Schedule & Booking

1. 'O le a le taimi e amataina ai?

   'O le a le tai-mi e a-ma-tai-na ai?

   What time does it start?

   Usage

   When checking the start time of an event or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Taimi" is borrowed from English "time." "Amataina" is the passive of "amata" (to start) with the suffix "-ina."

2. 'O le a le taimi e tatala ai?

   'O le a le tai-mi e ta-ta-la ai?

   What time does it open?

   Usage

   When checking opening hours of a shop or attraction

   Grammar Note

   The antonym of "tatala" (open) is "tapuni" (close). "E tatala" (is open) and "e tapuni" (is closed) form a key pair.

3. 'O le a le taimi e tapuni ai?

   'O le a le tai-mi e ta-pu-ni ai?

   What time does it close?

   Usage

   When checking closing time

   Grammar Note

   "Ai" is a pronominal element standing in for place/time. "E tapuni ai" means "closes at it (that time)."

4. 'O afea le va'alele?

   'O a-fe-a le va-'a-le-le?

   When is the flight?

   Usage

   When asking about the flight schedule

   Grammar Note

   "Va'alele" = "va'a" (vessel/canoe) + "lele" (to fly) = "flying vessel" = airplane.

5. Ua suia le polokalame.

   U-a sui-a le po-lo-ka-la-me.

   The schedule has been changed.

   Usage

   When informing of a schedule change

   Grammar Note

   "Suia" is the passive form of "sui" (to change) with the suffix "-a." "Ua suia" marks completion/current state: "has been changed."

6. Ou te fia fa'amautu se nofoaga.

   Ou te fi-a fa-'a-mau-tu se no-fo-a-ga.

   I want to make a reservation.

   Usage

   When making a reservation for a restaurant or tour

   Grammar Note

   "Fa'amautu" is fa'a- (causative) + mautū ("to stand firm") — to secure, to book.

7. 'O le a le taimi o le pasi?

   'O le a le tai-mi o le pa-si?

   What time is the bus?

   Usage

   When checking the bus schedule

   Grammar Note

   "Pasi" is from English "bus." Samoan syllables always end in a vowel, so the loanword is adapted with a final "-i."

8. E fia minute e sao ai?

   E fi-a mi-nu-te e sao ai?

   How many minutes until arrival?

   Usage

   When checking arrival time

   Grammar Note

   "E fia" asks about quantity. "Sao ai" = "arrive at it (the destination/time)," where "ai" is a pronominal placeholder.

9. Ou te sauni e alu.

   Ou te sau-ni e a-lu.

   I am ready to go.

   Usage

   When indicating readiness to depart

   Grammar Note

   "Sauni" (ready) functions as a stative predicate. "Ou te sauni e alu" = "I am ready to go."

10. Fa'amolemole fa'amanatu mai le polokalame.

    Fa-'a-mo-le-mo-le fa-'a-ma-na-tu mai le po-lo-ka-la-me.

    Please remind me of the schedule.

    Usage

    When asking for a reminder about the schedule

    Grammar Note

    "Fa'amanatu mai" = causative "fa'a-" + "manatu" (thought/memory) + the directional "mai" (toward me) = "cause me to remember" = remind me.

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