alaisa
The Samoan word for rice is alaisa.
The word refers to seeds used as food.
Meaning: seeds used as food (noun)
Did you know?
- The phonetic shape of alaisa is easier for English speakers to recognize than many other Samoan words because of its close relationship to the English 'rice'.
- While many cultures treat rice as a sacred symbol of life, in Samoa, alaisa is primarily viewed as a practical side dish. It lacks the deep spiritual or ancestral weight that indigenous staples like 'talo' carry.
- In Samoan culture, rice is often seen as a 'modern' staple compared to traditional crops like 'talo' (taro), and its presence on a plate can sometimes signal a shift in traditional dietary habits.
Examples in context
- E mana'omia le alaisa mo le afiafi.Rice is needed for tonight.
- E mana'omia le alaisa.Rice is needed.
- E te mana'omia le alaisa?Do you need rice?
Example conversation
Manu and Talisa are preparing dinner.
- ManuTalisa, e iai le alaisa?Talisa, is there any rice?
- TalisaIoe, o lo'o i lea.Yes, it is over there.
- ManuFa'amalie, aua na'u kuka le alaisa.Thanks, I will cook the rice.
- TalisaFa'afetai, Manu.Thank you, Manu.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rice” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
