Hotel

1. E iai se potu mo a'u?

   E-i-ai-se-po-tu-mo-a-'u

   Is there a room for me?

   Usage

   Used when checking in at a hotel or guesthouse in Samoa

   Grammar Note

   "E iai" expresses existence ("there is"). "Se" is the indefinite article (a/an). Samoan definite article: "le"; indefinite: "se"

2. Ou te mana'o i se fale moe

   Ou-te-ma-na-'o-i-se-fa-le-mo-e

   I would like a place to sleep

   Usage

   Basic expression when looking for accommodation

   Grammar Note

   "Fale" means house/building and forms many place names: "fale'oloa" (shop), "fale ma'i" (hospital). "Moe" = sleep/rest

3. Fale afolau

   Fa-le-a-fo-lau

   Traditional Samoan open-sided house (fale)

   Usage

   Many tourist sites in Samoa offer stays in traditional open-sided fale (houses without walls)

   Grammar Note

   The traditional Samoan "fale" has no walls; woven blinds ("pola") provide privacy. Family gatherings in the fale are central to fa'asamoa life

4. E iai se fale'aiga i lenei fale moe?

   E-i-ai-se-fa-le-'ai-ga-i-le-nei-fa-le-mo-e

   Is there a restaurant in this hotel?

   Usage

   Used to check hotel facilities

   Grammar Note

   "E iai" expresses present existence ("there is"). "Fale'aiga" = restaurant, from "fale" (house) + "'aiga" (meal). Samoa offers a range of accommodation from traditional fale to modern resorts

5. Fa'amolemole fa'alelei le potu

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le-fa-'a-le-lei-le-po-tu

   Please clean the room

   Usage

   Used to request room cleaning from hotel staff

   Grammar Note

   "Fa'alelei" = "fa'a-" (make it like) + "lelei" (good/beautiful) → to make good/clean. Combined with "fa'amolemole" (please) for a polite request

6. E iai se wifi i lenei fale moe?

   E-i-ai-se-wi-fi-i-le-nei-fa-le-mo-e

   Is there Wi-Fi in this hotel?

   Usage

   Used to check internet availability at accommodation

   Grammar Note

   Loanword "wifi" is adapted to Samoan phonology. Samoan has a CV (consonant-vowel) syllable structure; foreign words are adapted to fit this pattern

7. Ou te mana'o e alu ese mai le fale moe

   Ou-te-ma-na-'o-e-a-lu-e-se-ma-i-le-fa-le-mo-e

   I would like to check out

   Usage

   Used when checking out of a hotel

   Grammar Note

   Samoan infinitives use "e + verb". "Alu" is the basic verb for "go/leave". "Ou te mana'o e..." is the standard "I want to..." construction

8. E iai se potu tele?

   E-i-ai-se-po-tu-te-le

   Is there a larger room?

   Usage

   Used when requesting a bigger room

   Grammar Note

   Samoan adjectives are typically post-nominal (follow the noun): "potu tele" = big room. Adjectives also function as predicates, like verbs

9. 'O le a le numera o lo'u potu?

   'O-le-a-le-nu-me-ra-o-lo-'u-po-tu

   What is my room number?

   Usage

   Used at check-in or when confused about your room number

   Grammar Note

   "Numera" is borrowed from English "number". "Lo'u" is the 1st person singular "o"-class possessive. The "o"-class is used for inalienable possession including dwelling places

10. Ua tete'e le fa'amalologa

    Ua-te-te-'e-le-fa-'a-ma-lo-lo-ga

    The air conditioning is broken

    Usage

    Used to report a broken facility to hotel staff

    Grammar Note

    "Ua" marks state change. "Fa'amalologa" = "fa'a-" (causative) + "malologa" (coolness/rest). Samoan uses prefixes to express new technological concepts

Browse all TravelPhrases languages