lo'u igoa
The English phrase "my name" is translated into Samoan as lo'u igoa.
The phrase is used to refer to the name that belongs to the person speaking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of two parts: lo'u, which means "my" and igoa, which means "name".
Did you know?
- Samoan culture places great emphasis on 'igoa', and certain names are considered 'tapu' or sacred, meaning they are handled with specific cultural protocols.
- In traditional Samoan culture, a person's igoa may be changed throughout their life to reflect a significant event or a change in social status.
- The word igoa is a linguistic relative of the Hawaiian word inoa and the Māori word ingoa. All three descended from a single ancestral word in Proto-Polynesian.
Examples in context
- O lo'u igoa o Sione.My name is Sione.
- E le o lo'u igoa lena.That is not my name.
Example conversation
Sina and Tau meet for the first time at a party.
- SinaTalofa, o lo'u igoa o Sina.Hello, my name is Sina.
- TauTalofa Sina, o Tau lo'u igoa.Hello Sina, Tau is my name.
- SinaE fiafia ou te feiloai ma oe, Tau.I am happy to meet you, Tau.
- TauFa'afetai, Sina.Thank you, Sina.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries igoa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
