Ou te alofa ia te oe
The English phrase "I love you" is translated into Samoan as Ou te alofa ia te oe.
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into Ou (I), te (the/particle), alofa (love/affection), ia te (to/towards) and oe (you).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the pronoun oe is used for the singular "you". If you wish to address a group of people instead, replace oe with outou to say Ou te alofa ia te outou.
Did you know?
- In traditional Samoan society, romantic love is often expressed through the gifting of fine mats ie toga rather than through spoken words.
- The word alofa is a cognate of the Hawaiian aloha, meaning both languages share a common ancestral root for expressing love and affection.
- Samoan is a highly contextual language where the pronoun oe can change its form based on the social rank of the person being addressed.
Examples in context
- Ou te alofa ia te oe, uso.I love you, bro.
- Ou te alofa ia te oe.I love you.
- Sina, ou te alofa ia te oe.Sina, I love you.
- Ou te alofa ia te oe lava atu.I love you so much.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alofa, ia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
