Samoan proverbs

Samoan proverbs form an important part of the traditions and culture of Samoa where oratory, poetry, metaphors and subtelty 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.

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 depreciatory 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.

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