Samoan is a Polynesian language spoken by Samoans of the Samoan Islands. Administratively, the islands are split between the sovereign country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language, alongside English, in both jurisdictions. It is widely spoken across the Pacific region, heavily so in New Zealand and also in Australia and the United States. Among the Polynesian languages, Samoan is the most widely spoken by number of native speakers.
Bilingual sign at American Samoa National Park
Bilingual sign in Vatia, American Samoa
Sign with diacritic mark for Hauʻula elementary school in Hawaii
The Samoan Islands are an archipelago covering 3,030 km2 (1,170 sq mi) in the central South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and of the wider region of Oceania. Administratively, the archipelago comprises all of the Independent State of Samoa and most of American Samoa. The land masses of the two Samoan jurisdictions are separated by 64 km (40 mi) of ocean at their closest points.
German, British and American warships in Apia harbour, 1899.
Young man dressed as a manaia, the son of a Samoan chief (matai), c. 1890–1910. (photo by Thomas Andrew)
Tonga Trench south of the Samoa Islands and north of New Zealand.
Mt Matavanu volcanic eruption on Savai'i island, 1905