'aiseā
The Samoan word for why is 'aiseā.
'aiseā is an interrogative adverb used to ask for the reason.
Meaning: (interrogative) for what reason (adv)
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'why' to seek a reason, a Samoan speaker might use a similar questioning structure to express disbelief or even to express 'how could you?' in a social context.
- In Samoan, the word 'aiseā starts with a glottal stop, which is the tiny catch in the throat found in the middle of the English word 'uh-oh'.
- If you want to ask 'why' in a much more polite or formal way, such as when addressing an elder or a chief, you might use the phrase o le ā le mafuaʻaga? instead.
Example sentences for Samoan are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Losa is asking Sione why he is late to dinner.
- LosaSione, 'aiseā e tuai ai oe?Sione, why are you late?
- SioneNaou tuai le aveavega.The traffic was slow.
- LosaE leai se isi mea?Is there nothing else?
- SioneNaou leai se isi mea.There was nothing else.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “why” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
