manukī
The English word "monkey" is manukī in Samoan.
Meaning: primate (noun)
Did you know?
- The word manukī is a loanword from the English 'monkey' because there are no native monkeys in Samoa or the rest of Polynesia.
- Because manukī describes an animal not found locally, it is often used in Samoan culture to describe someone who is mischievous or playful.
- The word manukī is a loanword from English, which is why it sounds so similar to the English word 'monkey'.
Examples in context
- O le manukī o lo'o i luga o le laau.The monkey is on the tree.
- Na vaai au i se manukī.I saw a monkey.
Example conversation
Tau and Talisa are looking at a picture book.
- TauSe o le ā lea manu, Talisa?What animal is that, Talisa?
- TalisaO se manukī lenā, Tau.That is a monkey, Tau.
- TauE faigata ona sasa'a le manukī.It is hard to catch a monkey.
- TalisaAe e vave tele i latou.But they are very fast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monkey” translations and entries manukī, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manukī, CC BY-SA 4.0.
