Language/Samoan/Vocabulary/Family
Hi Samoan learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn vocabulary related to family in Samoan language. Family is an important aspect of Samoan culture, and the words used to describe family members carry cultural significance.
The importance of family in Samoan culture
In Samoan culture, family is seen as the cornerstone of society. The extended family, or aiga, includes many members and is responsible for looking after each other. Family members are expected to prioritize the needs of the aiga over their own individual desires.
Samoan culture has specific terms for different members of the family, which go beyond the usual "mother," "father," "brother," and "sister." These words show respect and reflect the social hierarchy within the family.
Basic family vocabulary
Let's start with some basic vocabulary for family members in Samoan language.
| Samoan | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tama | tah-mah | father |
| tinā | tee-nah | mother |
| teine | teh-ee-neh | girl |
| tama'ita'i | tah-mah-ee-tah-ee | young lady |
| tama'ine | tah-mah-ee-neh | daughter |
| uso | oo-so | brother (of a male speaker) |
| tuafafine | too-ah-fah-fee-neh | sister (of a male speaker) |
| tuagane | too-ah-gah-neh | brother (of a female speaker) |
| teine o le aiga | teh-ee-neh oh leh ay-gah | sister (of a female speaker) |
| tama'oga | tah-mah-oh-nga | young man |
| tama'ale | tah-mah-ah-leh | son |
Some of these words might be tricky to say at first, but don't worry! Practice makes perfect. Try repeating them a few times.
Extended family vocabulary
In Samoan culture, the extended family includes many members, not just immediate family. Let's take a look at some of the words used to describe members of the aiga.
| Samoan | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| papā | pah-pah | grandfather |
| nana | nah-nah | grandmother |
| tama'ititi | tah-mah-ee-tee-tee | uncle (younger brother of a father) |
| tama'itāfatafitu | tah-mah-ee-tah-fah-tah-fee-too | uncle (older brother of a father) |
| tina'ititi | tee-nah-ee-tee-tee | aunt (younger sister of a mother) |
| tina'itāfatafitu | tee-nah-ee-tah-fah-tah-fee-too | aunt (older sister of a mother) |
| fai'ai | fah-ee-ah-ee | cousin |
| matua | mah-too-ah | parent |
| mātutua | mah-too-too-ah | grandparent |
| tama'ita'i lima | tah-mah-ee-tah-ee lee-mah | niece or young female cousin |
| tama'ita'i tuai | tah-mah-ee-tah-ee too-ah-ee | aunt or elderly female cousin |
| tama'ine lima | tah-mah-ee-neh lee-mah | nephew or young male cousin |
| tama'ine tuai | tah-mah-ee-neh too-ah-ee | uncle or elderly male cousin |
This table includes a number of terms, which show how Samoan culture values extended family ties.
Dialogue: talking about family
Now, let's see how these words are used in context.
- Person 1: O fea lau tina? (Where is your mother?)
- Person 2: O lona fale i Apia. (Her house is in Apia.)
- Person 1: O lo'o iai se teine o le aiga? (Do you have a sister?)
- Person 2: Ae, o lo'u tuafafine, o Iosefina. (Yes, my sister is Josephine.)
- Person 1: O a ai lou uso? (Where is your brother?)
- Person 2: O la'u uso o Tama, ua vave ona toe tali. (My brother, Tama, is not responding quickly.)
- Person 1: Ua fia fa'aauauina pea e matai le matua o le aiga? (Do you want the head of the family to make a decision?)
- Person 2: Ua fa'apea. (Yes, that's right.)
The above dialogue shows how these Samoan family vocabulary words can be used in context.
Fun Fact: Tusiata Avia, a Samoan poet
Tusiata Avia is a Samoan writer and poet. She is known for her poems that often tackle themes related to Samoan culture, including family. In 2019, she was awarded the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her short story, "Water."
Conclusion
In this lesson, we learned about basic and extended family vocabulary in Samoan language. The words for different family members show Samoan culture's emphasis on extended family ties. To improve your Samoan vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Don't forget to check out our Vocabulary page for more Samoan language lessons. Fa'afetai for learning with us!
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