Telling Time in Samoan

Taimi is the Samoan word for "time." Whether you're making plans, going to church, or catching the bus, knowing how to talk about taimi will help you feel more confident and connected to Samoan culture.

​

Time Vocabulary:

• taimi - time

• itulā - hour

• minute - minute

• sekone - second

• kuata - 25 minutes/quarter

• afa - 30 minutes/half/thirty

• te'a - past

• toe - till

• uati - watch/clock

• ananafi - yesterday

• ananei - today

• anapō - last night

• taeao - morning

• aoauli - noon

• afiafi - evening

• aso - day

• vaiaso - week

• māsina - month

• nei - today

• nānei - tonight

• taeao - tomorrow

• ua te'a - it past

• talu ai - since

• so'o se taimi - anytime

​​​

Time Dialogue:

Here are some phrases to practice

• Ua ta se fia? - What time is it?

  • Ua te'a le tolu. - It's past three.

  • Ua afa le tolu. - It's three thirty.

• O le a le taimi? - What time?

  • So'o se taimi. - Anytime.

  • I le masina fou. - Next month. 

  • Se taimi i le afiafi. - Any time in the evening.

 

Telling Time like a Samoan Pro

Here's how to use the time video below. 

1. When someone asks you "Ua ta se fia?"

2. You answer with:

• Ua ta le ____(lima) - It's five o'clock

• Ua lima e te'a ai le ___(tolu). - It's five past three. 

• Ua sefulu e te'a ai le ____(iva). - It's ten past nine. 

• Ua kuata e te'a ai le ____(tolu). - It's a quarter past three. 

• Ua luasefulu e te'a ai le ____(ono). - It's twenty past six. 

• Ua lualima e te'a ai le ____(lua). - It's a twenty five past two.

• Ua afa le ____(valu). - It's eight thirty. 

• Toe lualima i le ____(sefulu). - It's twenty five till ten. 

• Toe luasefulu i le ____(valu). - It's twenty till eight.

• Toe kuata i le ____(iva). - It's a quarter till nine.

• Toe sefulu i le ____(fitu). - It's ten till seven.

• Toe lima i le ____(ono). - It's five till six.