motu
The Samoan word for island is motu.
motu is a noun used to describe an area of land that is completely surrounded by water.
Meaning: area of land completely surrounded by water (noun)
Did you know?
- In Samoan, motu can also mean 'severed' or 'cut off', reflecting the way an island is physically detached from a mainland.
- The word motu is a cognate shared across many Pacific languages, such as Maori and Hawaiian, because they all descend from a common ancestral tongue.
- Because the Pacific Ocean is the cultural heart of Samoa, the word motu can also be used metaphorically in certain contexts to describe someone who is socially isolated or 'cut off' from the group.
Examples in context
- O le motu lenei e tele tele.This island is very large.
- O le a le igoa o le motu?What is the name of the island?
Example conversation
Losa and Sione are looking at a map of the Pacific.
- LosaO le fea le motu o loo iinei?Which island is this here?
- SioneO le motu lea e lē mamao mai.That is the island that is not far away.
- LosaE matagofie lava lenei motu.This island is very beautiful.
- SioneIoe, e te sa'o Losa.Yes, you are right, Losa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “island” translations and entries motu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
