Internet & WiFi

1. 'O le a le upu fa'ailoa o le WiFi?

   'O le a le u-pu fa-'ai-lo-a o le WiFi?

   What is the WiFi password?

   Usage

   When asking for the WiFi password

   Grammar Note

   "'O le a" is a basic question phrase meaning "what is." It combines "'o" (presentative particle) + "le a" (what).

2. E leai se fesoota'iga i le initaneti.

   E le-ai se fe-so-o-ta-'i-ga i le i-ni-ta-ne-ti.

   There is no internet connection.

   Usage

   When reporting no internet connection

   Grammar Note

   "E leai" is the negative of "e iai" (there is). These two form the core existential pair in Samoan.

3. Ou te mana'o e fa'atauina se SIM kata.

   Ou te ma-na-'o e fa-'a-tau-i-na se SIM ka-ta.

   I want to purchase a SIM card.

   Usage

   When purchasing a local SIM card

   Grammar Note

   "Fa'atauina" is the transitive/passive form of "fa'atau" (to trade/buy). The suffix "-ina" marks the direct object.

4. E televave le initaneti iinei?

   E te-le-va-ve le i-ni-ta-ne-ti i-i-nei?

   Is the internet fast here?

   Usage

   When checking internet speed

   Grammar Note

   "Iinei" (here) combines preposition "i" with demonstrative "inei." Its counterparts are "iei" (there) and "ilafo" (over there).

5. Ou te mana'o i se charger mo la'u telefoni.

   Ou te ma-na-'o i se charger mo la-'u te-le-fo-ni.

   I need a charger.

   Usage

   When looking for a phone charger

   Grammar Note

   ⚠ There is no Samoan word for "charger", so the English word is kept. "Ta'avale fa'ata'avalevale o le telefoni" means "the phone's rolling vehicle" and is meaningless; "fa'asalalauga" means broadcast / advertisement (fa'asalalau = to publicise), not charger. The loanwords "jeese" and "seasa" do not exist, and j is not a letter of the Samoan alphabet.

6. 'O le a lou numera telefoni?

   'O le a lou nu-me-ra te-le-fo-ni?

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   When exchanging phone numbers

   Grammar Note

   "Numera telefoni" (phone number) is a compound of English loanwords adapted to Samoan. In Samoan, modifiers generally follow head nouns.

7. E iai se fale e mafai ai ona fa'aaoga le initaneti?

   E i-ai se fa-le e ma-fa-i ai o-na fa-'a-a-o-ga le i-ni-ta-ne-ti?

   Is there an internet café?

   Usage

   When looking for an internet café

   Grammar Note

   There is no established word for "internet café", so the phrase says "a place where the internet can be used". "Fale tifaga" means a cinema and is not used here.

8. E le aoga le telefoni.

   E le ao-ga le te-le-fo-ni.

   The phone is not working.

   Usage

   When reporting that a phone is not working

   Grammar Note

   "E le aoga" (not useful/not working) uses the structure "e" (predicative particle) + "le" (negation) + "aoga" (useful).

9. Fa'amolemole ave mai lou imeli.

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le a-ve mai lou i-me-li.

   Please give me your email address.

   Usage

   When exchanging email addresses

   Grammar Note

   "Imeli" is borrowed from English "email." "Ave mai" (bring to me) is also used metaphorically for sharing information.

10. Ou te mana'o e download le polokalame.

    Ou te ma-na-'o e download le po-lo-ka-la-me.

    I want to download the app.

    Usage

    When wanting to download a smartphone app

    Grammar Note

    Samoan has no established word for "download"; the English word is used as-is. "Polokalame" is a loan from "programme".

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