Massage & Spa

1. Ou te mana'omia se fofō

   Ou-te-ma-na-'o-mi-a-se-fo-fo

   I need a traditional healing massage

   Usage

   Used to request a traditional Samoan healing massage (fofō)

   Grammar Note

   "Fofō" is the Samoan traditional healing practice. "Se" is the indefinite article (a/one). Traditional fofō is performed by specialists primarily to treat bone and muscle pain

2. Ou te mana'omia se lomi lomi

   Ou-te-ma-na-'o-mi-a-se-lo-mi-lo-mi

   I need a massage

   Usage

   Used to request a relaxation massage

   Grammar Note

   "Lomi" means to press/knead; reduplicated "lomi lomi" means massage. This term is used across Polynesia. Samoan massage often uses coconut oil (popo)

3. Fa'amolemole lomi malie

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le-lo-mi-ma-li-e

   Please massage gently

   Usage

   Used to request a gentler touch during massage

   Grammar Note

   "Malie" means gentle/calm/pleasing. Traditional Samoan massage includes "gagao", a technique using knuckles and thumbs for deeper pressure

4. Fa'amolemole lomi malosi

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le-lo-mi-ma-lo-si

   Please apply more pressure

   Usage

   Used to request stronger pressure during massage

   Grammar Note

   "Malosi" means strong/powerful, used to indicate desired pressure intensity. It is the opposite of "malie" (gently)

5. E tiga lo'u tua

   E-ti-ga-lo-'u-tu-a

   My back is sore

   Usage

   Used to tell the therapist where you have pain

   Grammar Note

   "Tiga" is the general term for pain/soreness. The body part is "tua"; "tu'a" is a different word meaning outside/behind. "Lo'u" is the 1st person singular "o"-class possessive used for body parts

6. Fa'amolemole fa'aaogā le suau'u popo

   Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le-fa-'a-a-o-ga-le-su-a-u-'u-po-po

   Please use coconut oil

   Usage

   Used to request the use of coconut oil in the massage

   Grammar Note

   "Popo" means coconut in Samoan. Coconut oil is a traditional ingredient in Samoan massage — it softens skin and is believed to promote healing

7. E fia le totogi mo le fofō?

   E-fi-a-le-to-to-gi-mo-le-fo-fo

   What is the cost of a fofō treatment?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the price of a traditional fofō treatment

   Grammar Note

   "E fia" asks about quantity or price. Traditional fofō is typically repaid with "koloa" (fine mats, gifts) rather than money — a cultural norm of reciprocity

8. Ua lelei a'u

   U-a-le-le-i-a-'u

   I feel better now

   Usage

   Used after massage to express relief and gratitude

   Grammar Note

   "Ua" marks a change of state. "Ua lelei a'u" expresses that the speaker has transitioned to a good state — a natural response after healing treatment

9. Fa'afetai lava mo lau tautua

   Fa-'a-fe-tai-la-va-mo-la-u-tau-tu-a

   Thank you very much for your service

   Usage

   Used to sincerely thank the massage practitioner

   Grammar Note

   "Tautua" means service/serving — a core concept in Samoan culture where serving others is a highly valued social virtue

10. Ou te mana'o i se nofoa fofō

    Ou-te-ma-na-'o-i-se-no-fo-a-fo-fō

    I would like a massage chair

    Usage

    Used to request a specific type of massage setup

    Grammar Note

    "Nofoa" means chair/seat, derived from "nofo" (to sit/stay). Modern spas in Samoa increasingly offer chair massage alongside traditional methods

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