galuega
The English word "work" is translated into Samoan as galuega.
galuega is a noun referring to labour, employment, occupation or a job. Specific contexts include galuega faipule, which refers to political work or tasks carried out by a member of parliament and galuega fa'ato'aga, which implies the work done within a community.
Meaning: labour, employment, occupation, job (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun galuega is a compound of the verb galue (to work) and the suffix -ega which turns a verb into a noun representing the result or the act of that verb.
Which one should you use?
galuega refers to the job or the task itself (the noun), whereas galue is the verb meaning to work or to perform a task.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun galuega is used for both singular and plural meanings (work/jobs) without changing its form.
Did you know?
- The word galuega is deeply tied to the concept of tautua, which means service. In traditional Samoan society, one's 'work' is often a path toward gaining leadership status.
- In a religious context, galuega is frequently used to describe the 'work of God' or missionary labor, reflecting the profound influence of Christianity on the language.
- The root verb galue can be used to describe the functioning of a machine, meaning that a machine 'works' using the same linguistic root as a human performing a job.
Examples in context
- E i ai se galuega mo aʻu?Is there a job for me?
Example conversation
Tau and Mere are talking about their daily schedules.
- TauKiekie lau galuega i le aso?Is your work finished for the day?
- MereLeai, o lo'o ou faia lava.No, I am still doing it.
- TauE lelei lau galuega.Your job is good.
- MereFa'afetai, Tau.Thank you, Tau.
