toa
The Samoan word for warrior is toa.
toa refers to a person engaged in battle, conflict or warfare. It is also frequently used metaphorically to describe someone who displays great courage, strength or bravery in everyday, non-combat situations.
Meaning: person actively engaged in battle, conflict or warfare (noun)
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse toa with to'a, which is a homophone meaning 'anvil'. The word for warrior, toa, does not contain a glottal stop.
Did you know?
- The use of toa in Samoa mirrors the Hawaiian use of koa, where the same root describes both a brave person and a specific type of strong wood.
- The term toa is frequently used in Samoan names to suggest that the person possesses the qualities of an ancestral protector.
- The Samoan toa descends from the Proto-Polynesian root *toqa.
Examples in context
- O se toa tele lona malosi.He is a great warrior with much strength.
- Na ia avea ma toa i aso uma.He was a warrior every day.
- E tatau ona avea ma toa le tagata.A person must be a warrior.
Example conversation
Tasi and Talisa are discussing a legendary figure from their history.
- TasiE te iloa lea toa sa tau?Do you know that warrior who fought?
- TalisaIoe, e sili ona malosi o ia.Yes, he was the strongest.
- TasiNa ia taofia le enemy.He stopped the enemy.
- TalisaO se toa moni o ia.He was a true warrior.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries toa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
