ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why learn Samoan?
Knowing Samoan opens the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, and science Four out of five new jobs in the US are created as a result of foreign trade. Creativity is increased with the study of Samoan. Learning about another culture enables you to gain a more profound understanding of your own culture.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Samoan?
*** NOTES *** Of all the Samoan speakers in the world, about half live on Samoa or American Samoa. The next biggest community is found in New Zealand, where Samoan is the third most widely spoken language, and it is also spoken in Fiji, Tonga, Australia and Hawaii. Samoan is closely related to Tongan, and exhibits typical traits of the Austronesian language group such as an inclusive form of we - you and us - and an exclusive form of we - just us, not you - as well as separate words and grammar constructions for use in formal and informal situations.
Samoan Alphabet & Pronunciation
The Samoa alphabet consists of 14 letters, with another three letters (H, K, R) used in loan words. All five vowels also have a long form denoted by the macron.
(a)
[a]
(a)
[aː]
(e)
[ɛ]
(e)
[eː]
(i)
[ɪ]
(i)
[iː]
(o)
[o]
(o)
[ɔː]
(u)
[ʊ]
(u)
[uː]
(fa)
[f]
(ga)
[ŋ]
(la)
[l,ɾ]
(mo)
[m]
(nu)
[n,ŋ]
(pi)
[p]
(sa)
[s]
(ti)
[t,k]
(vi)
[v]
(he)
[h]
(ka)
[k]
(ro)
[ɾ]
Basic Phrases in Samoan
| Hello | Talofa |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | Tofa |
| Yes | Ioe |
| No | Leai |
| Excuse me | Tulou |
| Please | Faʻamolemole |
| Thank you | Faafetai |
| You are welcome | Faafetai foʻi |
| Do you speak english | Ete iloa faaperetania? |
| Do you understand | O ai ete malamalama ai? |
| I understand | Oute malamalama |
| I do not understand | Ou te le malamalama |
| How are you | Oa mai oe? |
| Fine thanks | Manuia faafetai! |
| What is your name | O ai lou igoa? |
| My name is | O lou igoa o |
| Pleased to meet you | Fiafia lava e faatasi ma oe |
Samoan Grammar
Samoan Nouns
| Man | Tagata |
|---|---|
| Woman | Fafine |
| Boy | Tamaitiiti |
| Girl | Teine |
| Cat | Pusi |
| Dog | Taifau |
| Fish | Iʻa |
| Water | Vai |
| Milk | Susu |
| Egg | Fuamoa |
| House | Fale |
| Flower | Fugalaau |
| Tree | Laau |
| Shirt | Ofutino |
| Pants | Ofuvae |
Samoan Adjectives
Colors in Samoan
| Black | Lanu uliuli |
|---|---|
| White | Lanu paʻepaʻe |
| Red | Lanu mumu |
| Orange | Moli |
| Yellow | Lanu samasama |
| Green | Lanu meamata |
| Blue | Lanu moaga |
| Purple | Lanu viole |
| Pink | Lanu piniki |
| Gray | Lanu efuefu |
| Brown | Lanu enaena |
Numbers in Samoan
| Zero | O |
|---|---|
| One | Tasi |
| Two | Lua |
| Three | Tolu |
| Four | Fa |
| Five | Lima |
| Six | Ono |
| Seven | Fitu |
| Eight | E valu |
| Nine | Iva |
| Ten | Sefulu |
| Eleven | Sefulutasi |
| Twelve | Sefululua |
| Twenty | Lua sefulu |
| Thirty | Tolu sefulu |
| Forty | Fasefulu |
| Fifty | Lima sefulu |
| Sixty | Ono sefulu |
| Seventy | Fitu sefulu |
| Eighty | Valu sefulu |
| Ninety | Iva sefulu |
| Hundred | Selau |
| Thousand | Afe |
Samoan Verbs
| To be | Pe 'a |
|---|---|
| To have | Ia avea |
| To want | Ia manaʻo |
| To need | E manaʻomia |
| To help | E fesoasoani |
| To go | E alu |
| To come | O mai |
| To eat | Ia 'ai |
| To drink | Ia inu |
| To speak | E tautala |
Building Simple Sentences
More Complex Samoan Sentences
| And | Ma |
|---|---|
| Or | Poʻo |
| But | Ae |
| Because | Aua |
| With | Ma |
| Also | Ma |
| However | Peitaʻi |
| Neither | Leai |
| Nor | E leai foi |
| If | Pe afai |
| Then | Ona |
Useful Samoan Vocabulary
Samoan Questions
| Who | O ai |
|---|---|
| What | Le a |
| When | Pe a |
| Where | Fea |
| Why | Aisea |
| How | Pe faapefea |
| How many | E fia |
| How much | E fia |
Days of the Week in Samoan
| Monday | Aso Gafua |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Aso Lua |
| Wednesday | Aso Lulu |
| Thursday | Aso Tofi |
| Friday | Aso Faralie |
| Saturday | Aso Tonaʻi |
| Sunday | Aso Sa |
| Yesterday | Ananafi |
| Today | I aso nei |
| Tomorrow | Taeao |
Months in Samoan
| January | Ianuari |
|---|---|
| February | Fepuari |
| March | Mati |
| April | Apelila |
| May | Me |
| June | Iuni |
| July | Iuli |
| August | Aukuso |
| September | Setema |
| October | Okitopa |
| November | Novema |
| December | Tesema |
Seasons in Samoan
| Winter | Taumalulu |
|---|---|
| Spring | Tautotogo |
| Summer | Taumafanafana |
| Autumn | Autumn |
Telling Time in Samoan
| What time is it | O le a le taimi o loo iai? |
|---|---|
| Hours | Itula |
| Minutes | Minute |
| Seconds | Sekone |
| O clock | Itula |
| Half | Afa |
| Quarter past | Kuata kuata |
| Before | Muamua |
| After | Mulimuli ane |
