To Want Statements: Fia & Mana’o

Understanding Fia and Mana’o in Samoan Language

When learning the Samoan language, two important verbs, fia and mana’o (manana’o is plural), play a significant role in expressing desires and wants. While they may seem similar at first glance, their usage differs depending on whether you are expressing the desire to do something or the desire for something. Mastering these two verbs will greatly enhance your ability to form meaningful sentences in Samoan.

Using Fia: Expressing a Desire to Do Something

The word fia is used when you want to express the desire to do something. The sentence structure is straightforward and follows this pattern:

[Pronoun] te fia [action]

Here, the pronoun indicates who wants to perform the action, while the word fia conveys the desire, and the action specifies what the person wants to do.

Examples:

• Ou te fia ‘ai. – I want to eat.
• E te fia ta’alo. – You want to play.
• Ia te fia moe. – He/She/It wants to sleep.
• Matou te fia savali. – We (exclusive) want to walk.

This structure is clean and intuitive, making it easy for beginners to use. Keep in mind that fia always indicates an action or verb following it.

Using Mana’o: Expressing a Desire for Something

The word mana’o is used when you want to express the desire for something (a noun or an object). The structure differs slightly from that of fia and follows this pattern:

[Pronoun] te mana’o i [noun statement]

Here, the pronoun identifies who has the desire, mana’o (manana’o is plural) expresses wanting, and the preposition i connects it to the noun or object.

Examples:

• Ou te mana’o i le peni. – I want the pen.
• E te mana’o i le falaoa. – You want the bread.
• Ia te manana’o i le ta’avale fou. – He/She/It wants the new car.
• Tatou te manana’o i ni meata’alo. – We (inclusive) want some toys.

This structure is particularly useful for expressing desires related to tangible items or specific objects.

Key Differences Between Fia and Mana’o

• Fia focuses on actions: “What do you want to do?”
• Mana’o focuses on objects: “What do you want to have?”

Understanding this distinction will help you construct sentences that clearly convey your intended meaning.

Practical Exercises

Using the worksheet structure, practice forming sentences with fia and mana’o:

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentences

1. Ou te fia _______ (to sing).
2. E te fia _______ (to drink).
3. Ma te manana’o i _______ (books).
4. Tatou te mana’o i _______ (ice cream).

Exercise 2: Translate to Samoan

1. I want to run.
2. You want to sleep.
3. We (inclusive) want a house.
4. They want a car.

Conclusion

By practicing sentences with fia and mana’o, you’ll gain confidence in expressing your desires in Samoan. Whether you’re talking about actions you want to take or items you wish to have, these two verbs are essential tools for effective communication. Take your time to master the sentence structures, and you’ll be well on your way to fluency!