Traditional Samoan Words

285 words found

‘ai V
to eat, to consume food
‘aimama V
to eat chewed food
‘aimeo V
to be angry on account of, or in…
‘aina A
eatable
‘ainiu N
the sheath or covering between the cocoa-nut and…
‘aipi N
a glutton
‘aipopo V
to eat popo; to be reduced to poverty
‘aisago V
to praise the food or property which has…
‘aise’e V
to beg food at a feast
‘aisila V
to beg fish, of those fishing
‘ali N
bamboo pillow
‘alosa V
to avoid, as a dangerous boat passage
‘alovao N
one who avoids visitors by going into the…
‘alu N
dregs, lees, congealed oil
‘atavale V
to laugh causelessly
‘aunifo N
the row of teeth
‘aunofo N
troops in reserve
‘aute N
hibiscus flower, tropical flowering plant
‘e’e N
reverence
‘e’ega N
anything used to help a swimmer, as a…
‘e’eu V
to ward off on every side, as spears…
‘ese A
strange; different
‘ete N
a basket
‘eteli’i N
a finely made basket
‘etemamanu N
an ornamental basket
‘eteomanu N
lit. a basket full of prosperity, great prosperity
‘eti V
to blow freshly
‘etu V
to limp, to be lame
a’oa’o V
to teach
a’oga N
school, education, learning
a’u P
I, me (first person singular)
aai N
village, settlement
afa N
storm, hurricane, cyclone
afetuaina V
to call on casually, not having intended to…
afetualaina V
as afetuaina
afi N
fire
afia N
the name of a shrub (Ascarina lanceolata)
afiafi N
the evening
afiafiao N
the evening, before sunset
afiafimalama N
the evening, after sunset
afiafipo N
the evening, at dusk
afiagafulu A
ten afi, or small bundles of fish, masi,…
afiavao N
the name of a shrub
afio V
to come, when followed by mai; to go…
afioaga N
the residence of a high chief or king
agaga N
spirit
agatele V
to abuse, to use abusive language
agatonu V
to go straight
agava’a N
the conduct of a canoe, its quality and…
agavaivai A
mild, gentle
agavale V
to be left-handed
agi V
to blow, of the wind
agiagi N
a chief's speech
agilaufola V
to blow steadily, without squalls
agina V
to be put in motion by the wind;…
agini V
to tuck up the lavalava, or loin-cloth, so…
ai sea A
why?
aiga N
family, extended family including relatives by blood and…
aimalo V
to be victorious
aina V
to be inhabited
ainaga N
a child given to the gods or a…
ainiu V
to pick cocoa-nuts on a journey in order…
aisa V
to take out the inside of any large…
aisola V
to steal property from relations; also food
alaga N
bridge
alatele N
main road, highway
alelo N
tongue
aleva N
cuckoo (Endynamis Taitensis)
ali V
to appear
ali’i N
chief, high-ranking person
alia N
double canoe
alofa N
love, compassion, affection, care
alofi N
circle of chiefs sitting round a house
alofilima N
palm of the hand
alofivae N
sole of the foot
alogalu N
sloping side of a wave about to break
alogo N
name of a fish
alolifa N
flat turtle; man with flat belly
aloputa N
thick turtle; man with big belly
alu V
to go
alualu V
to exceed, excel, drive, chase
ananafi N
yesterday
ao N
cloud
asiasiga N
visit, inspection
aso N
days
atamai V
to understand, as a child
atamea N
a breadfruit tree whose bark is injured by…
atavale V
to be dazzled by the sun shining on…
ate N
the liver
ate’ai A
cowardly
atina’e A
especially, particularly
aumoega N
the party going to make proposals to a…
aumuli N
a current setting west
auna’iloa V
to continue a long time
aunifoa A
toothless
aunoa V
to be without, not to possess
aunu’ua V
to dwell away from home
ava N
wife, spouse (female)
epu V
to stir about, to stir up, all water
esi N
the papaw (Carica Papaya)
eteete V
to be careful, to take care
eto V
to lick, to lap with the tongue
eva V
to take a walk, especially by moonlight
evaga N
a moonlight walk, or games by moonlight
fa’aaloalo N
respect, reverence, honor shown to others
fa’afafine N
third gender person, traditionally masculine person with feminine…
fa’afetai V
to thank
fa’afetai I
thank you, thanks
fa’i N
banana, plantain
faatuatua N
faith
faiaoga N
teacher, instructor
faigaluega N
job, work, occupation
faigofie A
easy
failau V
to announce, to proclaim
faitau V
to read, to count
faititili N
thunder
faitoto’a N
door, entrance
fale N
house, home, building
falema’i N
hospital
faleoloa N
shop, store
falesa N
church, church building
faletalimalo N
hotel, guesthouse
faletupe N
bank (financial institution)
fanau N
children
fe’e N
octopus
feso’ota’i V
to contact, to communicate, to connect
fesoasoani V
to help, to assist
fetu N
star
fia V
to want, to desire, to wish for
filemu A
quiet, peaceful, calm
foliga N
appearance, looks, face, form
fono N
meeting, conference
fuafua V
to plan, to measure, to prepare
fuga N
crab, crustacean
ga’ausalo V
to be starved
ga’autaoto N
one part of the intestines
ga’autu N
one part of the intestines
ga’e V
to breathe hard
ga’ea’e V
to set going any difficult work
gafa N
genealogy
galu N
tsunami
galuega N
work, job, employment
gogo N
noddy, seabird
i’a N
fish, seafood
igoa N
name
inu V
to drink, to consume liquids
itiiti A
small, little, few
itula N
hours
kamupani N
company, business organization
kolisi N
college, university
komepiuta N
computer
la N
sun
lagi N
sky, heaven
lagomumu N
the carpenter bee
lagona V
to understand
lagotu V
to place a canoe on high props
lagotua N
the tenderline
lala N
a shrub, used for a pigeon perch (Desmodium…
lala’au N
a branch of a tree
lala’oa V
to have a fishy smell
lala’u V
to be decrepit
lalafi N
the name of a fish
lalafo V
plural of LAFO
lalafu A
dingy, dusky
lalaga V
to weave, to plait
lalau V
to be in leaf, of annual plants
lalaui N
the name of a tree
lalauta N
a name of the fu'apine on Manu'a
lanu N
colour
lanua V
to have sore eyes
lanuaga N
an early setting sun
lanufalea V
to be dim, to be mouldy, of a…
lanumoana A
sky-coloured, blue
laumei N
turtle, green sea turtle
leaga A
bad, evil, wrong, not good
lelei A
good, well, fine, nice
lima N
hand, arm
limu N
seaweed, algae, moss
lupe N
pigeon, dove, Pacific fruit dove
mafaufau V
to think, to ponder, to consider
mafuie N
earthquake
mago N
mango fruit, mango tree
maketi N
market, marketplace
malae N
open space, village green, ceremonial ground
malamalama V
to understand
maliliu A
dead (pl.)
mālo I
well done, congratulations, thanks for your effort
mālolo V
to rest
malulu A
cool, cold, refreshing
malumalu N
temple
manaia A
beautiful, handsome, attractive, fine
manatu V
to think, to remember
manogi A
fragrant, sweet-smelling, aromatic
manuia N
luck, fortune, blessing, success
masina N
moon, month
mata N
eye, face, front
matafaga N
beach, seashore
matagi N
wind
matagofie A
beautiful, pretty, attractive
matai N
chief, family head, titled person in Samoan traditional…
maualalo A
low, short, down
maualuga A
high, tall, elevated
mautinoa A
certain, sure, definite
mea N
thing, place, creature, animal
mea’ai N
food, something to eat
moa N
chicken, fowl
moe V
to sleep, to lie down, to rest
motu N
island, islet
muamua A
first, beforehand, previously
mulimuli A
last, finally, afterwards
niu N
young coconut, green coconut
nofo V
to sit, to stay, to live, to remain
nofoaga N
place, location, seat
nu’u N
village, town, country, place
oe P
you (singular)
ofisa N
office, workplace
ofo V
to be surprised, amazed, astonished
paia A
sacred
palagi N
European, white person, foreigner, non-Samoan
palusami N
taro leaves cooked in coconut cream, traditional dish
papatisoga N
baptisms
pasese N
passenger
pasi V
to pass (an exam or test)
penitala N
pencil
pepa N
paper
pese N
song, hymn, music
po N
night, darkness, evening
pogisa A
dark, dim, lacking light
popole V
to worry, to be anxious
poto A
clever, skilled, wise
pua’a N
pig, swine
puapuao N
fog, mist
pupula A
bright, shining, brilliant
pusa N
box
sami N
sea, ocean
sau V
to come, to arrive, to approach
savali V
to walk, to stroll, to move on foot
siva N
dance, traditional Samoan dance performance
solofanua N
horse
su’ega N
exam, test
su’esu’e V
to research, to investigate
sua N
soup, broth, liquid food
suamalie A
sweet, delicious, pleasant tasting
ta’avale N
car, vehicle, automobile
taimi N
time, period, season
talanoa V
to talk, to chat, to have conversation
talo N
taro, edible root vegetable
talofa I
hello, greetings, love to you
tamā N
father, dad
tama N
boy, young man, male
tamaiti N
child, children
tane N
husband, spouse (male)
tatalo V
to pray
tatou P
we, us (inclusive - includes person being spoken…
taulaga N
town center, city center
taumafai V
to try, to attempt, to make an effort
tausaga N
years
teine N
girl, young woman, female
tele A
big, large, many, much, very
ti’apula N
tops of taro roots, planting shoots
timu N
rain
tinā N
mother, mom
tino N
body, physical form
tofa N
goodbye, farewell (formal)
togavao N
forest, jungle
totogi N
salary, wages
tuafafine N
sister (of a male), female sibling or cousin…
tuagane N
brother (of a female), male sibling or cousin…
tulaga N
position, location, status
tulou I
excuse me, pardon me, may I pass
tumu A
crowded, packed, full
tusi N
book, writing
tusitusi V
to write
uafu N
wharf, dock, harbor
ufi N
yam, edible tuber vegetable
uila N
lightning
ula N
shrimp, prawns
ulu N
head, top part of body
uso N
sibling of same gender, brother (for males), sister…
vaalele N
airplane, aircraft
vae N
foot, leg
vai N
water, liquid
vaitafe N
river, stream
vave A
fast, quick, speedy
vevela A
hot, warm, heated