Café & Drinks

1. Fa'amolemole ave mai se ipu vai.

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le a-ve mai se i-pu vai.

   Please bring a cup of water.

   Usage

   A polite way to ask for a glass of water

   Grammar Note

   "Ave mai" (bring here) combines "ave" (to bring/take) + "mai" (towards speaker), meaning "bring to me."

2. Ou te mana'o i le kofe.

   Ou te ma-na-'o i le ko-fe.

   I want coffee.

   Usage

   When ordering coffee

   Grammar Note

   "Ou te" is the first-person singular subject pronoun. Samoan subject pronouns precede the verb in this construction.

3. E iai le 'ava?

   E i-ai le 'a-va?

   Is there kava (ava)?

   Usage

   When asking if the traditional Samoan drink ava (kava) is available

   Grammar Note

   "E iai" is the existential expression "there is." Its negation "e leai" means "there is not."

4. Ou te mana'o i le vai malulu.

   Ou te ma-na-'o i le vai ma-lu-lu.

   I want cold water.

   Usage

   When requesting cold water in the tropical climate

   Grammar Note

   "Malulu" is the adjective for "cold/cool." Its antonym "mafanafana" means "warm."

5. E maua le susu?

   E mau-a le su-su?

   Can I get milk?

   Usage

   When checking if milk is available

   Grammar Note

   "E maua" (can be obtained) asks about possibility or availability. The particle "e" introduces predicates.

6. Ou te fiainu.

   Ou te fi-ai-nu.

   I am thirsty.

   Usage

   When expressing thirst

   Grammar Note

   The prefix "fia-" means "wanting to/feeling like." It creates "fiainu" (thirsty/wanting to drink) and "fiaai" (hungry/wanting to eat).

7. Ua lava, fa'afetai.

   U-a la-va, fa-'a-fe-tai.

   That's enough, thank you.

   Usage

   When declining more drinks or expressing satisfaction

   Grammar Note

   "Lava" is a versatile adverb meaning "indeed/enough." "Ua lava" = "it is enough," while "talofa lava" = "truly hello."

8. E iai se niu?

   E i-ai se ni-u?

   Is there a coconut?

   Usage

   When requesting fresh coconut juice (a common drink in the South Pacific)

   Grammar Note

   "Niu" (coconut) is used across Polynesian languages. "Se" functions like an indefinite article, meaning "a/some."

9. Fa'amolemole tu'uina mai le pili.

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le tu-'u-i-na mai le pi-li.

   Please bring the bill.

   Usage

   When finished drinking and ready to pay

   Grammar Note

   "Mai" attached to the verb adds the direction "towards the speaker" — "bring here." Directional particles are important in Samoan.

10. Ou te fia inu le uaina.

    Ou te fi-a i-nu le u-a-i-na.

    I want to drink wine.

    Usage

    When ordering wine

    Grammar Note

    "Fia inu" combines the desiderative prefix "fia-" (want to) with the verb "inu" (to drink).

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