taimi
The Samoan word for "time" is taimi.
taimi is used as a noun to refer to the measurement of a quantity of time.
Meaning: measurement of a quantity of time (noun)
Did you know?
- The word taimi is a loanword from English, adapted to fit Samoan phonology.
- In Samoan culture, the concept of taimi is often viewed more flexibly than in Western cultures, leading to a social phenomenon sometimes called 'Samoan time'.
- In many traditional Samoan contexts, instead of using a clock-based word like taimi, people describe time by the position of the sun or the tides.
Examples in context
- O le itula e tasiIt is 1 o'clock
- O le itula e luaIt is 2 o'clock
- O le itula e toluIt is 3 o'clock
- E leai se taimi lava.There is no time at all.
- O le a le taimi?What is the time?
Example conversation
Manu and Talisa are talking about their schedule.
- ManuE iai se taimi e tautala ai?Is there time to talk?
- TalisaIoe, e iai se taimi nei.Yes, there is time now.
- ManuFa'afetai, e telemetry le taimi.Thank you, the time is short.
- TalisaE lelei lena, fa'apea mai.That is fine, tell me.
