Directions

1. 'O fea le ...?

   'O fe-a le ...?

   Where is the ...?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the location of any place

   Grammar Note

   "'O fea" is the location question phrase. "'O" is the presentative particle; the bare preposition o means "of" and is a different word.

2. Alu sa'o i luma.

   A-lu sa-'o i lu-ma.

   Go straight ahead.

   Usage

   When directing someone to go straight

   Grammar Note

   "I luma" (in front) combines preposition "i" with direction word "luma" (front). The preposition "i" marks location and direction.

3. Liua i le agavale.

   Li-u-a i le a-ga-va-le.

   Turn to the left.

   Usage

   When directing someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Agavale" (left) and "taumatau" (right) are Samoan directional words. "Aga-" is a prefix indicating a direction or side.

4. Liua i le taumatau.

   Li-u-a i le tau-ma-tau.

   Turn to the right.

   Usage

   When directing someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Taumatau" is composed of "tau" (balance/correspond) + "matau" (right). The root "matau" (right) appears across Polynesian languages.

5. E mamao?

   E ma-mao?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   When checking if a destination is far

   Grammar Note

   "E mamao" is a predicate sentence meaning "it is far." The particle "e" introduces predicates in Samoan.

6. Ua ou leiloa.

   U-a ou lei-lo-a.

   I am lost.

   Usage

   When asking for help after getting lost

   Grammar Note

   "Ua" is a perfective aspect marker indicating a completed action or changed state. "Ua leiloa" = "have become lost."

7. E i tafatafa o le fale'oloa.

   E i ta-fa-ta-fa o le fa-le-'o-lo-a.

   It is next to the shop.

   Usage

   When describing a location using a nearby landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Fale'oloa" combines "fale" (house) + "oloa" (goods/property), meaning "house of goods" = shop. "Fale" is used for many types of buildings.

8. 'O le pasi lenei e alu i fea?

   'O le pa-si le-nei e a-lu i fe-a?

   Where does this bus go?

   Usage

   When checking the bus route destination

   Grammar Note

   "Lenei" (this) is the proximal demonstrative. Samoan has a three-way demonstrative system: "lenei" (this), "lena" (that), "lela" (that over there).

9. E fia minute le savali?

   E fi-a mi-nu-te le sa-va-li?

   How many minutes is the walk?

   Usage

   When asking how many minutes to walk to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "E fia" is a quantitative question phrase meaning "how many." "Savali" means "to walk" and also functions as a noun for "walk."

10. Fa'amolemole fa'aali mai le mapa.

    Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le fa-'a-a-li mai le ma-pa.

    Please show me the map.

    Usage

    When wanting to confirm a location on a map

    Grammar Note

    "Mai" is a directional particle meaning "towards the speaker." "Fa'aali mai" = "show (towards me)" — show me.

11. matau

    Right

    Usage

    For taxis and directions — one word stays readable while moving

12. tauagavale

    Left

    Usage

    For taxis and directions

13. sisifo

    West

    Usage

    Also common in place names, as in "Sāmoa i Sisifo" (Western Samoa)

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