NCEA Level 2 Samoan key terms

The skill of understanding spoken Samoan, including following instructions, identifying main ideas, and picking out details from conversations, announcements, or stories you hear.

A conversation or discussion between two or more people, often used in listening and speaking tasks where you follow turn-taking, respond to questions, and keep the exchange going.

Information, explanation, or a statement that gives details about something. In listening tasks you may be asked to identify the fa'amatalaga given about a person, place, or event.

A song, including traditional and contemporary Samoan songs. Listening tasks may ask you to identify the topic, mood, or key message of a pese.

To speak or talk; the act of producing spoken Samoan. Speaking tasks assess whether you can tautala clearly, use suitable vocabulary, and respond appropriately in different situations.

To argue, debate, or discuss a disagreement. In spoken interaction you may need to finau politely, give reasons, and respond to another person's point of view.

Thank you; an expression of gratitude. It is a common polite response in spoken interaction and can appear in listening passages, letters, and formal speeches.

A farewell said when leaving or ending a conversation. Knowing when to use tōfā helps you open and close spoken exchanges politely and appropriately.

To meet or greet someone, especially for the first time. Greetings and introductions are common in speaking assessments and in listening passages involving visitors or new people.

To read; the act of understanding written Samoan. Reading tasks assess whether you can faitau a text, find information, and work out meaning from context.

A story or narrative, either factual or imagined. Reading tasks often use a tala to check understanding of sequence, characters, setting, and main message.

A historical story or account of past events, often passed down through generations. Reading tasks may ask you to separate fact from tradition and identify the purpose of the account.

A poem in Samoan, often using rhythm, imagery, and figurative language. Reading tasks may ask about the solo's theme, feeling, and the effect of its word choices.

A word or term in Samoan. Understanding upu in context is basic to all language tasks, especially when working out meaning from a sentence.

A sentence; a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Reading and writing tasks expect you to understand fuaiupu and to construct clear ones of your own.

Meaning, sense, or characteristic. When reading, you work out the uiga of unfamiliar words from context; in writing, you choose words whose uiga match your purpose.

Writing; the act of producing written Samoan. Writing tasks assess whether you can tusitusi for a purpose, organise ideas, and use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

A noun; a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Recognising nauna helps you identify the subject or object of a Samoan sentence.

A verb; a word that shows an action or state. Identifying the veape helps you understand who did what in a sentence and choose the right tense or form.

A pronoun; a word that replaces a noun, such as he, she, it, or they. Suinauna help avoid repetition and show who or what is being referred to in a text.

A punctuation mark or written sign, such as a full stop, comma, question mark, or apostrophe. Correct fa'ailoga help readers understand sentence boundaries and meaning.

A comparison used in speech or writing, including simile and metaphor. Recognising fa'atusa helps you understand imagery and the writer's attitude in a text.

A topic or subject being discussed or written about. Identifying the mata'upu helps you focus your reading, plan a piece of writing, and answer questions accurately.

An example or model that shows how something is done. In writing, fa'ata'ita'iga can support a point; in reading, they help clarify a general statement.

An explanation of what a word or idea means, often given in a dictionary or in answer to a question. Giving a clear fa'auiga is useful in reading and writing tasks.

To translate or change text from one language to another. In reading tasks, fa'aliliu questions check whether you understand the meaning, not just individual words.

To explain, describe, or make something clear. In speaking and writing, you fa'amatala by giving details, reasons, and examples that help the listener or reader understand.

Language, especially the Samoan language. Understanding how gagana works, including formal and informal choices, supports listening, speaking, reading, and writing tasks.

Culture, custom, or traditional practice. Knowledge of aganu'u helps you understand references, behaviour, and values in Samoan texts and spoken exchanges.

Respect, shown through language and behaviour. In Samoan interaction, fa'aaloalo affects word choice, greetings, and how you address elders or formal audiences.

Family or extended family, an important social group in Samoan life. Aiga often appears in listening and reading texts about relationships, obligations, and community events.

A village or settlement. Nu'u often appears in texts about community life, traditions, and events, and understanding it helps you follow the setting of a passage.

Church, worship, or religious practice. Lotu is a common topic in Samoan texts and conversations, so knowing related vocabulary helps you understand context and values.