Hot Springs & Baths

1. 'O fea le vai vevela po'o le ta'elega o le nu'u?

   Where is the hot spring / public bath?

   Usage

   Used to find a hot spring or public bath

   Grammar Note

   vai vevela = hot water/spring. A bathing place is ta'elega (also ta'elefaga). Ta'elega also means a party of bathers; the possessive separates the two senses: "'O le ta'elega o le nu'u" (the bathing-place of the village) versus "'O le ta'elega a teine" (a party of bathers), so o forces the place reading. tatalo means "to pray" and is not a bathing word

2. 'O a le itula e mafai ai ona ta'ele?

   What are the bathing hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about bathing hours

   Grammar Note

   ta'ele = to bathe. (tatalo means "to pray".)

3. E fa'atagaina tagata e iai ni tatau 'o lo'o i luga o le pa'u?

   Are people with tattoos allowed?

   Usage

   Used to check if tattooed guests are permitted

   Grammar Note

   A tattoo is tatau (the source of the English word "tattoo"). Tusi means only "a writing / a letter" and "to mark" — no tattoo sense. The traditional male body tattoo is the pe'a and the female one the malu, both culturally significant. Skin is pa'u (also iliola)

4. E fefiloi tane ma fafine pe fa'aesea?

   Are the baths mixed-gender or separated?

   Usage

   Used to ask about gender separation in bath facilities

   Grammar Note

   tane = man/male, fafine = woman/female. fa'aesea = separated (fa'a- causative + esea). "Mixed" is fefiloi; fesuia'i is a different word meaning "to exchange/alternate"

5. E iai se potu ta'ele tumaoti?

   Is there a private bath room available?

   Usage

   Used to ask about private bathing rooms

   Grammar Note

   A bathroom is potu ta'ele (potu = room, ta'ele = to bathe). tumaoti = private/exclusive (privacy is also tulaga patino, tulaga maoti). tatalo means "to pray" and is not a bathing word

6. E vevela fia le vai?

   What is the water temperature?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the water temperature

   Grammar Note

   e vevela fia = how hot is it? vevela = hot, fia = how much/many

7. E saunia ni solo po'o e mafai ona nono'o?

   Are towels provided or available to rent?

   Usage

   Used to ask about towel policy

   Grammar Note

   saunia = to prepare/provide. A towel is solo (also soloi; solota'e = a bathing towel; 'ie soloi; beach towel = solo taele e faaaoga i le matafaga). 'Ie is not cloth in general — it is a fine native mat — so 'ie fou reads "a new fine mat", not "towel"

8. 'O fea ou te ta'ele ai a'o le'i alu i le vai?

   Where should I wash before entering the bath?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the pre-bath wash area

   Grammar Note

   a'o le'i = before (temporal conjunction). "To wash oneself" is ta'ele. u'u means "to oil, to anoint with oil" and is not a bathing word

9. 'O le a le eseesega o le puna i totonu ma fafo?

   What are the differences between the indoor and outdoor pools?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the features of indoor vs outdoor pools

   Grammar Note

   eseesega = difference (noun from ese = different, reduplicated)

10. E vevela tele le vai — e iai se puna e ma'alili?

    The water is very hot — is there a cooler pool?

    Usage

    Used to find a cooler pool option

    Grammar Note

    tele = much/many. e vevela tele = very hot (predicate + intensifier). "Cold" is ma'alili and keeps its koma liliu

11. 'O a ni minerale i lenei puna?

    What minerals are in this spring?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the mineral content of a spring

    Grammar Note

    "minerale" is English "mineral" adapted to Samoan syllable structure (every syllable ends in a vowel). Samoan nouns do not inflect for number — plurality is carried by the indefinite article "ni". "'O a ni ...?" = "what ... are there?"

12. E fa'apefea ona fa'aaogaina le faleteuoloa?

    How do I use the locker?

    Usage

    Used to ask how to use the locker

    Grammar Note

    fa'apefea = how/in what manner. faleteuoloa = storage house (fale + teuoloa = store goods)

13. Fa'amolemole aua e ave se telefoni po'o se mea pu'e ata i totonu.

    Please don't bring your phone or camera inside.

    Usage

    Used to inform guests of no-phone and no-camera rules

    Grammar Note

    aua = do not (prohibition). mea pu'e ata = thing that captures images = camera

14. E fia le taimi tatau ona ou ta'ele?

    How long should I soak?

    Usage

    Used to ask the recommended soaking duration

    Grammar Note

    tatau = ought to/should. e fia le taimi = how much time. To bathe is ta'ele. tatalo means "to pray" and is a different word

15. E fia le totogi mo le ulufale?

    What is the entry fee?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the entry fee

    Grammar Note

    totogi = payment/fee. ulufale = entering the house = entry (ulu = enter + fale = house)

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