Pronouns
Complete guide to Samoan personal, possessive, and demonstrative pronouns.
Samoan Pronouns System
Samoan pronouns are more complex than English, distinguishing between singular, dual, and plural, as well as inclusive and exclusive forms.
Personal Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Dual | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (exclusive) | aʻu (I) | māua (we two, not you) | mātou (we all, not you) |
| 1st (inclusive) | – | tāua (we two, including you) | tātou (we all, including you) |
| 2nd | oe (you) | oulua (you two) | outou (you all) |
| 3rd | ia (he/she) | lāua (they two) | lātou (they all) |
Possessive Pronouns
Samoan has two classes of possession:
- O-class – for things you have no control over (family, body parts, feelings)
- A-class – for things you can control (possessions, food, vehicles)
Examples:
- lou (your – O-class singular)
- lau (your – A-class singular)
- lo’u (my – O-class)
- la’u (my – A-class)
Practice This Rule
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- Fill-in-the-blank practice
- Multiple choice questions
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