Samoan (gagana Sāmoa) is a Polynesian language mainly spoken in Samoa and American Samoa.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

A

ah

E

eh

I

aye

O

oh

U

oo

All vowels are pronounced individually. Thus "ai" is not pronounced "eye" but "ah-aye". The use of the apostrophe in spelling of words, e.g. in Samoa's second island of Savai'i, emphasises this point.

Consonants

14 consonant sounds written with a phonetic alphabet.

Note in particular that "g" is pronounced "ng" as in Singapore or ping-pong (not like in finger). Thus the capital of American Samoa, Pago Pago, is pronounced "Pahngo Pahngo."

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello.

Talofa. ("Greetings" is a closer translation.)

Hello. (Informal)

Malo.

How are you?

'O a mai oe?

Fine, thank you.

Manuia, fa'afetai.

What is your name?

(Formal:) O ai lou suafa? (Informal:) O ai lou igoa?

My name is ______ .

O lo'u igoa o ______ .

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

Fa'amolemole. ( )

Thank you.

Fa'afetai. ( )

You're welcome.

Fa'afetai fo'i.

Yes.

Ioe

No.

Leai.

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Fa'amolemole.

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Tulou.

I'm sorry.

.

Goodbye

Tofa soifua.

Goodbye (informal)

Fa.

See you later

Toe feloa'i. ( )

I can't speak Samoan [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

 ? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

Fesoasoani ! ( !)

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

Manuia le aso. ( )

Good evening.

Manuia le afiafi. ( )

Good night.

Manuia le po. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

Ou te le malamalama.

Where is the toilet?

 ?

Numbers

1

tasi

2

lua

3

tolu

4

fa

5

lima

6

ono

7

fitu

8

valu

9

iva

10

sefulu

11

sefulu-tasi

12

sefulu-lua

13

sefulu-tolu

14

sefulu-fa

15

sefulu-lima

16

sefulu-ono

17

sefulu-fitu

18

sefulu-valu

19

sefulu-iva

20

lua-sefulu

21

lua-sefulu-tasi

22

lua-sefulu-lua

23

lua-sefulu-tolu, (etc.)

30

tolu-sefulu

40

fa-sefulu

50

lima-sefulu, (etc.)

100

selau, tasi-selau

200

lua-selau

300

tolu-selau, (etc.)

1000

afe, tasi-afe

2000

lua-afe

2300

lua-afe-tolu-selau

2310

lua-afe-tolu-selau-sefulu

2315

lua-afe-tolu-selau-sefulu-lima

million

miliona, tasi-miliona.

Time

Days

Sunday

Aso Sa

Monday

Aso Gafua

Tuesday

Aso Lua

Wednesday

Aso Lulu

Thursday

Aso Tofi

Friday

Aso Faraile

Saturday

Aso To'ana'i

Months

January

Ianuari

February

Fepuari

March

Mati

April

Aperila

May

Me

June

Iuni

July

Iulai

August

Auguso

September

Setema

October

Oketopa

November

Novema

December

Tesema

Colors

color

lanu

black

uliuli

blue

lanumoana

brown

enaena

green

lanumeamata

orange

lanumoli

pink

piniki

purple

viole, mumu pa'auli

red

mumu, lanu ula

white

pa'epa'e, sina

yellow

samasama

Transportation

Stop here please

Taofi i, fa'amolemole.