fa'afetai
The English phrase "thank you" is translated into Samoan as fa'afetai.
fa'afetai is an expression of gratitude. It can be used as a standalone exclamation to express thanks or as a verb within a sentence.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Malo is an informal way to say thank you. You can use fa'afetai lava to be more formal, polite and respectful when expressing deep gratitude. For a formal way to say "thank you very much", use Fa'afetai tele lava. You may also use the formal phrase Fa'afetai mo le lagolago to mean "thank you for your support".
How does it change in a sentence?
To intensify the expression to mean "thank you very much", you can add tele lava after fa'afetai to get fa'afetai tele lava.
When do people say it?
In Samoan culture, offering small gifts can be a way to express gratitude.
Did you know?
- The informal thank you malo actually means 'well done' or 'congratulations' in its primary sense. It shifts the focus from the receiver's gratitude to the giver's effort or skill.
- While 'thank you' is a verbal exchange, in many Samoan villages, true gratitude is often demonstrated through 'ava' ceremony or the presentation of a 'si'i' (fine mat) rather than just words.
- The apostrophe in fa'afetai is not a punctuation mark for a contraction, but a sign for a glottal stop, a sudden catch in the breath like the middle of 'uh-oh'.
Examples in context
- Fa'afetai lava.Thank you very much.
- Fa'afetai i lau fesoasoani.Thank you for your help.
Example conversation
Losa gives Sione a piece of fruit.
- SioneFa'afetai, Losa.Thank you, Losa.
- LosaFa'afetai tele.You are very welcome.
- SioneE sili ifo le lalelei.It is very beautiful.
- LosaIa manuia le aso.Have a great day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries fa'afetai, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
