Etymology Explorer › Samoan

Where does “talofa” come from?

talofa (Samoan) comes from Proto-Polynesian qarofa, from Proto-Oceanic *qalopan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaləpan, from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan.

talofa (Samoan): A greeting. Hello

Definitions

  1. A greeting. Hello

Ancestry of “talofa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesianqarofalove
2Proto-Oceanic*qalopan—
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*qaləpan—
4Proto-Austronesian*qaləpan—
Every word from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan →