Language/Samoan/Grammar/Pronouns

Samoan Grammar - Pronouns

Hi Samoan learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about pronouns in Samoan, an essential part of the language. Pronouns are words used in place of nouns. They make the language more efficient and allow for smoother communication. In Samoan, there are three types of pronouns: personal, possessive, and demonstrative. Let's dive in and explore each category.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Conditional Mood, How to Use Be & Negation.

Personal Pronouns

Samoan personal pronouns are divided into singular and plural forms. They also have inclusive and exclusive forms for the first person plural (we). The inclusive form includes the person being addressed and is used to show solidarity, while the exclusive form does not include the person being addressed.

Here is a table of Samoan personal pronouns:

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
au	a-oo	I, me
oe	o-eh	you (singular)
ia	ee-ah	he, she, it
tatou (inclusive)	ta-toh-oo	we (including you)
mātou (exclusive)	ma-toh-oo	we (not including you)
laupepa (plural)	la-oo-peh-pah	they

Here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: O fea oe? (Where are you from?)
• Person 2: E tu'u mai falealili. Ou te fa'aoga le fale. (I'm from Falealili. I use the house.)

Possessive Pronouns

Samoan possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession. They are similar to English possessive pronouns, such as my, your, his, her, and their. However, in Samoan, the possessive pronoun must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Here is a table of Samoan possessive pronouns:

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
o'u	oh-oo	my
lou	low	your (singular)
lana	lah-nah	his, hers, its
o ta'u	oh ta-oo	our (inclusive)
o matou	oh mah-toh-oo	our (exclusive)
la'upega	lah-oo-peh-ngah	their

Here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: O fea le tatou lalaga fa'ipisinisi? (Where is our business plant?)
• Person 2: E tele i Sogi. O le lā ua fai le fa'ama'ima'i. (It's big in Sogi. Today, the doctor is there.)

Demonstrative Pronouns

Samoan demonstrative pronouns point to specific nouns or persons. There are two categories: proximal (near) and distal (far).

Here is a table of Samoan demonstrative pronouns:

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
nei	neh-ee	this (near)
lea	leh-ah	that (far)

Here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: E te fia fa'atau pisupo i luga o le laufa'i? (Do you want to buy pork on the table?)
• Person 2: E leai, fa'atau lea o se isi laufa'i. (No, I want to buy that one over there.)

To improve your Samoan Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Samoan language - Wikipedia
• Samoan Pronouns
• Samoan Grammar | LEARN101.ORG

Other Lessons

• Questions
• How to Use Be
• Negation
• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives
• Future Tense
• How to Use Have
• Plurals
• Give your Opinion