Question Words

1. 'O le ā?

   What?

   Usage

   Works on its own; point at the thing as you say it

2. 'O fea?

   Where?

   Usage

   Ask for a place; add a place or object name in front to make a sentence

3. 'O āfea?

   When?

   Usage

   For departure times and opening hours

4. 'O ai?

   Who?

   Usage

   To ask who is in charge or whose something is

5. 'Aiseā?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; in some languages it sounds blunt, so smile

6. Fa'apēfea?

   How?

   Usage

   For how to get somewhere or how to use something

7. E fia?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks a count; hold up fingers to confirm the number

8. E fia le tau?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The core shopping question; ask them to show the figure on a calculator

9. 'O le fea?

   Which one?

   Usage

   When you need someone to pick from several options

10. 'O le ā lenei?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at an unfamiliar item in a market or eatery

11. 'O fea le faleuila?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used travel questions — memorise it whole

12. 'O le ā le taimi?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Ask the time; having them show a clock face avoids number confusion

13. E iai sau?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks about stock or vacancy; put it after the name of the thing

14. E mafai ona e fai?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Checks whether a request is possible; also opens a price negotiation

15. E iai se totogi?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    For luggage storage, Wi-Fi, or entry — check before you use it

16. E leai se totogi?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Confirm that a sample, a bottle of water, or a service costs nothing

17. E lelei?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    For asking permission; use it with a pointing gesture

18. E lē mafai?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    For double-checking after being turned down

19. Ua manuia oe?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Checking on someone's wellbeing — a different role from asking permission

20. E moni?

    Really?

    Usage

    A quick check when something surprises you

21. E mautinoa lava?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Pressing for confirmation of a fact — more formal than a quick check when something surprises you

22. 'O fea e te sau ai?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A natural conversation opener

23. 'O ai lou igoa?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A natural conversation opener

24. E fia ou tausaga?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking a stranger's age directly, especially a woman's, can feel intrusive — best kept to close friends or children

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how many are your years"

25. E mafai ona ta pu'e fa'atasi se ata?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    For asking permission

Browse all TravelPhrases languages