Common greetings

Samoan Greetings in Detail

Greetings in Samoan culture are extremely important and vary based on time of day, formality, and relationship.

Time-Based Greetings

• Manuia le taeao – Good morning
• Manuia le aoauli – Good afternoon
• Manuia le afiafi – Good evening
• Manuia le po – Good night

Respectful Greetings

• Talofa lava – Formal hello (shows respect)
• Mālō le soifua – Greetings (literally “congratulations on life”)
• Susu mai – Welcome (very respectful)

Responding to Greetings

• Mālō le talofa – Response to “Talofa”
• Manuia foi – “Good to you too”
• Lelei, faʻafetai – “Good, thank you”