Tuvalu

name

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”).

1. A country and archipelago of Polynesia in Oceania. Capital and largest city: Funafuti.

   “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.”

   “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.”