Fafine
/faˈfi.ne/noun
A Samoan word meaning woman or female, also used in English contexts discussing Samoan culture.
Did you know?Fafine is related to Polynesian forms such as Māori wahine and Tahitian vahine, while fa’afafine literally means “in the manner of a woman.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*fafine
“Woman or female”
Early Polynesian
Polynesian
*fafine
“Woman; female person”
Traditional Samoan
Samoan
fafine
“Woman or female”
Traditional Tongan
Tongan
fefine
“Woman or female”
Traditional Māori
Māori
wahine
“Woman; wife”
18th–19th Century
Tahitian
vahine
“Woman; wife”
Modern English
English
fafine
“A Samoan term for a woman or female”
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