Talofa

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Talofa is the national greeting of Samoa, an independent nation in Polynesia, and is given in many language guides as the island's version of hello.

As well as a casual greeting of varying warmness, the greeting can be more formally pronounced as two distinct words, talo fa. Such a greeting literally questions whether you have enough taro - an edible root crop of starchy richness, highly prized as a source of carbohydrates in a traditional society built on hard labour - and where wide girth was something to be proud of, not ashamed.

As in many traditional cultures on all continents throughout history, hospitality to guests is of high importance in Polynesia and Samoa is no exception. From Samoa, talofa echoes in such phrases as Aloha in Hawaii and Kia Ora in Aotearoa (New Zealand), and even Aro'a among Maori Cook Islanders.

Talofa is also the greeting of the island of Lifou (New Caledonia). The word was brought by the Samoan teachers of the London Missionary Society who converted the population from 1841.