15 Samoan Words You Need to Know When Visiting Samoa

1. Talofa! – Hello!

Learning a new language usually starts in the same place; hello! or talofa (tah-lo-far) in Samoan. Talofa is the most standard way of saying hello in Samoan, but variant greetings include the following:

• Talofa – Hello
• Talofa lava – Hello (formal)
• Mālō – Hi (informal)
• Mālō le soifua – Hello/Good health

How Do You Respond to Talofa or Talofa Lava?

Respond to talofa or talofa lava with the same word, “Talofa Lava!”

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2. Tofa – Goodbye

Speaking of greetings, it’s also good to know how to sign out! An easy one to remember once you have talofa down, tofa (toh-far) means “goodbye”. Again, there are various ways to say your goodbyes, such as:

• Tofa – Goodbye
• Tofa soifua – Goodbye (formal)
• Toe feiloa’i – See you later
• Feiloa’i taeao – See you tomorrow
• Manuia – Goodbye (wishing somebody well).

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3. Manuia Le Aso – Have a Good Day

Manuia (ma-noo-ee-ah) is a very common word in Samoan that can be used to wish somebody well in any situation, while it can also be used to say goodbye. So if you want to wish someone a good day, say “Manuia le aso!” (ma-noo-ee-ah leh-ah-so). Other ways to use manuia include:

• Manuia le taeao – Have a good morning
• Manuia le aso – Have a good day
• Manuia le afiafi – Have a good evening
• Manuia le pō – Have a good night.

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4. Fa’afetai (Tele) – Thank You (Very Much)

Samoans are very accommodating so there are probably going to be a few occasions when you’ll want to show your gratitude by saying thank you (that’s if your momma taught you right)! Fa’afetai (fa-ah-feh-tie) means “thank you” or take it a step further by saying fa’afetai tele, which means “thank you very much”.

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5. Fa’amolemole – Please

On the subject of politeness, if you want to say “please” at the end of your question, say fa’amolemole (fa-ah-moh-le-moh-le).

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6. Tulou Lava – Excuse Me (When Passing in Front of Someone)

For the very specific situation of passing in front of someone, Samoa not only has a special phrase but it’s customary to say tulou lava. For more rules of etiquette, check out Samoan Etiquette: Samoa Customs & Traditions.

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7. Ioe – Yes, Leai – No

These two simple notions are important to be able to express no matter where you are in the world, so when you’re in Samoa, note that Ioe (ee-oh-e) means “yes” and Leai (le-ai) means “no”.

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8. ‘O ā Mai ‘Oe? – How Are You?

If you want to get the polite conversation off and running, start with “‘O ā mai ‘oe?” which means “How are you?”. You can respond “Manuia fa’afetai“, which means “Fine thank you” and is the most common response. If the conversation continues, you might like to say “Manuia fo’i fa’afetai” which is “Fine also thank you” or “Feoloolo” which means you’re not so good.

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9. Tasi, Lua, Tolu… – One, Two, Three…

… fā, lima, ono, fitu, value, via, fefulu! Now you know how to count from one to ten in Samoan! Other useful Samoan numbers are:

• 20 – Lua sefulu
• 50 – Lima sefulu
• 100 – Selau
• 1,000 – Afe

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10. Fa’a Samoa – The Samoan Way

When referring to the Samoan culture in terms of etiquette, social organisation, customs and traditions, it’s known as fa’a Samoa; the Samoan way. Learn more about fa’a Samoa in A Traveller’s Guide to the Samoan Culture.

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11. ‘Aiga – Family

As family means everything in the Samoan culture, ‘aiga is a good word to know in Samoan. ‘Aiga refers to not just your parents or children, but extended family including grandparents, cousins, nephews and nieces.

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12. ‘Ava – Kava

An important drink in Samoa and across the Pacific Islands, ‘ava, also known as kava, is made from the root of the pepper plant and shared often with a ceremony. Learn more about the drink in the 10 Drinks in Samoa You Have to Try.

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13. Siapo – Tapa Cloth

Siapo is a traditional craft in Samoa where cloth made from the bark of a mulberry tree is printed with traditional designs. The cloth is worn during celebrations, dance performances and ceremonies, as well as crafted into bags and other useful souvenirs. Check out some examples in the 10 Best Souvenirs from Samoa.

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14. Fale – House

Fale is the general word for “house” and is a term that visitors often hear as their accommodation, whether it’s on the beach or a bungalow at a resort, is known as a fale. Different buildings will have the word “fale” incorporated, for example, “church” is falesa and “shop” is faleoloa.

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15. Tala – The Currency of Samoa

Before you go to Samoa, not only will you want to know what tala is but you’ll probably want to exchange some currency so you can pay with tala. Tala or Samoan tala is the national currency of Samoa, often seen as ST$, T$ or WST. See our complete guide on What is the Currency of Samoa? to learn more.

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