Basic Greetings

Hello.

Talofa. (tah-loh-fah)

Good morning.

Manuia le taeao. (mah-noo-ee-ah leh tie-ow)

Good evening.

Manuia le afiafi. (mah-noo-ee-ah leh ah-fee-ah-fee)

Good night.

Manuia le po. (mah-noo-ee-ah leh poh)

Goodbye.

Tofa. (toh-fah)

See you later.

Toe feiloa'i. (toh-eh fay-loh-ah-ee)

Nice to meet you.

Ua ou fiafia ua ta feiloa'i. (oo-ah oh fee-ah-fee-ah oo-ah tah fay-loh-ah-ee)

Welcome.

Afio mai. (ah-fee-oh my)

How are you?

O a mai oe? (oh ah my oh-eh)

I’m fine.

O loo manuia. (oh loh-oh mah-noo-ee-ah)

And you?

Ae a oe? (eye ah oh-eh)

Have a good day.

Manuia le aso. (mah-noo-ee-ah leh ah-soh)

Welcome to Samoa.

Susu mai i Samoa. (soo-soo my ee sah-moh-ah)

Long time no see.

Ua leva ona ta le feiloa'i. (oo-ah leh-vah oh-nah tah leh fay-loh-ah-ee)

How is your family?

O a mai le 'āiga? (oh ah my leh aah-ee-ngah)

They are fine.

O loo manuia i latou. (oh loh-oh mah-noo-ee-ah ee lah-tow)

What's new?

O le a se tala fou? (oh leh ah seh tah-lah foh-oo)

Nothing much.

E leai se mea tele. (eh leh-eye seh meh-ah teh-leh)

Have a safe trip.

Manuia le faigamalaga. (mah-noo-ee-ah leh fie-ngah-mah-lah-ngah)

Best wishes.

Ia manuia. (ee-ah mah-noo-ee-ah)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Fa'amolemole. (fah-ah-moh-leh-moh-leh)

Thank you.

Fa'afetai. (fah-ah-feh-tie)

Thank you very much.

Fa'afetai tele lava. (fah-ah-feh-tie teh-leh lah-vah)

You’re welcome.

E le afaina. (eh leh ah-fine-ah)

Excuse me.

Fa'amolemole. (fah-ah-moh-leh-moh-leh)

I’m sorry.

Fa'amalie atu. (fah-ah-mah-lee-eh ah-too)

No problem.

E leai se fa'afitauli. (eh leh-eye seh fah-ah-fee-tow-lee)

That’s okay.

E le afaina. (eh leh ah-fine-ah)

Of course.

Moni lava. (moh-nee lah-vah)

Don’t worry.

Aua le popole. (ow-ah leh poh-poh-leh)

Yes.

Ioe. (ee-oh-eh)

No.

Leai. (leh-eye)

Maybe.

Atonu. (ah-toh-noo)

I don't know.

Ou te le iloa. (oh teh leh ee-loh-ah)

I understand.

Ua ou malamalama. (oo-ah oh mah-lah-mah-lah-mah)

I don't understand.

Ou te le malamalama. (oh teh leh mah-lah-mah-lah-mah)

Do you speak English?

E te tautala fa'aperetania? (eh teh tow-tah-lah fah-ah-peh-reh-tah-nee-ah)

Please repeat that.

Fa'amolemole toe fai mai. (fah-ah-moh-leh-moh-leh toh-eh fie my)

Speak slowly.

Tautala lemu. (tow-tah-lah leh-moo)

Just a moment.

Fa'atali la'itiiti. (fah-ah-tah-lee lah-ee-tee-ee-tee)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

Ou te mana'omia … (oh teh mah-nah-oh-me-ah)

I need a doctor.

Ou te mana'omia se foma'i. (oh teh mah-nah-oh-me-ah seh foh-mah-ee)

I need help.

Ou te mana'omia se fesoasoani. (oh teh mah-nah-oh-me-ah seh feh-soh-ah-soh-ah-nee)

I need water.

Ou te mana'omia se vai. (oh teh mah-nah-oh-me-ah seh vie)

I need to rest.

Ou te mana'omia se malologa. (oh teh mah-nah-oh-me-ah seh mah-loh-loh-ngah)

I need a taxi.

Ou te mana'omia se tekisi. (oh teh mah-nah-oh-me-ah seh teh-kee-see)

Pattern: I want …

Ou te mana'o i … (oh teh mah-nah-oh ee)

I want this.

Ou te mana'o i lenei mea. (oh teh mah-nah-oh ee leh-nay meh-ah)

I want food.

Ou te mana'o i se mea'ai. (oh teh mah-nah-oh ee seh meh-ah-eye)

I want to sleep.

Ou te mana'o e moe. (oh teh mah-nah-oh eh moy)

I want to pay.

Ou te mana'o e totogi. (oh teh mah-nah-oh eh toh-toh-ngee)

I want to go.

Ou te mana'o e alu. (oh teh mah-nah-oh eh ah-loo)

Pattern: I would like to … [action]

Ou te fia … (oh teh fee-ah)

I would like a drink.

Ou te fia inu. (oh teh fee-ah ee-noo)

I would like to buy this.

Ou te fia fa'atauina lenei mea. (oh teh fee-ah fah-ah-tow-ee-nah leh-nay meh-ah)

I would like to eat.

Ou te fia 'ai. (oh teh fee-ah ah-ee)

I would like to sit.

Ou te fia nofo. (oh teh fee-ah noh-foh)

I would like to order.

Ou te fia oka. (oh teh fee-ah oh-kah)

Pattern: Can you …?

E mafai ona e …? (eh mah-fie oh-nah eh)

Can you help me?

E mafai ona e fesoasoani mai ia te a'u? (eh mah-fie oh-nah eh feh-soh-ah-soh-ah-nee my ee-ah teh ah-oo)

Can you speak English?

E mafai ona e tautala fa'aperetania? (eh mah-fie oh-nah eh tow-tah-lah fah-ah-peh-reh-tah-nee-ah)

Can you show me?

E mafai ona e fa'aali mai ia te a'u? (eh mah-fie oh-nah eh fah-ah-ah-lee my ee-ah teh ah-oo)

Can you wait?

E mafai ona e fa'atali? (eh mah-fie oh-nah eh fah-ah-tah-lee)

Can you repeat?

E mafai ona e toe fai mai? (eh mah-fie oh-nah eh toh-eh fie my)

Pattern: Where is …?

O fea o iai …? (oh feh-ah oh ee-eye)

Where is the bathroom?

O fea o iai le faleuila? (oh feh-ah oh ee-eye leh fah-leh-oo-ee-lah)

Where is the hotel?

O fea o iai le faletalimalo? (oh feh-ah oh ee-eye leh fah-leh-tah-lee-mah-loh)

Where is the beach?

O fea o iai le matafaga? (oh feh-ah oh ee-eye leh mah-tah-fah-ngah)

Where is the bus?

O fea o iai le pasi? (oh feh-ah oh ee-eye leh pah-see)

Where is the hospital?

O fea o iai le falema'i? (oh feh-ah oh ee-eye leh fah-leh-mah-ee)