Essential Samoan Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Samoan words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Please note: In colloquial speech, t is pronounced as k, and n is pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ). Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... Tālofa. Hello. Tōfā soifua. Goodbye. E te iloa tautala fa‘a-‘Igilisi? Do you speak English? ‘Ou te lē mālamalama. I don't understand. ‘Ae la‘itiiti. A little. ‘Ioe. Leai. Yes. No. E fia le tau? How much is it? E taugata tele. ‘Ua lelei. Too expensive. OK. Fa‘amolemole. Please. Fa‘afetai (tele). Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	‘O ai ‘ou igoa? What is your name? ‘O lo‘u igoa ‘o ... My name is ... ‘O ā mai ‘oe? How are you? Manuia lava. ‘Ae ā ‘oe? Fine. And you? ‘O fea ...? Where is ...? ‘O fea le fale ta‘ele? Ali‘i/Tama‘ita‘i Where is the toilet? Men/Women Ia e malie. Tulou lava. Sorry. Excuse me. ‘Ua lelei. No problem. ‘Ou te fie ... I want ... ‘Ou te lē fie ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

‘O fea e te sau ai? Where are you from? ‘Ou te sau mai ‘Ausetālia.* I am from Australia. Pili, fa‘amolemole. The bill, please. ‘Ua ‘ou leiloa. I'm lost. Taofi! Fa‘atali! Stop! Wait! I‘inei, i‘ō. Here, there. Ta‘avale lau pasese. Hotel. Malae va‘alele. Fale fa‘atale pasi. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. ‘Ou te mana‘o ‘i ... I like ... ‘Ou te lē mana‘o ‘i ... I don't like ... tasi, lua, tolu, fā, lima. one, two, three, four, five. ono, fitu, valu, iva, sefulu. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: ‘Amerika - America Kānata - Canada Engeland - England ‘Aialani - Ireland Niu Sila - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

Manuia! Cheers! lelei / leaga good / bad tele / la‘itiiti big / small latalata / mamao near / far itiiti / tele less / more se isi tasi / lava another / enough ‘Ou te lē ‘ai ‘a‘ano manu. I am vegetarian. ‘Ou te lē ‘ai ‘a‘ano manu. I don't eat meat. ... moa. ... chicken. ... i‘a. ... fish. E leaga ‘iā te a‘u nati. I am allergic to nuts. ... pinati. ... peanuts. ... i‘a. ... fish. ... mea‘ai sami. ... seafood. ... fuamoa. ... eggs.