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46 Samoan Quotes, Proverbs & Sayings + Their Meanings

Samoans use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.

Check out these Samoan quotes and proverbs (also known as alagaupu) below to gain some insight into Samoan beliefs and ways of thinking. 

Below I’ve listed famous Samoan quotes, common Samoan proverbs and inspiring Samoan sayings as well as their meanings in English.

Famous Samoan Proverbs (Alagaupu) & Samoan Sayings

Below I’ve listed the most famous Samoan proverbs and their meanings as well as some common Samoan sayings. These are used often in day to day life.

In the Samoan language, proverbs are known as alagaupu.

  1. O le upega e fili i le po, ‘ae tatala i le ao – The fishing net is knotted at night, but untangled in the morning. 

A Samoan proverb about resolving conflict.

  1. Amuia le masina, e alu ma toe sau – Fortunate is the moon, to go and then return. 

A Samoan quote about death which highlights how permanent death is.  

Famous Samoan quote which reads 'fortunate is the moon, to go and then return'.
  1. O le i’o i mata o le tama o le teine – The pupil of the brother’s eye is his sister. 

A beautiful Samoan quote about love meaning that brothers protect their sisters. 

  1. E lele le toloa ae ma’au i le auvai – The toloa bird flies far, but will always return to the water. 

A Samoan proverb meaning that life may take someone far from home but they will always return home.

  1. E leai se mea e sili atu i lo lo’u aiga – Nothing is more important than your family.
  1. La malu le vai i lou finagalo – May your mind be like cool water.
  1. Le malaga faiaga e timuia – The delayed journey is rained upon. 
  1. O au a matua fanau – Children are the precious offspring of parents. 
Famous Samoan proverb which reads 'children are the precious offspring of parents'.
  1. Solo i tua ni ao taulia – The clouds are finished and retreating. 

A Samoan proverb which means that current trials are coming to an end. 

  1. O lupe sa vaovao’ese’ese o le a toe fuifui fa’atasi – Pigeons that were separated will come back together. 

A Samoan saying about life which means even though life takes us in different directions, we will always find our way back to our loved ones.

  1. O le ala i le pule o le tautau – The path to leadership is service.
  1. Uo i aso uma uso i aso vale – Friends everyday but siblings on bad days. 

One of the best Samoan sayings about family meaning, in the face of adversity, only family will truly be there for us. 

  1. E pala le ma’a, ae le pala le upu – Stone and rocks decay, but words do not.
Famous Samoan proverb which reads 'stone and rocks decay but words do not'.
  1. A malu i fale, e malu i fafo – Protection for the family, protection for all.
  1. E tua le fale tele i le faleo’ o – Even the mighty need others.
  1. Se’i fono le pa’a ma ona vae – Let the crab take counsel with its legs.
  1. Na o le gata e fasia, ‘ae pupula ona mata – Only the snake will look at its killer. 

A Samoan proverb about patiently enduring an injustice. 

  1. E so’o le fau i le fau – Unity is strength.
  1. Tautua nei mo sou manuia taeao – Serve now for a better tomorrow.
  1. Ua o gatasi le futia ma le umele – While the fisherman swings the rod, the others must assist him by paddling hard.
  1. O isi e momo’o – To praise is to beg. 

A Samoan proverb meaning some people will compliment what you have because they want it.

  1. Aiga e tasi – One family.

Meaningful Samoan Quotes

Below I’ve listed a range of famous and meaningful Samoan quotes including many famous Samoan quotes about family.

  1. O lupe sa vao ese’ese, ae ua fuifui faatasi – We are from different parts of the forest but connected in one cause.
  1. E vave taunu’u le malaga pe a tatou alo va’a fa’atasi – Our destiny is within sight when we paddle our canoe together.
  1. O le tagata ma lona aiga, o le tagata ma lona fa’asinomaga – Every person belongs to a family and every family belongs to a person.

This expression is one of the best Samoan quotes about family.

Famous Samoan quote about family which reads 'every person belongs to a family and every family belongs to a person'.
  1. O fanau a manu e fafaga i fuga o laau, o fanau a tagata e fafaga i upu – The offspring of birds are fed with nectar, the children of people are fed with words.
  1. O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota, e mama se avega pe a ta amo fa’atasi – My strength does not come from me alone but from many.
  1. ‘O tagata ‘uma e maua manuia, ‘ae e le o tagata ‘uma e maua fa’amanuiaga – Everyone receives blessings yet not everyone is blessed.
  1. ‘O le i’a a tautai e alu i le fa’alolo – The fish appears as if it went into the net at the will of the fisherman.
  1. A’oa’i le tamaitiiti ina aua ne’i alo ese mai ona ala – Instruct a child so they will not stray from their path.
  1. E le sili le ta’i, nai lo le tapua’i – The people supporting are just as important as those who are working.
Famous Samoan quote about life which reads 'the people supporting are just as important as those who are working'.
  1. E mau e fa’alele, e mau e matau – Some will let loose, some will observe attentively.
  1. E le tu fa’amauga se tagata – Nobody stands alone like an island, it is important that we work together as a team.
  1. Fale taeao e le afiafi – He who sits at home in the morning will not eat in the evening.
  1. Ua sausau fialele manu na i utufiu – The bird of Utufiu flaps its wings, ready to fly.
  1. ‘Ua fa’ ala’ au tu i vanu – To be like a tree standing near a precipice.
  1. ‘O ‘upu o le po, e ta’u fa’ali’a – Words of the night are only told as dreams.
  1. E le pu se tino i upu – Words don’t break bones.
  1. Ua aofia i le futiafu e tasi – When the river dries up, water is found only in the basin of the waterfall.
  1. Ua tagi le fatu ma le eleele – The stones and the earth weep. 

This Samoan quote is used when a beloved chief dies.

Best Samoan Idioms & Samoan Expressions

Below I’ve listed the most well-known Samoan idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings.

  1. ʻO lalo ifi lenei 

This Samoan idiom literally means ‘this is under the chestnut tree’, however the true meaning is ‘this is a secret’.

  1. Seʻi luaʻi lou le ʻulu taumamao

This phrase literally means ‘pick the breadfruits on the far-off branches first’. The true meaning is that you should do the most difficult task first.

  1. E toa e le loto, a e pa le noo

This Samoan idiom literally means ‘strong in heart but broken in the back’. This phrase is used to describe someone who’s will is stronger than their body.

  1. Ua se taʻataʻa a le ala

This Samoan expression literally means ‘like grass by the roadside’. It’s used to describe someone who has no fixed abode.

  1. Ua se moo le sosolo

This phrase literally means ‘he is a lizard crawling’ however it is actually used to describe a disobedient person.

  1. Ua le seʻi seu faʻaʻalo

This Samoan idiom literally means ‘why do you not steer out of the way?’. It is actually used as a request to be respectful.

Check out the video below which features a range of famous Samoan quotes and well-known Samoan sayings & proverbs.

Thanks for reading this post on the best Samoan quotes about family, famous Samoan sayings and fascinating Samoan proverbs and their meanings.

These Samoan quotes about love and family give an interesting insight into the Samoan beliefs and language.

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