Numbers

1. tasi

   ta-si

   One

   Usage

   The number one; used for counting or expressing quantities

   Grammar Note

   Samoan numerals change with what is being counted. When counting people use "e" (e.g. e tasi le tagata = one person); for objects different constructions apply

2. lua

   lu-a

   Two

   Usage

   The number two; note "lua" also means hole/pit in Samoan

   Grammar Note

   Across Polynesian languages, two is "lua/rua". In Samoan "lua" also means hole/pit, so context distinguishes the meanings

3. tolu

   to-lu

   Three

   Usage

   The number three

   Grammar Note

   "Tolu" (three) is shared across Polynesian languages — evidence of their common ancestral Proto-Polynesian roots

4. fā

   Four

   Usage

   The number four; note the long vowel marked with macron

   Grammar Note

   The macron marks vowel length in Samoan, which is phonemically distinctive. "Fā" vs "fa" — the macron is used in formal orthography to indicate the long vowel

5. lima

   li-ma

   Five

   Usage

   The number five; "lima" also means hand/arm — from the five fingers

   Grammar Note

   "Lima" means both five and hand/arm — a common feature across Polynesian languages reflecting the use of hand-counting in the decimal system

6. ono

   o-no

   Six

   Usage

   The number six

   Grammar Note

   "Ono" means six. Samoan number words all have two or more syllables, giving them a rhythmic quality in speech

7. fitu

   fi-tu

   Seven

   Usage

   The number seven

   Grammar Note

   Seven across Polynesian languages takes forms like "fitu/hitu/vitu" — all from the same Proto-Polynesian root

8. valu

   va-lu

   Eight

   Usage

   The number eight

   Grammar Note

   "Valu" means eight. It also exists as a verb meaning to scratch/scrape — context distinguishes the meanings

9. iva

   i-va

   Nine

   Usage

   The number nine

   Grammar Note

   "Iva" means nine. Across Polynesian languages nine takes the form "iva/iwa" — a shared cognate from Proto-Polynesian

10. sefulu

    se-fu-lu

    Ten

    Usage

    The number ten; "sefulu" is the base for forming larger numbers

    Grammar Note

    "Sefulu" is composed of "se" (one) + "fulu" (ten-unit). Larger numbers are formed as "sefulu ma tasi" (11), "lua sefulu" (20), etc.

11. selau

    se-lau

    One hundred

    Usage

    The number hundred; used when stating prices or large quantities

    Grammar Note

    "Selau" = "se" (one) + "lau" (hundred-unit). Commonly used for prices in Samoan tālā (the Samoan currency)

12. E fia nei?

    E fi-a nei?

    How many? / How much?

    Usage

    A useful phrase to ask about price or quantity

    Grammar Note

    "E fia" asks about quantity or amount. Adding "nei" adds a proximal/present-context nuance. Frequently used in shopping and bargaining

13. E lua sefulu ma le fitu o'u tausaga

    E lu-a se-fu-lu ma le fi-tu o-'u tau-sa-ga

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer with your age. Swap the number to give any other age

    Grammar Note

    Numbers in the twenties are "lua sefulu" (20) + "ma le" + the unit. "Tausaga" = year/age and "o'u" is the first-person singular possessive, so the sentence reads "my years are twenty-seven"

14. E lua sefulu ma le valu o'u tausaga i lenei tausaga

    E lu-a se-fu-lu ma le va-lu o-'u tau-sa-ga i le-nei tau-sa-ga

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Used to state the age you reach in the current year. Samoan does not use a verb "to turn"; it says "this year my years are twenty-eight"

    Grammar Note

    "Tausaga" covers both "year" and "age", which is why the same word appears twice. The time phrase "i lenei tausaga" (this year) goes at the end of the sentence

Browse all TravelPhrases languages