Language/Samoan/Vocabulary/Count-to-10
Hi Samoan learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to count to 10 in Samoan. As always, we will include cultural information and interesting facts to make the lesson more engaging. So, are you ready? Let's get started!
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Food, Drinks & Geography.
Let's learn the numbers from 1 to 10[edit | edit source]
To start with, let's take a look at the numbers from 1 to 10:
| Samoan | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tasi | (ta-si) | One |
| Lua | (lu-a) | Two |
| Tolu | (to-lu) | Three |
| Fa | (fa) | Four |
| Lima | (li-ma) | Five |
| Ono | (o-no) | Six |
| Fitu | (fi-tu) | Seven |
| Valu | (va-lu) | Eight |
| Iva | (i-va) | Nine |
| Sefulu | (se-fu-lu) | Ten |
As you can see, for numbers between 1 to 5, we use "tasi", "lua", "tolu", "fa", and "lima". These words are also used for counting things. For numbers from 6 to 9, we use "ono", "fitu", "valu", and "iva". And for number 10, we say "sefulu".
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue to illustrate the use of numbers in context. Pay attention to the pronunciation:
- Person 1: Tasi fale. (One house.)
- Person 2: Lua upu. (Two words.)
- Person 1: Tolu pipi. (Three dogs.)
- Person 2: Fa fetu. (Four stars.)
- Person 1: Lima va'a. (Five canoes.)
- Person 2: Ono lavalava. (Six sarongs.)
- Person 1: Fitu kalo. (Seven taros.)
- Person 2: Valu lau. (Eight leaves.)
- Person 1: Iva tala. (Nine dollars.)
- Person 2: Sefulu tausaga. (Ten years.)
Become confident with numbers[edit | edit source]
To improve your ability to work with numbers in Samoan, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Also, feel free to check out the Vocabulary page to learn more words in Samoan!
Cultural information[edit | edit source]
In Samoan culture, numbers play an important role in everyday life. For example, certain numbers are considered lucky or unlucky. The number 13 is believed to be unlucky, while 7 and 9 are considered lucky. In fact, the word "valu" (eight) sounds similar to the Samoan word for "wealth", so it is often associated with good fortune.
Additionally, in traditional Samoan society, genealogy is very important. It is not uncommon for individuals to recite the names of their ancestors back to 10 or 20 generations. This reflects the significance of counting and the importance of family and heritage in Samoan culture.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations on learning how to count to 10 in Samoan! We hope you found this lesson informative and helpful. Don't forget to practice with a native speaker and explore Samoan culture to gain a deeper understanding of the language.
➡ 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]
- Numbers and Counting in Samoan [with Audio and Video - Gagana ...]
- Numbers and Time - Samoan Language Resources
- Samoan Numbers
Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Greetings, Express Surprise & Health.
Videos[edit | edit source]
LEARN to COUNT 1-10 in SAMOAN - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Samoan Counting 1 - 10 - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]