Culture & Etiquette

1. 'O le fa'asamoa e taua tele.

   'O le fa-'a-sa-mo-a e tau-a te-le.

   The Samoan way of life is very important.

   Usage

   When expressing respect for Samoan culture and tradition

   Grammar Note

   "Fa'a-" is a prefix meaning "in the manner of." "Fa'asamoa" refers to the entire system of Samoan customs and values.

2. 'O fea le maota o le matai?

   'O fe-a le mao-ta o le ma-tai?

   Where is the chief's house?

   Usage

   When visiting a Samoan village and locating the chief's meeting house

   Grammar Note

   Samoan has a formal register "gagana fa'aaloalo." "Maota" is the honorific form of "fale" (house), used when referring to chiefs.

3. Fa'amolemole, ta te siva.

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le, ta te si-va.

   Please, let us dance.

   Usage

   When inviting someone to join the traditional Samoan siva dance

   Grammar Note

   "Ta te" is the dual inclusive first person meaning "we two (including you)." Samoan distinguishes dual and plural forms.

4. 'O le 'ava e inu i totonu o le fono.

   'O le 'a-va e i-nu i to-to-nu o le fo-no.

   Ava (kava) is drunk during the council meeting.

   Usage

   When discussing the traditional Samoan kava ceremony

   Grammar Note

   The "'" before "ava" marks the glottal stop, a phonemic consonant in Samoan that changes word meanings.

5. E maua fea le fale tele?

   E mau-a fe-a le fa-le te-le?

   Where can I find the large meeting house?

   Usage

   When looking for the traditional Samoan fale (open-sided thatched building)

   Grammar Note

   "Fale" (house) is the basic word for building in Samoan. "Fale tele" (big house) is the village meeting hall with key social functions.

6. 'O le pe'a 'o le tatau o le tane.

   'O le pe-'a 'o le ta-tau o le ta-ne.

   The pe'a tattoo is for men.

   Usage

   When discussing Samoan traditional tattooing culture

   Grammar Note

   "Tatau" is the etymological origin of English "tattoo." The word spread from Samoan through Polynesian languages to English. "Pe'a" is the traditional male tattoo (it is spelled like the word for the bat).

7. Afio mai! Ia tatou fa'asoa.

   A-fi-o mai! Ia ta-tou fa-'a-so-a.

   Heartfelt welcome, let us share.

   Usage

   When expressing the traditional Samoan spirit of hospitality

   Grammar Note

   "Afio mai" = welcome (to a guest). "Ia tatou ..." is the inclusive invitation form "let us ...". "Fa'asoa" = to share.

8. 'O le fa'asamoa e fa'atupu le alofa.

   'O le fa-'a-sa-mo-a e fa-'a-tu-pu le a-lo-fa.

   The Samoan way fosters love.

   Usage

   When discussing "alofa" (love), the central value of Samoan culture

   Grammar Note

   "Alofa" shares the same root as Hawaiian "aloha," meaning love/greeting. It is a core concept in Samoan culture.

9. E mafai ona ou pu'eata?

   E ma-fai o-na ou pu-'e-a-ta?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   When asking permission to take photographs at ceremonies or cultural sites

   Grammar Note

   "Pu'eata" combines "pu'e" (to catch/capture) + "ata" (shadow/image) — literally "to capture an image."

10. E iai tu ma aga e ulufale ai i le fale.

    E i-ai tu ma a-ga e u-lu-fa-le ai i le fa-le.

    There is a way to enter the fale (house protocol).

    Usage

    When explaining the proper protocol for entering a Samoan home

    Grammar Note

    "E iai ..." = there is ... "Tu ma aga" = customs/protocol. "Ai" in "e ulufale ai" refers back to the protocol: "the customs by which one enters the house."

Browse all TravelPhrases languages