Learning to Count in Samoan: From 1 to 1,000,000
Counting in Samoan opens up a world of understanding and appreciation for the language and culture of Samoa. Let’s start with the basics—counting from 1 to 8:
- Tasi (one)
- Lua (two)
- Tolu (three)
- Fā (four)
- Lima (five)
- Ono (six)
- Fitu (seven)
- Valu (eight)
These numbers form the foundation of the Samoan counting system. Now, let’s explore further and learn how to count up to one million in Samoan.
Counting to Ten
- Iva (nine)
- Sefulu (ten)
Counting to One Hundred
To count beyond ten, Samoans use a combination of the numbers we’ve already learned. Here’s how you can count by tens up to one hundred:
- Sefulu tasi (eleven)
- Sefulu lua (twelve)
- …
- Sefulu iva (nineteen)
- Lua sefulu (twenty)
- Lua sefulu tasi (twenty-one)
- …
- Tolu sefulu (thirty)
- Fā sefulu (forty)
- …
- Sefulu sefulu or Selau (one hundred)
Counting to One Thousand
Counting into the hundreds and thousands follows a similar pattern:
- Lua selau (two hundred)
- Tolu selau (three hundred)
- …
- Lua afe (two thousand)
- Tolu afe (three thousand)
Counting to One Million
When counting in the thousands, Samoan uses the word “afe” (thousand) and “mano” (ten thousand):
- Tasi mano (ten thousand)
- Lua mano (twenty thousand)
- …
- Tolu selau afe (three hundred thousand)
- Lima selau afe (five hundred thousand)
- Tasi miliona (one million)
Simple Math in Samoan
To reinforce these numbers, let’s do some simple math in Samoan.
Addition
Samoan:
Tasi faaopoopo lua e tutusa ma tolu.
Tasi + Lua = Tolu
1 + 2 = 3
Subtraction
Samoan:
Sefulu toese lima e tutusa ma lima.
Sefulu – Lima = Lima
10 – 5 = 5
Multiplication
Samoan:
Lua faateleina fa e tutusa ma valu.
Lua × Fā = Valu
2 × 4 = 8
Division
Samoan:
Valu vaevae lua e tutusa ma fa.
Valu ÷ Lua = Fā
8 ÷ 2 = 4
Practice Makes Perfect
Understanding how to count in Samoan and perform simple math operations provides a solid foundation for further learning. By practicing these numbers and operations, you’ll deepen your appreciation of the Samoan language and culture. Happy counting!
Feel free to reach out to us at PasifikaPages.net for more resources and learning materials to continue your journey in mastering the Samoan language.
