Semisi
James, as Tongan and Fijian speakers pronounce it; ultimately from Hebrew Jacob.
Meaning and origin
Tongan has no sound matching the English "j", so when scripture and personal names were translated in the nineteenth century, James came out as Semisi; Fijian took up the same spelling.
How to pronounce Semisi
| English (US) | seh-MEE-see /sɛˈmiːsi/ |
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About this entry
Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.
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