Language/Samoan/Vocabulary/Feelings-and-Emotions

Samoan Vocabulary - Feelings and Emotions

Hi Samoan learners! 😊
In this lesson, we're going to learn about feelings and emotions in Samoan. Emotions are an essential component of human relationships as they help us communicate and connect with one another. Like other languages, Samoan has words to express different emotions that we feel in our daily lives.

Basic Emotions

Let's start with the basics. Here are some of the most commonly used emotions that you may experience or want to describe to others.

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
Fiafia	fee-ah-fee-ah	Happy
Mata'utia	mah-tah-oo-tia	Sad
Tauivi	tah-oo-ee-vee	Angry
Fa'amalosi	fah-ah-mah-low-see	Tired
Manatua	mah-nah-too-ah	Remember
Alofa	ah-lo-fa	Love
Soifua	soh-ee-foo-ah	Well-being

Examples

• Person 1: Ua fiafia a’u. (I am happy.)
• Person 2: Fa'amolemole e fa'apea la'u seisi, o le mea lea o a'u le taimi nei. (Please explain to me why I'm feeling this way.)

• Person 1: Ua mata’utia le a’u tama. (My son is sad.)
• Person 2: Fa’amolemole e la fiafia, ou te fa’aaloalo i le mea lea o ia e te talitonu ou te vaai ia te oe ananafi. (Please be happy, I admire the way you handled him yesterday.)

• Person 1: O le a tautala pea fua o mea tauivi? (Are you speaking to me in anger?)
• Person 2: Leai, so’a matou i ai lau o’o. (No, we didn’t get any order from you.)

• Person 1: E fia malosi a'u i le taeao. (I want to rest tomorrow.)
• Person 2: O, ia te ia fai i mea ua toe faia i lea ao, ia te vaiaso ua fa'aopoopoina? (Ok, what will you do with what's left of that day, make it a weekend to reflect, perhaps?)

• Person 1: E te manaomia se mea e manatua ai. (Something that will be remembered is expected.)
• Person 2: Ua maea ona mamoe a matou, ae maise le fa'alogo i le fia fa'atauva'a tele o lea fo'i amataga i lea ekalesia. (We're done late, but it's worth listening to this great sermon in that church.)

• Person 1: E te alofa fa’atasi i a te alofa la’u uo ma e te alofa la’u uo. (I love both my sisters and my brothers.)
• Person 2: Ia te fa’atumu i mea aao ma i mea mamalu e fa’atasi ai le alofa o lou aiga ma lou atunu'u. (Start with something educational and honorable that will unite the love of your family and village.)

• Person 1: Ua lelei le soifua? (Is your well-being good?)
• Person 2: Ua malie, fa'apefea la ou te fa'apei i la'u mitamita? (Yes, how can I not be, look at my surroundings?)

Advanced Emotions

Now that you know the basics, it's time to level up and learn some specific emotions.

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
Fefeagaiga	feh-feh-ah-ee-ah-ee-ga	Confused
Tautalatala	tah-oo-tah-lah-tah-lah	Talkative
Tupu'ivao	too-poo-ee-vah-oh	Shy
Manino	mah-nee-noh	Calm
Pu'upu'u	poo-oo-poo-oo	Nervous
Mafatia	mah-fah-tee-ah	Brave
Galuega	gahn-leh-gah	Busy

Examples

• Person 1: E mafai ona e fefeaga’i lava i se taimi. (It's possible to be confused at times.)
• Person 2: Fai mai se manaoga e te mana’o ai, e te fiafia ai ma le fa’aalia lea i le tātou aiga fa’atasi. (Bring up a situation that raises interest, makes me happy and presents it to our extended family.)

• Person 1: E te eleele ana tautalatala. (He/She is so talkative.)
• Person 2: O le taimi mamao lava e tele ai le fa’atasiga, e lilo ai se tala fa’afuna e lau pālemia. (A good long time to build relationships and make small talk with your Prime Minister.)

• Person 1: Ua tupu'ivao ioe. (I am shy.)
• Person 2: Mafai ona te auaunuu i mea e tele ona fuafua i oe, fa'apefea la ua fa'atautaia a'oga a’u faufaua la ou te vaai ia te oe. (You could be trained on things you struggle with, like how I studied to deal with you.)

• Person 1: E manino le mānava o le tagata. (A person's heart is calm.)
• Person 2: O se isi poto i le iāga te faatanoaina le ata o le tagata i lana mafaufau fa'araui ane mafaufauga i le pāpālagi. (Another aspect to be considered is how resilient a person's heart is to withstand challenges in life.)

• Person 1: Ou te pu'upu'u i le 'uese'eu. (I feel nervous about the exam.)
• Person 2: Fa'apena loa i lea tausaga sina a tagata tetele maia o lo'o i ai le fa'ailoga o le pepa e isi o latou fesuisuiga i luma o le fa'atonuina. (It's common in that year for many people to be nervous about the paper test after being questioned by the examiner.)

• Person 1: Ua mafatia a’u e talitonu ua fa'amagalo. (I am brave and confident.)
• Person 2: Ua fa'afaigofie ua talia le polokalama faatupulaiaana, ae o le fa'atau i tina o latou ananafi e fa'apea ma lafoaina, o le mea lea e faigofie ai ma fa'apea i seisi e na o le a maua ai ma faatupulaiaana ai le agaga o le tagata. (Follow the scheduled program, but selling their products and hearing their stories make it easier and help connect with people.)

• Person 1: Ua galuega tele le fa'agaioi. (My schedule is busy.)
• Person 2: Pei ona te mana’o mai, ua mae’a ona aveeseina nisi o faiga lando i fafo, ua a’afia ai lava. (As I was thinking, reducing some of the outdoor activities made it easier.)

Cultural Notes

In Samoan culture, emotions are not always explicitly expressed through language but may be displayed through nonverbal cues or actions. For example, people may show their happiness through dance or song, and sadness may be expressed through the family gathering to comfort each other. It is also a widespread belief in Samoan culture that emotions should be kept under control, and people should avoid displaying their negative emotions in public. Therefore, it is essential to learn to use and understand nonverbal cues when communicating in Samoa.

Practice Exercise

To practice, use the "Find native speakers" tool over at Polyglot Club and ask them any questions about the feelings and emotions discussed in this lesson.

You can also use the vocabulary page on this website to expand your knowledge of Samoan emotions and feelings.

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• 12. From feelings to grammar: a Samoan case study
• Learn Samoan Emotions Vocabulary - Pasifika Pages Social Media ...

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• Days of the Week
• How to say Good Bye?