Samoan proverbs

Samoan proverbs form an important part of the traditions and culture of Samoa where oratory, poetry, metaphors and subtlety in language art forms are held in high esteem as a form of communication in ceremony and ritual of fa'a Samoa. The importance of oratory is reflected in Samoa's indigenous chiefly system, fa'a Matai, where titleholders are either ali'i or orator (tulafale) status.

List of Proverbs
These Samoan proverbs are taken from the first Samoan dictionary, A grammar and dictionary of the Samoan language, with English and Samoan vocabulary, first published in 1862. The proverbs were collected and authored by Rev George Pratt, an English missionary from the London Missionary Society who lived in Samoa for 40 years, mostly in Matautu on the central north coast of Savai'i Island.

Following is a list of proverbs in the Samoan language and their meanings in the English language.

Let it be thrown on the deck of the large canoe. A deprecatory saying of a speaker. One family. Of one seldom seen. Why not steer a straight course? Applied to a speech having no definite proposition. Afono made light of his prosperity. It grew in the bush, but it is cast away in the road. This is a secret; lit., This is under the chestnut tree. this means hide things not to be remembered forever Only a threat. In the game of tatia when counted wrongly; applied to anything not paid for. Of anything quick, like a canoe before the wind. To obey like a canoe before the wind. To request to be respectful; lit., Why do you not steer out of the way? To dismiss an assembly. Who sits at home in the morning will not eat in the evening. Of a lazy person. Of one who is afraid out at sea. He bails out the canoe, but is afraid. A reference to the work of digging tupa. Applied to lazy people who do not help at work. The crab did not consult with its legs that they should pinch; they did it of themselves. Applied to youths who get into trouble without consulting the elders. (literally) The hand strikes the eye. Of one who brings trouble on himself. A white staff; i.e. a new speaker. A black staff; i.e., an old speaker. The deaf hears when he is tapped. The crab blusters on his feet; a boy blusters when he knows his father is near. The snake when about to be killed looks but does not escape. Said of one blamed before his face. The skate swims away, but leaves its barb. Words don't break bones. Stones rot but not words. (literally) Blessed is the moon which goes and returns! Men die and return not. The rain came from Manuʻa. Spoken of a thing long known beforehand, and yet unprepared for. The crabs left the stone, and took a piece of the reef. To be prosperous. Of one who does many things for his country. Does not run far, but returns. The foolish bird passes over the tiʻa. Applied by one of himself when speaking before great chiefs. Of one who calls in to get food. To begin heartily and finish weakly. Applied to a number falling in a clubbing match. The rain carried by the wind to leeward. Applied to toilalo party. Let the wind choose as to the quickness of a canoe. Spoken to a man of bad conduct. His conduct is no more fragrant. Hard-pressed paddling in Puava, but at rest in Fagalele. The stones and the earth weep. Applied to the death of a beloved chief. The dry leaves are carried away by the wind. Of troops routed. Make it known to Moo. A myth of a mountain that went backwards and forwards between Upolu and Savaiʻi. May you grow in a swamp, i.e.. quickly. A prayer of a father for his son. Our lives are decreed to be taken by the gods. Is the aitu different from the moemu? Doing something wrong under another name. (literally), Don't let lizards go near when getting afato, because they will eat them. Applied to children present at conversation of grown people. It is very long coming, but will be satisfying. Of an oven of food long in preparation, but satisfying. Applied generally to expected but delayed good. A mouthful and a blow; or of a canoe both leaky and with the waves coming in. Applied to one over-burdened with different tasks. First of all a house. Applied to one having neither strength nor means, but who talks of building a house. Leaʻea shook the bonito off his hook back into the sea. Applied to those rejecting good things when offered. Let your feet be those of Vaeau (who went to heaven and back in a day); i.e., Be quick. It is like the journey of Oloolo. Applied to a thing proposed to be done, but yet left undone. (A Samoan myth.) Of something promised, but not given. Am I to be your old ti-leaf girdle? Said to one constantly begging. They used cups for fish-baskets; because there were so few fish caught. Strong in heart, but broken in the back. Of a man whose will is stronger than his body. Two taro planted away; i.e., Better have a small plantation of your own than be joined with another. Not a word stumbles. The town Anini was burning, and Aveavai said it served them right, for they were thieves; but the fire spread to Aveavai, and they, too, were burned out. When the river dries up, water is found only in the bason of the waterfall. Applied to all being of one mind in a council. Pick the breadfruits on the far-off branches first. Applied to any work, etc., to be done. Do the most difficult first. Only threaten and not execute. May you be thrown on the bosom of the wave; the front part of the wave where it is easy to swim. May our fault be hidden in Fatualavai. May we be forgiven. Of a nimble warrior. He is a lizard crawling. Of a disobedient lad. Like grass by the roadside. Of one who has no fixed abode.
 * Ia lafoia i le fogavaʻa tele.
 * ʻO le fogavaʻa e tasi.
 * Ua iloa i vaʻa lelea.
 * Ua le seʻi mau se ala vaʻa.
 * Ua mele le manu e Afono.
 * E pogai i vao, a e liaʻi i ala.
 * ʻO lalo ifi lenei.
 * ʻO le puta i Tufa.
 * Tuʻu ia ma paga.
 * Ua se vaʻa tu matagi.
 * Ua usiusi-faʻavaʻasavili.
 * Ua le seʻi seu faʻaʻalo.
 * Ia tala mea faʻasolo (of seuga-lupe, pigeon snaring).
 * Fale-taeao e le afiafi.
 * Taliu ae popoʻe.
 * Ua le faasinopu le tautuʻu palapala.
 * E le fono paʻa mona vae.
 * ʻO le lima e paia le mata.
 * ʻO le toʻotoʻo sinasina.
 * ʻO le toʻotoʻo uliuli.
 * E logo le tuli ona tata.
 * E pata le tutu i ona vae.
 * Na ʻo gata e fasi a vaʻai.
 * E sola le fai, ae tuʻu lona foto.
 * E le pu se tino i upu.
 * E pala le maʻa, a e le pala upu.
 * Amuia le masina, e alu ma sau.
 * ʻO le ua na fua mai Manuʻa.
 * Uu tuʻu maʻa, a e maʻa i aʻau.
 * Ua solo le lava-lima.
 * ʻO le ʻumu ua vela.
 * ʻO le sola a Faleata.
 * ʻO le a sosopo le manu vale i le foga-tia.
 * ʻO le fogatiʻa ua malu maunu.
 * Punapuna a manu fou.
 * Ua se vi a toli.
 * E i o le ua tafunaʻi.
 * Ia fili e le tai se agavaʻa.
 * Se a lou manoginogi.
 * E lutia i Puava, a e mapu i Fagalele.
 * Ua tagi le fatu ma le eleele.
 * Ua lelea le laumea.
 * Sei logo ia Moo.
 * Ua o Tapatapao le fealuaʻi.
 * Ia tupu i se fusi.
 * ʻO le ola e taupule-esea.
 * E ese ea le aitu, ese le moemu?
 * Tapai tataga le pilia. “Little pitchers have ears;”
 * E tuai tuai, ta te maʻona ai.
 * ʻO le mama ma le ponoi.
 * Ua mua ane lava se fale.
 * Ua o Leaʻea, He is like Leaʻea.
 * Ia e vae a Vaeau.
 * Ua o le malaga i Oloolo.
 * Ua se ana.
 * A fai ea aʻu mou titi seesee.
 * Ua ola ipiniu.
 * E toa e le loto, a e pa le noo.
 * Lua mata to ese.
 * E le papeva se upu.
 * Aniui, Anini, Aveavai.
 * Ua aofia i le futiafu e tasi.
 * Seʻi luaʻi lou le ʻulu taumamao.
 * Tau ina ta ma faʻapoi.
 * Ia lafoia i le alo galu.
 * Ia natia i Fatualavai.
 * Ua se tifitifi.
 * Ua se moo le sosolo.
 * Ua se taʻataʻa a le ala.