faatali
The Samoan word for 'wait' is faatali.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Did you know?
- If you are asked to tatali in a social setting, it is often a polite way of telling you to be patient or to stay composed during a ceremony.
- The prefix fa'a in faatali functions as a causative marker, which can change the nuance of an action from a simple state to an intentional act of making something happen.
- While faatali is used for waiting for an event, if you are waiting for a person to arrive, you might find the word faatali less common than using verbs related to 'staying' or 'remaining'.
Examples in context
- Faatali mai se'ia o'o mai le taimi.Wait until the time comes.
- Faatali se'i ou sau mai le fale.Wait until I come from the house.
- E le mafai ona tatou faatali se'i o'o le taimi.We cannot wait until the time arrives.
Example conversation
Talisa and Tau are waiting for a bus.
- TalisaTau, faatali mo le pasi.Tau, wait for the bus.
- TauE umi le faatali i lea lava.The wait is too long.
- TalisaE le o oo mai lava le pasi.The bus is not coming yet.
- TauAe e tatau ona tatou faatali.But we have to wait.
