Samoan phrasebook
From Wikitravel
Contents
Samoan (gagana Sāmoa) is a Polynesian language mainly spoken in Samoa and American Samoa.
[edit] Pronunciation guide
[edit] Vowels
- A
- ah
- E
- eh
- I
- aye
- O
- oh
- U
- oo
All vowels are pronounced individually. Thus "ai" is not pronounced "eye" but "ah-aye". The use of the apostrophe in spelling of words, e.g. in Samoa's second island of Savai'i, emphasises this point.
[edit] Consonants
14 consonant sounds written with a phonetic alphabet.
Note in particular that "g" is pronounced "ng" as in Singapore or ping-pong (not like in finger). Thus the capital of American Samoa, Pago Pago, is pronounced "Pahngo Pahngo."
[edit] Common diphthongs
[edit] Phrase list
Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.
[edit] Basics
- Hello.
- Talofa. ("Greetings" is a closer translation.)
- Hello. (Informal)
- Malo.
- How are you?
- 'O a mai oe?
- Fine, thank you.
- Manuia, fa'afetai.
- What is your name?
- (Formal:) O ai lou suafa? (Informal:) O ai lou igoa?
- My name is ______ .
- O lo'u igoa o ______ .
- Nice to meet you.
- . ( )
- Please.
- Fa'amolemole. ( )
- Thank you.
- Fa'afetai. ( )
- You're welcome.
- Fa'afetai fo'i.
- Yes.
- Ioe
- No.
- Leai.
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- Fa'amolemole.
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- Tulou.
- I'm sorry.
- .
- Goodbye
- Tofa soifua.
- Goodbye (informal)
- Fa.
- See you later
- Toe feloa'i. ( )
- I can't speak name of language [well].
- [ ]. ( [ ])
- Do you speak English?
- ? ( ?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- ? ( ?)
- Help!
- Fesoasoani ! ( !)
- Look out!
- ! ( !)
- Good morning.
- Manuia le aso. ( )
- Good evening.
- Manuia le afiafi. ( )
- Good night.
- Manuia le po. ( )
- Good night (to sleep)
- . ( )
- I don't understand.
- Ou te le malamalama.
- Where is the toilet?
- ?
[edit] Problems
[edit] Numbers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
tasi lua tolu fa lima ono fitu valu iva sefulu
[edit] Time
[edit] Clock time
[edit] Duration
[edit] Days
[edit] Months
[edit] Writing time and date
[edit] Colors
[edit] Transportation
- Stop here please
- Taofi i, fa'amolemole.
[edit] Bus and train
[edit] Directions
[edit] Taxi
[edit] Lodging
[edit] Money
[edit] Eating
[edit] Bars
[edit] Shopping
[edit] Driving
[edit] Authority
[edit] Learning more
| This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |

