelau islands” in a Sentence

N/A

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
visit Tokelau Islandsin Tokelau Islandsthe Tokelau Islands
medium
travel to Tokelau Islandspeople of Tokelau Islandsgovernment of Tokelau Islands
weak
climate of Tokelau Islandsculture in Tokelau Islandshistory of Tokelau Islands

Examples

Examples of “tokelau islands” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Tokelau Islands community is closely knit.
  • We studied Tokelau Islands history in detail.

American English

  • The Tokelau Islands government issued a new policy.
  • She researched Tokelau Islands ecosystems.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rarely used; may appear in contexts like international trade, tourism, or development projects related to the Pacific region.

Academic

Common in disciplines such as geography, anthropology, political science, and environmental studies for research on island territories.

Everyday

Used in travel discussions, news reports about climate change or Pacific cultures, and general knowledge contexts.

Technical

Employed in maritime navigation, climate science, and political analysis regarding non-self-governing territories.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “tokelau islands”

Strong

the Tokelau atollsthe Tokelau territory

Neutral

Tokelauthe Tokelau group

Weak

the Pacific islandsthe territorythe island group

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “tokelau islands”

  • Misspelling as 'Tokelau Island' (singular) instead of 'Islands'.
  • Mispronouncing by stressing the wrong syllable, e.g., /ˈtoʊkəlɔː/ instead of /ˌtoʊkəˈlaʊ/.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

In the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of Samoa.

It is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand.

Three atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo.

Tokelauan and English are the official languages.

A group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, forming a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand.

Tokelau islands is usually formal/neutral in register.

Tokelau islands: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒkəˈlaʊ ˈaɪləndz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtoʊkəˈlaʊ ˈaɪləndz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'toe' + 'kayak' + 'low' islands – imagining low-lying islands where one might kayak, to remember the pronunciation and setting.

Conceptual Metaphor

Islands as isolated communities or paradises at risk, reflecting vulnerability and unique cultural preservation.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
are a dependent territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific.
Multiple Choice

What best describes Tokelau Islands?