How to Say “Butterfly” in Samoan

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pepe
The Samoan word for butterfly is pepe.
pepe refers to the insect known as a butterfly.
Meaning: insect (noun)

Did you know?

  • In many Polynesian cultures, including Samoa, butterflies are sometimes seen as symbols of the souls of ancestors or spirits returning to visit the living.
  • Because pepe means both 'butterfly' and 'milk', one must rely heavily on context to avoid confusion in spoken sentences.
  • If a Samoan speaker says 'ia Pepe', they might not be talking to an insect, but could be addressing a person with the common nickname 'Pepe'.

Examples in context

  • E matagofie le pepe.
    The butterfly is beautiful.
  • E te fiafia i le pepe?
    Do you like the butterfly?

Example conversation

Mere and Manu are sitting in a garden.

  1. Mere

    Vaai atu i le pepe!
    Look at the butterfly!
  2. Manu

    Ae ia, e matagofie lelei lava.
    Oh, it is very beautiful.
  3. Mere

    E te fiafia i lona lanu?
    Do you like its color?
  4. Manu

    Ioe, e sili ona lelei.
    Yes, it is excellent.

Sources

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Gail Lynn
Gail LynnHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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