Samoa
/səˈmoʊ.ə/noun
An island nation in Polynesia, in the central South Pacific Ocean.
Did you know?The name Samoa is traditionally explained in Samoan as meaning “sacred center” or “the center of the sacred,” though scholars note the exact historical origin is not fully certain.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Contact Polynesian
Samoan
Sāmoa
“The native name of the Samoan islands and people, with traditional explanations linking it to sacredness and centrality.”
18th Century
European
Samoa
“Recorded by European explorers as the name of the island group in the South Pacific.”
19th Century
English
Samoa
“Standardized in English as the geopolitical name for the islands and later the independent state.”
20th Century
English
Samoa
“Used for the modern nation and its people, preserving the indigenous name in global usage.”