maile
The English word dog is translated into Samoan as maile or 'ulī.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Samoan |
|---|
| maile |
| 'ulī |
Both forms are used to refer to the animal (noun).
Did you know?
- In traditional Samoan culture, dogs were historically prized as food sources rather than just pets.
- In some Polynesian contexts, the word related to 'ulī shares a common ancestor with words for 'dark' or 'black', likely referring to the dark color of the animal's coat.
- The word 'ulī can also refer to a 'dog' in a metaphorical sense, sometimes used to describe a person who is perceived as being low or insignificant.
Example sentences for Samoan are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Tau and Mere are walking in a yard.
- TauO ai lea maile?Whose dog is that?
- MereO le maile lea o Mere.That is Mere's dog.
- TauE matagofie tele le maile.The dog is very beautiful.
- MereFa'afetai, Tau.Thank you, Tau.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries maile, 'ulī, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 'ulī, CC BY-SA 4.0.
