What do you need to know about the Samoan language?

What do you need to know about the Samoan language?

Samoans love it when you attempt even a few words, so learn some phrases before departure for an even more authentic experience, including more interaction with local people. There is a formal version of the language and a more everyday version, but the people of this beautiful pacific island are so laid back they won’t care what you attempt.

What does the word Talofa mean in Samoa?

One of the next things you’ll hear is the word ‘Talofa’ and it won’t be the last time, for sure. It means hello and is always accompanied by a large, joyful, trademark Samoan smile. It won’t be long before you find yourself greeting everyone with this cheerful salutation – and adopting the easy-breezy attitude that accompanies it.

How many letters are there in the Samoan alphabet?

The core Samoan alphabet is comprised of just 14 letters: • the consonants F, G, L, M, N, P, S, T and V; and • the vowels A, E, I, O and U. The letters K, H and R are also used, but usually for foreign loanwords and/or for colloquial language. Vowels can be long or short. Long vowels are marked with a macron (e.g. ā).

How are the vowels written in the Samoan alphabet?

The Samoan alphabet looks like this: Each of the vowels has a short and a long sound. The long sound is marked by a line above the vowel, called a macron (or fa’amamafa ). The glottal stop ( ‘ ) is also used in Samoan, and is treated as a consonant.

What is the glottal stop called in Samoan?

Each of the vowels has a short and a long sound. The long sound is marked by a line above the vowel, called a macron (or fa’amamafa ). The glottal stop ( ‘ ) is also used in Samoan, and is treated as a consonant.

We recently launched the Samoan language, and to help you get started here are 12 Samoan words you should know. Fa’a Samoa means “the Samoan way” and it’s used to share that family is important, elders are to be respected, and that one should do their part or duty.

What does the word Tatoo mean in Samoa?

Special attention is paid to the order the participants drink. In Samoa, tattoos are considered an art form that documents the spiritual and cultural heritage of Samoa. The English word ‘tatoo’ is, in fact, a loan word — in Samoan it is tatau.

What are some Samoan greetings for the holidays?

Holiday Wishes Phrases Good wishes in Samoan in holidays and occasions: Happy birthday: manuia lou aso fanau Happy new year: manuia le tausaga fou

How do you greet someone in Samoan culture?

The heartbeat of Samoan culture is love and respect, or fa’aaloalo. How we greet people is a very public demonstration of this respect. Like a lot of languages, we have informal greetings for our peers and friends and then formal greetings for people we don’t know as well, or for those in authority over us (like our elders).

What are some Samoan words that mean sorry?

bye. tofa. congratulations. fa’amalo. sorry. fa’amalie atu. really. e mo’i? Notice the structure of the Phrases in Samoan.

What do you say to a Samoan wife?

Afio mai lau afioga ia Tamatoa. And then for his wife, Lili, we would say: Afio mai lau afioga i le faletua. For a tulafale, we use the welcome phrase “Susū mai” and refer to him or her (usually him) as ‘lau susuga’ or ‘lau tofā’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPJbmZj9mR0

When to use a macron in Samoan writing?

The only real use of the macron in everyday writing is to avoid confusion between similar words: There are two styles of speaking in Samoan. They are known as T-style (“formal”) and K-style (“colloquial”). Samoan is written in the T-style, which is preferred in formal situations, and is generally the style that learners start with.