Samoan for “Thanksgiving Day” is “Aso Fa’afetai” “Aso” is “day” and “fa’afetai” is “thanks”giving or gratitude. “Fa’afetai” is also “Thank you” and “Fa’afetai Tele” is “Thank you much.” “Fa’afetai tele lava,” is “Thank you very much.” Ok, got all those?🤣
Now on the key word “FA’AFETAI” (fuh-ah-feh-tah-ee). This is the transliteration into the more modern and so-called “t” pronunciation/method” introduced by the western missionaries. Otherwise the true native word using colloquial and everyday vernacular of the Samoans is “FA’AFEKAI” (notice the “k” substitution for the “t” - more on this later). I will use this more indigenous (hence authentic) form in my analysis in order for it to be more thorough, genuine and intelligible.
In all languages the transliterations/translations for the basic words like “Thank you” and “Please” are usually the first ones that learners, students or novices want to know, speak and/or say.
Again, in Samoan, “Thank You” is “Fa’afekai” (colloquial) or “Fa’afetai” (formal). But is there a deeper meaning of the word? Is there an intelligible and explainable etymology (origin)? My own answer is "Yes, there is."
This post therefore is an attempt on my part to do just that. The reason I’m saying that it’s “my own answer” is because I have not come across or found - through my thorough online searches and research - a known treatise where “fa’afetai/fa’afekai” is analyzed as I’m doing here in this post. My treatise may be speculative and hypothetical, but can still be believable and credible - at best.
First, let me break up the word into meaningful morphemes or syllables: Fa’a /fe /kai.
Words in most languages use inflection and affixation to modify a root word. “Faafekai” is an example of affixation, more specifically, a prefixation (adding a prefix to a word, or root word).
The root word in “fa’afekai” is “kai”. “Fa’a” and “fe” are prefixes (or affixes).
Fa’a:
-(causative and/or “to implement”) as in “fa’amagalo” ([to cause/implement] forgiveness/pardon)
-(in the ways of) as in “fa’a-Samoa” (in the way of Samoa/Samoans)
Fe:
-(reciprocation/plural) as in “feāsogi” (kiss), “feālofani” and “fetausia’i” (to be peace-loving
and friendly), etc. Notice the mutual and reciprocal implications in these words.
Now, “kai”,* again, is the root word. And so I submit that the original root word in the Samoan context, was ‘ai (to eat) or as in “mea’ai” (food, literally “thing to eat”). In those languages of Polynesia that have not experienced the “k” change/evolution as Samoan, “‘ai” is “kai”. For example, Tongan for eat is “kai” and food is “meakai”. These words (cognates) represent a major shift in Samoan compared to other Polynesian languages where the consonant “k” has been replaced (in Samoan) by the glottal stop/break (‘) as in these Samoan/Tongan examples, respectively: “pua’a/puaka” (pig), “fa’a/faka” (a prefix), “la’a/laka” (step), “fa’afekai/fakafetai”, etc. if we drop the "k" in "Fa'afekai" as in the pattern above and replace it with the glottal break ('), it becomes "fa'afe'ai" hence connoting the same meaning of "eat" or "food". If the glottal break and "k" substitution holds true in every case (anomalies are always possible), fa'afe'ai would have been the more correct and suitable word in Samoan.
And so “‘ai” is “kai” (notice the glottal stop before the “a” in ‘ai, without it, the meaning changes completely). "Kai" transliterated into the “t” pronunciation becomes “tai” (hence “fa’afetai”). But in the various and more authentic and indigenous Polynesian dialects/languages, “kai” (in fa’afekai”), is the more original native word, which, according to an online Polynesian Dictionary, means:
One may ask, but why food? A simple response is “why NOT food?” Foods and abundance have always been the reason and cause for thanksgiving in any culture. Food is especially huge and kosher among the Samoans and Polynesians. It represents a basic need. The pronouncement of grace before a meal is also part of this “fa’afekai” and thanksgiving tradition everywhere. It’s a universal norm.
Moreover, you would often hear older Samoans say “Kai lava" or "Tai lava" (as opposed to the complete words) as recipients of any offerings, favors or gifts in traditional settings and socio-cultural exchanges. When we hear those expressions, we now have a deeper understanding of the words, and that they’re not just contracting/shortening or eliding the words “fa’afekai/fa’afetai”, they’re actually expressing their gratitude with the genuine and valid ROOT and ORIGINAL word (“KAI/TAI”), even without genuine knowledge and understanding of its evolution and etymology. Interestingly enough, at such instances, it could very well be that their native and traditional intuition is at play, as their/our ancestors probably did eons ago.
And so coincidence or not, fa'afekai (both etymology and usage) originates with food and abundance, which are the traditional means of "implementing", observing and celebrating Thanksgiving. As Samoans (and maybe other Polynesians), it certainly helps too, to understand the possible and probable origin of FA’AFEKAI/FA’AFETAI.
*kai/tai also means/refers to the ocean, tide, seaward or ocean side.
Faafetai,
Ia Manuia le Aso Fa'afetai 🦃🦃🍠🍤🍣🍪🍷🍲
(Aaaand, reciprocity also is encouraged … hahaaa. A alu aku le kufa ia faasoa mai, fakamolemole. 'Aua le aumaia ga o le ipu ua mamā lelei ga fufulu. Ku'u iai siga kalo poo se fasi pīpī 🦃😍)
Note: Also, if you come across another version of this treatise, drop me a note please. Otherwise I consider this treatise as an original.
Again, in Samoan, “Thank You” is “Fa’afekai” (colloquial) or “Fa’afetai” (formal). But is there a deeper meaning of the word? Is there an intelligible and explainable etymology (origin)? My own answer is "Yes, there is."
This post therefore is an attempt on my part to do just that. The reason I’m saying that it’s “my own answer” is because I have not come across or found - through my thorough online searches and research - a known treatise where “fa’afetai/fa’afekai” is analyzed as I’m doing here in this post. My treatise may be speculative and hypothetical, but can still be believable and credible - at best.
First, let me break up the word into meaningful morphemes or syllables: Fa’a /fe /kai.
Words in most languages use inflection and affixation to modify a root word. “Faafekai” is an example of affixation, more specifically, a prefixation (adding a prefix to a word, or root word).
The root word in “fa’afekai” is “kai”. “Fa’a” and “fe” are prefixes (or affixes).
Fa’a:
-(causative and/or “to implement”) as in “fa’amagalo” ([to cause/implement] forgiveness/pardon)
-(in the ways of) as in “fa’a-Samoa” (in the way of Samoa/Samoans)
Fe:
-(reciprocation/plural) as in “feāsogi” (kiss), “feālofani” and “fetausia’i” (to be peace-loving
and friendly), etc. Notice the mutual and reciprocal implications in these words.
Now, “kai”,* again, is the root word. And so I submit that the original root word in the Samoan context, was ‘ai (to eat) or as in “mea’ai” (food, literally “thing to eat”). In those languages of Polynesia that have not experienced the “k” change/evolution as Samoan, “‘ai” is “kai”. For example, Tongan for eat is “kai” and food is “meakai”. These words (cognates) represent a major shift in Samoan compared to other Polynesian languages where the consonant “k” has been replaced (in Samoan) by the glottal stop/break (‘) as in these Samoan/Tongan examples, respectively: “pua’a/puaka” (pig), “fa’a/faka” (a prefix), “la’a/laka” (step), “fa’afekai/fakafetai”, etc. if we drop the "k" in "Fa'afekai" as in the pattern above and replace it with the glottal break ('), it becomes "fa'afe'ai" hence connoting the same meaning of "eat" or "food". If the glottal break and "k" substitution holds true in every case (anomalies are always possible), fa'afe'ai would have been the more correct and suitable word in Samoan.
And so “‘ai” is “kai” (notice the glottal stop before the “a” in ‘ai, without it, the meaning changes completely). "Kai" transliterated into the “t” pronunciation becomes “tai” (hence “fa’afetai”). But in the various and more authentic and indigenous Polynesian dialects/languages, “kai” (in fa’afekai”), is the more original native word, which, according to an online Polynesian Dictionary, means:
To eat, to feed, to feast; food, meat, a meal, repast; kai nui, provision, intemperate, voracious; kai no iti, sober, temperate; hue ki te kai, to victual; kai taria te kai, abundance, to abound; hakapee no kai hoao, abundance, to abound. Kaia, eaten. P Pau.: kai, food, to eat. Mgv.: kai, food, nourishment, to eat. Mq.: kai, ai, food, to eat. Ta.: ai, to eat.,Put all of the above together (root plus prefixes), “fa’a/fe/kai” basically means “to implement in the way of the reciprocity of foods”. In Samoan, "o le faatinoinina i le auala o le fefa'asoaa'i lea o mea'ai (taumafa)." That's the crux of the meaning and origin of the word "Fa'afekai".
One may ask, but why food? A simple response is “why NOT food?” Foods and abundance have always been the reason and cause for thanksgiving in any culture. Food is especially huge and kosher among the Samoans and Polynesians. It represents a basic need. The pronouncement of grace before a meal is also part of this “fa’afekai” and thanksgiving tradition everywhere. It’s a universal norm.
Moreover, you would often hear older Samoans say “Kai lava" or "Tai lava" (as opposed to the complete words) as recipients of any offerings, favors or gifts in traditional settings and socio-cultural exchanges. When we hear those expressions, we now have a deeper understanding of the words, and that they’re not just contracting/shortening or eliding the words “fa’afekai/fa’afetai”, they’re actually expressing their gratitude with the genuine and valid ROOT and ORIGINAL word (“KAI/TAI”), even without genuine knowledge and understanding of its evolution and etymology. Interestingly enough, at such instances, it could very well be that their native and traditional intuition is at play, as their/our ancestors probably did eons ago.
And so coincidence or not, fa'afekai (both etymology and usage) originates with food and abundance, which are the traditional means of "implementing", observing and celebrating Thanksgiving. As Samoans (and maybe other Polynesians), it certainly helps too, to understand the possible and probable origin of FA’AFEKAI/FA’AFETAI.
*kai/tai also means/refers to the ocean, tide, seaward or ocean side.
Faafetai,
Ia Manuia le Aso Fa'afetai 🦃🦃🍠🍤🍣🍪🍷🍲
(Aaaand, reciprocity also is encouraged … hahaaa. A alu aku le kufa ia faasoa mai, fakamolemole. 'Aua le aumaia ga o le ipu ua mamā lelei ga fufulu. Ku'u iai siga kalo poo se fasi pīpī 🦃😍)
Note: Also, if you come across another version of this treatise, drop me a note please. Otherwise I consider this treatise as an original.
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