Counting in Samoan

Counting in Samoan

Learning to Count in Samoan: A Simple Guide

Counting in Samoan is easy and fun! Once you learn the basic numbers, you can count anything. Let’s start with the numbers from 1 to 10 and build from there.

Numbers 1 to 10 in Samoan

Here are the numbers from one to ten:

1. Tasi (tah-see) = One
2. Lua (loo-ah) = Two
3. Tolu (toh-loo) = Three
4. Fa (fah) = Four
5. Lima (lee-mah) = Five
6. Ono (oh-noh) = Six
7. Fitu (fee-too) = Seven
8. Valu (vah-loo) = Eight
9. Iva (ee-vah) = Nine
10. Sefulu (seh-foo-loo) = Ten

Counting from 11 to 19

After ten, Samoan numbers follow a simple pattern: say “sefulu” (ten) and then add the number for 1–9.

• 11 = Sefulu ma le tasi (ten and one)
• 12 = Sefulu ma le lua (ten and two)
• 13 = Sefulu ma le tolu (ten and three)
  …and so on, up to 19.

Counting by Tens: 20, 30, 40, and More

To count in tens, say the number for 2, 3, 4, etc., followed by “sefulu”:

• 20 = Lua sefulu (two tens)
• 30 = Tolu sefulu (three tens)
• 40 = Fa sefulu (four tens)
• 50 = Lima sefulu (five tens)
• 60 = Ono sefulu (six tens)
• 70 = Fitu sefulu (seven tens)
• 80 = Valu sefulu (eight tens)
• 90 = Iva sefulu (nine tens)

Combining Numbers: 21 to 99

When you count numbers between tens, add “ma le” (and) to combine them.

• 21 = Lua sefulu ma le tasi (twenty and one)
• 35 = Tolu sefulu ma le lima (thirty and five)
• 48 = Fa sefulu ma le valu (forty and eight)

Counting to 100

The word for one hundred is selau (say-lau).

• 100 = Selau
• 101 = Selau ma le tasi (one hundred and one)
• 120 = Selau lua sefulu (one hundred and twenty)
• 155 = Selau lima sefulu ma le lima (one hundred fifty-five)

Fun Practice

Now that you know how to count, try saying these in Samoan:

1. How do you say 7? (Fitu)
2. What is 15? (Sefulu ma le lima)
3. How do you count 25? (Lua sefulu ma le lima)
4. What is 40? (Fa sefulu)

Activity: Count Around You!

Look around and count:

• How many chairs do you see?
• How many trees are in your yard?
• How many toys do you have?

The Role of “Lona” in Ordinal Counting

“Lona” is primarily used to denote ordinal numbers, which specify the position of an item in a sequential order, such as first, second, third, etc. Unlike cardinal numbers (one, two, three), which simply count quantities, ordinal numbers indicate rank or position.

1. Basic Structure:

• In Samoan, “lona” is followed by a cardinal number to form an ordinal number. For instance, lona lua means “second,” and lona tolu means “third.”
• The structure is straightforward: lona + [cardinal number]. This formation is consistent across various contexts, making it a reliable pattern for learners.

1. Contextual Usage:

• In Descriptions: When describing the position of objects or people, “lona” is essential. For example, O lona lima lenei means “This is the fifth one.” Here, lona lima indicates the fifth position.
• In Events and Sequences: When discussing events in a sequence, “lona” helps clarify the order. For instance, O lona lua lea o ta’aloga translates to “This is the second game.”
• In Dates: “Lona” is also used when specifying dates, particularly when referring to the day in a month. For example, O lona lua o Mati means “the second of March.”

Examples of “Lona” in Use

To better understand how “lona” operates in Samoan, let’s look at various practical examples:

1. Describing Siblings:

• O lona lua lea o uso o Pita. (He is the second of Pita’s siblings.)
• In this sentence, lona lua indicates the second sibling, specifying the order among the siblings.

1. School Grades:

• Ua ia maua lona fa i le vasega. (She got fourth place in the class.)
• Here, lona fa denotes the fourth position in terms of academic performance.

1. Sporting Events:

• Ua ia taunu’u i lona tolu i le tu’uga. (He finished third in the race.)
• The phrase lona tolu marks the third position in the race.

1. Historical Context:

• O lona valu lea tausaga talu ona fa’avae le nu’u. (This is the eighth year since the village was founded.)
• In this example, lona valu indicates the eighth year.

Importance of “Lona” in Language Learning

For learners of Samoan, mastering the use of “lona” is fundamental for several reasons:

1. Clarity in Communication:

• Proper use of “lona” ensures clear communication, especially when detailing sequences, ranks, and positions. It allows speakers to convey precise information about order, which is critical in both formal and informal contexts.

1. Cultural Relevance:

• Understanding how “lona” functions also provides insight into cultural practices and norms. In Samoan culture, hierarchy and order are significant, and correctly using ordinal numbers reflects a deeper grasp of social and cultural contexts.

1. Foundational Grammar:

• Learning to use “lona” correctly lays the foundation for more complex grammatical structures in Samoan. It aids in building sentences that are grammatically sound and contextually appropriate.

Conclusion

The Samoan word “lona” is an indispensable tool for counting and ordering subjects. Its primary function in forming ordinal numbers makes it essential for describing positions, sequences, and ranks. By combining “lona” with cardinal numbers, speakers can clearly indicate the order of items or events. For language learners, mastering “lona” not only enhances communication clarity but also deepens their understanding of Samoan culture and grammatical structures. Thus, “lona” plays a vital role in the nuanced and precise use of the Samoan language.