Difference between revisions of "Language/Samoan/Vocabulary/Family"
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
== The importance of family in Samoan culture == | == 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. | 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. | 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. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
! Samoan !! Pronunciation !! English | ! Samoan !! Pronunciation !! English | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tama | | tama || tah-mah || father | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tinā | | tinā || tee-nah || mother | ||
|- | |- | ||
| teine | | teine || teh-ee-neh || girl | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tama'ita'i | | tama'ita'i || tah-mah-ee-tah-ee || young lady | ||
|- | |- | ||
| afafine | | afafine || a fah fi ne || daughter | ||
|- | |- | ||
| uso | | uso || oo-so || brother (of a male speaker) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tuafafine | | tuafafine || too-ah-fah-fee-neh || sister (of a male speaker) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tuagane | | 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) | | teine o le aiga || teh-ee-neh oh leh ay-gah || sister (of a female speaker) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tama'aoga | | tama'aoga || tah-mah-oh-nga || school boy | ||
|- | |- | ||
| atali'i | | atali'i || ah tah li 'i || son | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 52: | Line 52: | ||
== Extended family vocabulary == | == 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. | 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''. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Samoan !! Pronunciation !! English | ! Samoan !! Pronunciation !! English | ||
|- | |- | ||
| papā | | papā || pah-pah || grandfather | ||
|- | |- | ||
| nana | | nana || nah-nah || grandmother | ||
|- | |- | ||
| tama'ititi | | tama'ititi || tah-mah-ee-tee-tee || young child | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || || uncle (older brother of a father) | | matua tane || mah-too-ah tah-neh || uncle (older brother of a father) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || tee-nah-ee-tee-tee || aunt (younger sister of a mother) | | tinā'ititi || tee-nah-ee-tee-tee || aunt (younger sister of a mother) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || tee-nah-ee-tah-fah | | tinā'itamafafine || tee-nah-ee-tah-mah-fah-fee-neh || aunt (older sister of a mother) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || fah-ee-ah- | | faiaoga || fah-ee-ah-oh-gah || cousin | ||
|- | |- | ||
| matua | | matua || mah-too-ah || parent | ||
|- | |- | ||
| mātutua | | mātutua || mah-too-too-ah || grandparent | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || tah-mah-ee-tah-ee lee-mah || niece or young female cousin | | tama'ita'i lima || tah-mah-ee-tah-ee lee-mah || niece or young female cousin | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || tah-mah-ee-tah-ee too-ah-ee || aunt or elderly female cousin | | tama'ita'i tuai || tah-mah-ee-tah-ee too-ah-ee || aunt or elderly female cousin | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || tah-mah- | | tamalii lima || tah-mah-lee lee-mah || nephew or young male cousin | ||
|- | |- | ||
| || tah-mah- | | tamalii tuai || tah-mah-lee too-ah-ee || uncle or elderly male cousin | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 90: | Line 90: | ||
Now, let's see how these words are used in context. | Now, let's see how these words are used in context. | ||
* Person 1: O fea lou tina? (Where is your mother?) | * Person 1: ''O fea lou tina?'' (Where is your mother?) | ||
* Person 2: O lona fale i Apia. (Her house is in Apia.) | * Person 2: ''O lona fale i Apia.'' (Her house is in Apia.) | ||
* Person 1: E iai sou uso/tuafafine? (Do you have a sister?) | * Person 1: ''E iai sou uso/tuafafine?'' (Do you have a brother/sister?) | ||
* Person 2: Ioe, o lo'u uso/tuafafine, o Iosefina. (Yes, my sister is Josephine.) | * Person 2: ''Ioe, o lo'u uso/tuafafine, o Iosefina.'' (Yes, my brother/sister is Josephine.) | ||
* Person 1: O fea o i ai lou uso? (Where is your brother?) | * Person 1: ''O fea o i ai lou uso?'' (Where is your brother?) | ||
* Person 2: O lo'u uso o Tama, ua alu i Ausetalia (My brother, Tama, | * Person 2: ''O lo'u uso o Tama, ua alu i Ausetalia.'' (My brother, Tama, has gone to Australia.) | ||
* Person 1: E te mana'o e fai e le ulu o le aiga se faaiuga? (Do you want the head of the family to make a decision?) | * Person 1: ''E te mana'o e fai e le ulu o le aiga se faaiuga?'' (Do you want the head of the family to make a decision?) | ||
* Person 2: Ioe, ou te mana'o ai. | * Person 2: ''Ioe, ou te mana'o ai.'' (Yes, I want that.) | ||
== Fun Fact: Tusiata Avia, a Samoan poet == | == Fun Fact: Tusiata Avia, a Samoan poet == | ||
Latest revision as of 17:42, 4 March 2024
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.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Food, Feelings and Emotions & Clothes.
The importance of family in Samoan culture[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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 |
| afafine | a fah fi ne | 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'aoga | tah-mah-oh-nga | school boy |
| atali'i | ah tah li 'i | 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[edit | edit source]
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 | young child |
| matua tane | mah-too-ah tah-neh | uncle (older brother of a father) |
| tinā'ititi | tee-nah-ee-tee-tee | aunt (younger sister of a mother) |
| tinā'itamafafine | tee-nah-ee-tah-mah-fah-fee-neh | aunt (older sister of a mother) |
| faiaoga | fah-ee-ah-oh-gah | 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 |
| tamalii lima | tah-mah-lee lee-mah | nephew or young male cousin |
| tamalii tuai | tah-mah-lee 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[edit | edit source]
Now, let's see how these words are used in context.
- Person 1: O fea lou tina? (Where is your mother?)
- Person 2: O lona fale i Apia. (Her house is in Apia.)
- Person 1: E iai sou uso/tuafafine? (Do you have a brother/sister?)
- Person 2: Ioe, o lo'u uso/tuafafine, o Iosefina. (Yes, my brother/sister is Josephine.)
- Person 1: O fea o i ai lou uso? (Where is your brother?)
- Person 2: O lo'u uso o Tama, ua alu i Ausetalia. (My brother, Tama, has gone to Australia.)
- Person 1: E te mana'o e fai e le ulu o le aiga se faaiuga? (Do you want the head of the family to make a decision?)
- Person 2: Ioe, ou te mana'o ai. (Yes, I want that.)
Fun Fact: Tusiata Avia, a Samoan poet[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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!
➡ 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[edit | edit source]
- Village & Family - Samoan Language Resources
- Samoan - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
- What is "Family" in Samoan and how to say it?
Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Greetings, Animals & Education.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Geography
- Feelings and Emotions
- Colors
- Fruits
- How to say Good Bye?
- Count to 10
- Health
- Animals
- Drinks