tina
The Samoan word for mother is tina. Wiktionary also lists tinā.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Samoan | IPA |
|---|---|
| tina | |
| tinā | /tiˈnaː/ |
tina refers to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child.
Which one should you use?
The forms tina and tinā are variations of the same word. The pack also provides the term Mama, which can be used for mother, as well as the more specific informal versions Mamā and Māmā.
Did you know?
- Samoan society often practices collective parenting, meaning a child may call multiple female aunts tina as a sign of shared motherhood.
- The term Mamā is a loanword from English, reflecting the historical influence of missionaries and Western contact on the Samoan language.
- When addressing an elder woman, using the term tina can serve as a respectful way to acknowledge her authority or maternal role in the community, even if you are a stranger.
Examples in context
- O ia o se tina lelei.She is a good mother.
Example conversation
Manu and Sina are talking about their families.
- ManuO ai lea o lou tina?Who is that, your mother?
- SinaIoe, o lo'u tina lenā.Yes, that is my mother.
- ManuE matua manaia o ia.She is very beautiful.
- SinaFa'afetai, Manu.Thank you, Manu.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries tinā, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
