Common Samoan proverbs and figurative idioms with their meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Samoan idiom. Back: English meaning and usage note.
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- E lele le toloa ae maʻau i le vai
- The duck flies away but always returns to the water. A well-known proverb meaning that no matter how far you roam, you always return to your roots.
- O le ala i le pule o le tautua
- The path to authority is through service. A famous Samoan proverb teaching that true leadership is earned by serving others first.
- E pala ma'a, ae le pala upu
- Stones decay, but words do not. A proverb meaning that a promise or a spoken word endures forever.
- O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota
- With many torches, more shellfish are caught. A proverb praising teamwork and cooperation.
- Ia matuā tapenapena
- Always be prepared. The official motto of American Samoa.
- Faʻavae i le Atua Samoa
- Samoa is founded on God. The national motto of independent Samoa.
- Loto tele
- A big heart, i.e. brave, courageous
- Loto vaivai
- A weak heart, i.e. faint-hearted, cowardly
- Mata i luga
- Eyes upward, i.e. proud, arrogant
- Ua motu le faʻamoemoe
- Hope has been severed, i.e. to lose all hope
- Alofa e leai se tuaoi
- Love has no boundary, a poetic saying about the limitless nature of love
- Tautua faʻamaoni
- Faithful service, an idiom honoring a core Samoan cultural value
- Ua tō le lā
- The sun has set, i.e. an era has ended, or someone has passed away
- Faʻafofoga i le loto
- Listen to your heart, i.e. follow your intuition
- E lē maua se mea e aunoa ma se galuega
- Nothing is gained without work, a saying similar to "no pain, no gain"
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