nofo
The English verb 'sit' translates to Samoan as nofo.
The verb nofo is used for the physical act of sitting, where a person is in a position with an upright upper body and supported legs. It is also used more broadly to mean staying in a place, or to reside or live in a location.
Meaning: of a person, be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs are supported (verb)
Did you know?
- In Samoan culture, the physical act of nofo is governed by strict social hierarchy. It is considered highly disrespectful for a lower-ranking person to nofo at a height greater than a chief.
- You might use 'nofo' to describe an object that is 'placed' or 'set' in a certain spot. It bridges the gap between a person sitting and an object being situated.
- When describing someone who is 'sitting' in a specific position of power, Samoan may use 'nofo' to denote their official station or tenure.
Examples in context
- E tatau ona nofo i luga o le nofoa.You must sit on the chair.
- Nofo malie i luga o le uma.Sit comfortably on the mat.
Example conversation
Mere and Manu are entering a room with chairs.
- MereManu, e mafai ona e nofo iinei?Manu, can you sit here?
- ManuIoe, ou te nofo nei.Yes, I will sit here.
- MereFa'afetai, Mere o le a nofo i lea.Thank you, Mere will sit over there.
- ManuLelei, ua saia nofo i tatou.Good, we are now sitting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sit” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
