Sports & Activities

1. 'O fea le malae ta'aloga?

   'O-fea-le-ma-lae-ta-'a-lo-ga

   Where is the sports ground?

   Usage

   Used when asking for directions to a sports facility

   Grammar Note

   "'O fea" is the Samoan equivalent of "where". Samoan uses VSO word order

2. E fiafia a'u i le lakapi

   E-fi-a-fi-a-a-'u-i-le-la-ka-pi

   I like rugby

   Usage

   Rugby is Samoa's national sport — a great conversation starter

   Grammar Note

   "E fiafia a'u i" is the standard "I like" construction. Rugby (lakapi) is a national pride in Samoa

3. Matou te ta'alo volipolo

   Ma-tou-te-ta-'a-lo-vo-li-po-lo

   We play volleyball

   Usage

   Beach volleyball is popular in Samoa. Used to describe sports activities

   Grammar Note

   "Matou" is the exclusive first-person plural (we, not including you). Samoan distinguishes inclusive vs. exclusive "we"

4. E te mana'o e alu e matamata i le ta'aloga?

   E-te-ma-na-'o-e-a-lu-e-ma-ta-ma-ta-i-le-ta-'a-lo-ga

   Do you want to go watch the game?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone to watch a sports game

   Grammar Note

   "E te mana'o e" forms a yes/no question meaning "do you want to...". "E" before a verb marks present/general tense

5. 'O le ā le sini?

   'O-le-a-le-si-ni

   What is the score?

   Usage

   Used during a game to ask about the current score

   Grammar Note

   "'O le ā" is the Samoan "what is" question form. "Sini" is a native word for a target or goal, used here for the score (a settled term for "score" is unconfirmed)

6. Ua manumalo i latou

   U-a-ma-nu-ma-lo-i-la-tou

   They won

   Usage

   Used to announce that a team has won

   Grammar Note

   "Ua" marks perfect/completed aspect in Samoan. "manumalo" is a native Samoan word meaning "to win/be victorious"

7. E te fia tamo'e?

   E-te-fi-a-ta-mo-'e

   Do you want to run?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone for a run or jog

   Grammar Note

   "fia" is a pre-verbal element expressing desire ("want to"). "tamo'e" is the verb "to run"

8. 'O le a le faiga ta'aloga mo taeao?

   'O-le-a-le-fai-ga-ta-'a-lo-ga-mo-tae-ao

   What sport/game is happening tomorrow?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about upcoming sports events

   Grammar Note

   "taeao" means both "tomorrow" and "morning" in Samoan, distinguished by context

9. Ou te lagona le lelei

   Ou-te-la-go-na-le-le-lei

   I feel good / I am in good shape

   Usage

   Used before or after sports activities to describe physical condition

   Grammar Note

   "lagona" means "to feel" ("fa'alogo" means "to listen/hear", so it is not used for physical condition). "lelei" is the core Samoan adjective for "good"

10. 'O le Apelu 'o lo'o ta'alo i totonu o le 'au Samoa

    'O-le-A-pe-lu-'o-lo-'o-ta-'a-lo-i-to-to-nu-o-le-'au-Sa-mo-a

    Apelu is playing in the Samoa national team

    Usage

    Used to talk about players on a national sports team

    Grammar Note

    "'O lo'o" marks present progressive aspect in Samoan. The glottal stop stays even clause-medially ("'O lo'o ia te 'oe lona malosi"). The glottal stop in "'au" (team) is phonemically significant

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