Pasefika Sāmoan Dictionary: Sumu aloalo
Sumu aloalo in Sāmoan language is Rhinecanthus rectangulus Reef triggerfish in English language.
Reef triggerfish Rhinecanthus rectangulus in English language is known as:
- Sumu aloalo in Sāmoan language
- Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa in Hawaiʻian language
- in Tongan language
- in Tahitian language
- in Māori language
Sumu Aloalo (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) - noun
Sumu (phonetic: / So͞o-mo͞o Ah-Low / | ipa:/ ˈsuˑmuˑ äˑloʊˑäˑloʊˑ / | symbols: / ˈsümü ä-lō ä-lō / )
“Sumu Aloalo” in Sāmoan language is used to identify Rhinecanthus rectangulus (reef triggerfish).
“Sumu” in Sāmoan language us also used as a general name for the triggerfish.
Words for Rhinecanthus rectangulus in Polynesia include:
- “Sumu Aloalo” in Sāmoa
- “Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa” in Hawaiʻi
Rhinecanthus rectangulus is also known as:
- Reef triggerfish
- Rectangular triggerfish
- Wedge-tail Triggerfish
General words for a triggerfish in Polynesia include:
- “Sumu” in Sāmoa
- “Humu” in Hawaiʻi
“Sumu” is also how the Sāmoans identified the asterism/constellation of Crux / Southern Cross
Jon Apisa. Sumu Aloalo | Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa (Rhinecanthus rectangulus). 2024. colored pencil on paper, 8.5" x 5.5" (26.1cm x 14cm).
Sumu drawing by Jon Apisa
Jon Apisa. Sumu (Crux - Southern Cross). 2024. oil on canvas, 16" x 20" (40.64 cm x 50.8 cm).
Sumu painting by Jon Apisa
Sāmoan to English Dictionary
English to Polynesian Dictionary
Hawaiʻian to English Dictionary
Tongan to English Dictionary
Tahitian to English Dictionary
Māori to English Dictionary
The Pasefika Polynesian dictionary is project of Jon Apisa intended as a comparative dictionary to view similarities, differences and cognate relationships of words in multiple Polynesian languages.