Is 'tala' singular or plural?

The word 'tala' is both singular and plural, similar to 'yen' or 'sheep'.

Can I use 'tala' outside the context of Samoa?

No, 'tala' refers specifically to the Samoan currency and has no other standard meaning in English.

What is the ISO code for the Samoan tala?

The ISO 4217 code is WST (Samoan Tala).

How is 'tala' pronounced in Samoan versus English?

In Samoan, it's pronounced closer to ['ta.la]. In English, the pronunciation is anglicized to /ˈtɑːlə/ (UK) or /ˈtɑlə/ (US).

tala

UK/ˈtɑːlə/US/ˈtɑlə/

formal, financial

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A monetary unit of Samoa.

Specifically, the official currency of Samoa, subdivided into 100 sene.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

This term is almost exclusively used in the context of Samoan currency and finance. It is not a general English word and has no other common meanings in English.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

There is no significant difference between British and American usage, as the term is specific to Samoa. Both varieties refer to the Samoan currency.

Connotations

Financial, specific to Pacific Island nation of Samoa.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in general English; appears only in financial, travel, or geographical contexts related to Samoa.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Samoan talatala cointala note

medium

exchange talaworth ten talapay in tala

weak

currency talaconvert talatala devaluation

Grammar

Valency Patterns

NUMBER + talatala + VERB (plural)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

WST (ISO code)

Neutral

Samoan dollar

Weak

currency

Vocabulary

Antonyms

foreign currencyother dollar

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Not applicable.”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in international finance and forex trading when dealing with Samoan currency.

Academic

Appears in economic texts, papers on Pacific economies, or geographical studies.

Everyday

Used by travellers to Samoa or in discussions about travel budgets.

Technical

Banking and foreign exchange terminology.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The souvenir costs five tala.

You will need to exchange your pounds for tala upon arrival in Samoa.

The value of the tala has remained relatively stable against the New Zealand dollar this quarter.

Forex analysts predict a slight appreciation of the Samoan tala due to increased tourism revenue.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: Samoa's TALA is their DOLLAR.

Conceptual Metaphor

MONEY IS A MEASURE (of value in Samoa).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with Russian 'тала' (archaic word for 'dative case' or 'gift') or 'талья' (a fee). It is a specific proper noun for currency.

Common Mistakes

Using 'tala' as a plural incorrectly (correct: 'tala' for singular and plural).
Confusing it with the Tagalog word 'tala' meaning 'star' or 'list'.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The hotel bill came to two hundred .

Multiple Choice

What is a 'tala'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: The word 'tala' is both singular and plural, similar to 'yen' or 'sheep'.
: No, 'tala' refers specifically to the Samoan currency and has no other standard meaning in English.
: The ISO 4217 code is WST (Samoan Tala).
: In Samoan, it's pronounced closer to ['ta.la]. In English, the pronunciation is anglicized to /ˈtɑːlə/ (UK) or /ˈtɑlə/ (US).