Introduction
In Samoan, many verbs have different forms depending on whether the action is done by one person or multiple people. These verbs are important to learn because they help you speak more naturally and correctly in conversations.
For example, if one person is dancing, the verb used is siva. But if multiple people are dancing together, the verb changes to sisiva. This small change helps clarify whether one or many people are involved in the action.
This lesson will teach you some common Samoan verbs that have plural variations and how to use them in sentences.
Singular vs. Plural Verbs
Samoan verbs that change in the plural form often have these patterns:
- Adding “si-” or “fa-” to the beginning of the verb
- Doubling part of the verb
- Changing the verb completely in plural form
Let’s look at some common examples:
Singular Verb | Plural Verb | Meaning |
---|---|---|
siva | sisiva | to dance |
nofo | nonofo | to sit |
savali | sasavali | to walk |
pese | pepese | to sing |
moe | momoe | to sleep |
alu | o | to go |
sau | ōmai | to come |
galue | galulue | to work |
tālo | tatālo | to pray |
vā’ai | vāva’ai | to look/watch |
How to Use These Verbs in Sentences
Now, let’s see how these verbs work in real Samoan sentences.
1. Singular Verb Sentences (One Person)
- O lo’o siva le teine. (The girl is dancing.)
- Nofo i lalo, fa‘amolemole. (Sit down, please.)
- Ua moe le tama. (The boy is sleeping.)
- Na alu le teine i le faleoloa. (The girl went to the store.)
2. Plural Verb Sentences (More than One Person)
- O lo’o sisiva teine ma tama. (The girls and boys are dancing.)
- Nonofo lelei tamaiti i le vasega. (The children sit nicely in class.)
- Ua momoe tamaiti i le potumoe. (The children are sleeping in the bedroom.)
- Na ō i le maketi le aiga. (The family went to the market.)
Why Is This Important?
When speaking Samoan, using the right verb form helps avoid confusion. If you use the singular form when talking about multiple people, it might sound strange to native speakers.
For example, if you say “O lo’o siva tamaiti”, it would sound like only one child is dancing instead of many. The correct way to say it is “O lo’o sisiva tamaiti” since multiple children are dancing.
Practice Exercise
Try filling in the blanks with the correct singular or plural verb.
- (moe/momoe) O lo’o ___ tamaiti i le afiafi. (The children are sleeping at night.)
- (alu/ō) Na ___ le ‘aufaipese i le lotu. (The choir went to church.)
- (pese/pepese) O lo’o ___ le teine i le fa’afiafiaga. (The girl is singing at the performance.)
- (savali/sasavali) O lo’o ___ tamaiti i le ala. (The children are walking on the road.)
- (nofo/nonofo) Fa’amolemole ___ i lalo. (Please sit down.)
Conclusion
Samoan verbs sometimes change when talking about one person versus a group. Learning these plural variations helps improve your fluency and makes your Samoan sound more natural.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Many Samoan verbs have plural versions.
✅ Common plural markers are “si-“, “fa-“, or repeating part of the verb.
✅ Using the correct form prevents confusion when speaking.
Keep practicing these verbs, and soon, you’ll be speaking Samoan with confidence!