teine foma'i

noun·/'teɪnefoː'maʔi/·tei·ne·fō·ma·'i

Definitions

Language review notes

✓ Reviewed by 2 advisors

Usage Note

tausi ma'i teine, teine foma'i

Cultural Context

Teine (girl) foma'i (doctor/healer) is an outdated term for nurse, as many nurses today are also male.

Sample sentences

E ese le agalelei o teine foma'i o lo'o tausia a'u.

The nurses taking care of me are very kind.

Source & etymology

Contemporary Usage

Common modern Samoan words known to native speakers and verified by Gagana Samoa editors.

Usage notes

archaic, assumes that all nurses are female

Spotted something off? Heritage knowledge is welcome here.