teine lalelei
The English phrase "pretty girl" is translated into Samoan as teine lalelei.
teine lalelei is used to describe a girl or young woman who is physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun teine (girl) and the adjective lalelei (beautiful/pretty).
Did you know?
- In traditional Samoan culture, beauty is often linked to 'va', the concept of respectful relational space, rather than just facial features.
- Samoan way of speaking often uses reduplication to emphasize adjectives, so saying lalelei lalelei would imply she is 'very, very pretty'.
- The term lalelei is related to words in other Polynesian languages, reflecting a shared ancestral root for 'beauty' across the Pacific.
Examples in context
- O se teine lalelei lena.That is a pretty girl.
- O le teine lalelei lenei.This is the pretty girl.
Example conversation
Talisa and Tasi are talking about a new classmate.
- TalisaO ai lena teine lalelei?Who is that pretty girl?
- TasiO le teine fou lea.That is the new girl.
- TalisaE foliga mai o se teine lalelei.She seems like a pretty girl.
- TasiAe lelei fo'i lona ula.And her dress is also nice.
