My grandmother spoke Samoan. She would sit me down and teach me Samoan words and how to pray in Samoan. After she died I never carried on learning the language. My dad never spoke Samoan to us. I attempted over the years but never really a serious study. I understand a little. So, in doing genealogy I created a cheat list for myself of some Samoan words that I would come across in letters, documents, newspapers, stories and helping me figure out family relationships. I hope this helps you too.
born fanau
dead mate
day aso
place nofoaga
year tausaga
month masina
a couple (husband and wife) ulugāli'i
auntie uso o lo'u tinā
baby pepe
boy tama
brother tuagane
brother's sister taufafine
child tamaitiiti
children (all ages) fānau
cousin tama ale tuafafine o le tama/tama ale uso ole tina/tama
daughter āfafine
father tamā
female suga
female in-law nōfotane
girl teine
grandmother tinā matua
grandfather tamā matua
husband tāne
male sole
male in-law faiāvā
man tamāloa
mother tinā
niece tama teine a lo'u uso
nephew tamatama alo'u uso
parents mātua
son ātali'i
sister tuafafine
sister's brother tuagane
sisters, brothers 'au uso
uncle uso o lo'u tamā
wife āvā
woman fafine
young children tamaiti
bishop, minister faife’au
genealogy gafa
license laisene
name suafa/igoa
village nu'u; ala'ala'faga
one tasi
two lua
three tolu
four fa
five lima
six ono
seven fitu
eight valu
nine iva
ten sefulu
eleven sefulutasi
twelve sefululua
thirteen sefulutolu
fourteen sefulufa
fifteen sefululima
sixteen sefuluono
seventeen sefulufitu
eighteen sefuluvalu
nineteen sefuluiva
twenty luasefulu
one hundred selau
one thousand afe
first muamua
once fa'atasi
twice fa'alua
no leai
yes ‘ioe
I ou/'ou te
you o 'oe
he o ia/tama
she o ia/teine
we tatou
Januaray Ianuari
February Fepuari
March Mati
April Aperila
May Me
June Iuni
July Iulai
August Auguso
September Setema
October Oketopa
November Novema
December Tesema
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